0 Why is too much water dangerous?

A Californian woman has died after taking part in a water-drinking contest, but why is too much water dangerous?

We are regularly advised to drink more water: it clears skin, reduces tiredness and aids concentration.

But the death of a woman in the US after taking part in a water-drinking contest shows you can have too much of a good thing.

Jennifer Strange had taken part in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" game, which promised the winner a Nintendo Wii. Afterwards she reportedly said her head was hurting and went home, where she was later found dead. Initial tests have shown her death is consistent with water intoxication.

Drinking too much water can eventually cause your brain to swell, stopping it regulating vital functions such as breathing, and causing death. So what happens?

WHO, WHAT, WHY?

A feature to the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines

Water enters the body when we drink and is removed primarily in the urine and sweat. The amount of water in the body is regulated to control the levels of certain compounds, such as salt, in the blood.

If you drink too much water, eventually the kidneys will not be able to work fast enough to remove sufficient amounts from the body, so the blood becomes more dilute with low salt concentrations.

"If you drink too much water it lowers the concentration of salt in your blood so that it is lower than the concentration of salt in cells," says Professor Robert Forrest, a consultant in clinical chemistry and forensic toxicology at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.

Confusion

The water then moves from the dilute blood to the cells and organs where there is less water. Professor Forrest likens this to the effects seen in science-class experiments.

Actor Anthony Andrews was treated for water intoxication in 2003

"If you put salty water on onion skin the cells will shrink, if you put too much water on it the cells will swell," he says.

This swelling is a problem in the brain.

"When the brain swells, it is inside a bony box so has nowhere to go," he says. "The pressure increases in the skull and you may get a headache. As the brain is squeezed it compresses vital regions regulating functions such as breathing."

Eventually these functions will be impaired and you are likely to stop breathing and die. Warning signs included confusion and headaches.

Symptoms would normally occur very soon after drinking the water, but if the gut is absorbing the water more slowly then it can take longer.

Drinking several litres over a relatively short period of time could be enough to cause water intoxication. Those most at risk include people taking ecstasy, as the drug increases thirst and facilitates the release of anti-diuretic hormones so more water is taken in but cannot be excreted. Also, elderly people because their kidney function may be impaired.

Treatment for drinking excess water is "relatively straightforward", says Professor Forrest. It includes giving patients diuretics to help decrease their water load, or using drugs to reduce the swelling caused by excessive water.

Hot

He says the real problem is diagnosis. Because patients can be very confused they are often mistakenly thought to have taken drugs.

Ursula Arens, of the British Dietetic Association, says water is essential for a variety of bodily functions, for example to excrete waste products such as urea.

We lose water all the time and so need to replace it and in normal circumstances should aim to drink about one and a half litres every day, she says. During hot weather or exercise more should be consumed as dehydration can lead to bad breath, tiredness and a higher risk of bladder infections.

"If you are going to the toilet more than once every two hours or so that might be too much, especially if your urine is clear," she says, but adds that drinking too much water is unusual.

0 Water Can Ruin Your Health

Paul C. Bragg, N.D., Ph. D.
Age Extension Specialist areas "What can not use or remove the human body, so it should be kept. As a result, mineral salts (inorganic minerals) are stored and in a certain period will result in hardening of the arteries, stone formation in kidney, ureter, bladder, joint- joints, and by etiologic factor in the occurrence of enlargement of adipose cells (fat cells) ".

Therefore, for humans to live a healthy 100%, the human body must be free of this anorganic minerals. At the moment of pure water into the human body, it does not leave residual water / sediment. Water is free from all the elements of salt minerals. Water is the beverage most appropriate for internal cleanliness and health.
Dr. T.C. McDaniel, Director of Professional Affairs, The National Foundation for

Prevention Of Obesity
There Minerals and Mineral
"These minerals are present in natural water is non-active. The water does not contain enzymes, which are needed by the body which is also the essence of life. Nature has decided to give life to these mineral elements by helping to develop growth and maturity of plants. In times of growth, the roots collect minerals (inorganic) from the ground, and convert minerals into organic elements and absorb / distribute these minerals to the stem, leaves, seeds and flowers and fruit. It is natural if the use of fresh vegetables / raw and fruit juices can provide a network of cells and tissues of the body with food with best quality, in the form of mineral-rich enzymes in micro size. "

REACTION OF THE BODY DURING Detox Food Combining Indonesia: Community Weblog Mailing Lists Food Combining in Indonesia  Detoxification - How to Eliminate Toxins in the Blood Whatever we eat and drink, particularly pharmaceutical drugs when difficult process, over time will become poison in the blood. The impact was quite severe, can damage vital organs in the body.

BENEFITS OF DETOXIFICATION
The expulsion of toxins in the body, of course, will nourish the body. Until this method often applied to help cure various diseases. These diseases include: asthma, allergies, colds, flu, bronchitis, gout, arthritis, early-stage cancer, insomnia, depression, stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery blockage, clogged arteries, obesity, sprue, mag , migraine, skin diseases, and drug dependence, nicotine, alcohol, and narcotics.

However, the medical was ready to anticipate this. To get rid of toxins in the body, known as detoxification, can be done in various ways. From a modern character to the natural. The objective of detox is to restore blood vessel function, as a carrier of oxygen and other substances needed organ in the body, so that the organ could function again as it is after a blocked distribution. Usually after the poison is removed, the body will be more refreshed and feel relaxed. In fact, in some cases become brighter vision and passion for life becomes higher

REACTION OF THE BODY DURING detox
In addition to reactions such as disease, as long as body detox will give other reactions that are often surprising for beginners. Forms of reaction and when the emergence of these reactions are not the same in faithful people.

According to dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute and American Dietetic Association speaker Dawn Jackson-Blatner, there are some effects of detox which must be observed. When the detox process, when the toxin through the blood vessels, the body will react so that reactions can occur, among others:

Symptoms of headache, nausea, bloating, constipation, colds, flu, mild fever, bad breath, skin disorders / rashes, emotional disturbances, and kedinginan. Kadang accompanied by changes in urine color. More turbid urine color and pungent. For those who throughout his life many consume pharmaceutical drugs, medicinal smell will come out with urine and feces (stool) is often dispose of the wind with the smell was terrible. Emerged a strong desire on food, whereas after the day-to-3 is actually the body is not feeling hungry lagi.Keluar lot of dirt with mucus (mucous) is quite dense.

On a longer detox program, the body will remove dirt from the innermost layer of cells. Forms of dirt that comes out is usually more dense and colored ranging from greenish to blackish like tar / asphalt liquid. New detox program can perfectly tell if the form of sewage that comes out normal, and no more dirt that looks like it. "This reaction is very individualistic. In people tertenu, this reaction may not appear or have occurred on the first day, "said Jackson-Blatner. But the general reaction on the new show on the third day since the third day the body begins to extract energy from fat after the first day of the muscles take up glucose from the second day of the liver. To get to the brain, the fat must go through stages of change to require more time.

If a reaction occurs, do not panic. Detox does not need to be stopped Reduce the only activity that takes energy, avoid too warm in the sun, drink water (Oxy) or juice as much as possible, or get to sleep. Usually really not bearable, whether you also consult a doctor.

A nutritionist from Jakarta Hospital, dr. Inayah Budiasti MS SpGK suggested that implementation should detox slowly to give your body a chance to adapt. Like people who need to adapt when faced with eating patterns, as well as the body does. "When the body undergoes reduction in food intake, then the fluid is removed first. So, instead of fat is removed from the body. In fact, as much as 80 percent of the body consists of water, he said. Therefore, Detox should be done gradually. Give your body time to adapt minimum about two weeks to get the best results, "he said.

IMPORTANT NOTE
How to take a drink / food should not be any hurry. Although the liquid form, water and fruit juice should still be drunk slowly and in small increments only. So, not drunk quickly, especially at a time. Drinking or eating in a hurry can cause some processes to do the body to food, has elapsed. Foods that are not processed properly will decay prematurely. Though food spoilage may only occur in the large intestine before the anus. Early decay usually occurs in the duodenum.
TIP
Should not be taking any medications and supplements during their detox. Drugs and supplements however have a toxic element. We recommend that you keep exercising regularly. Quite mild exercise such as walking, jumping rope or jumping on a trampoline small, yoga, tai chi, or Qigong. Sports useful circulation of blood and lymph, and indirectly also launched a process of spending toxins from the body. May perform body treatments such as massages, aromatherapy (O3) and luluran (body scrub or flushing impurities from the skin surface).
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Bacteria-free water and substances kiamia
water is the basic need of living beings. When humans, animals and plants short of water, it will die. Anyway, very extensive water damage to life, especially the water to eat and drink. People will be dehydration or disease if the lack of fluids in his body. The problem, current drinking water quality in major cities in Indonesia are still apprehensive.

Population density, land use is wrong and the high exploitation of water resources is very influential on the quality of water. The opinion was expressed by two specialist water and wastewater Ariel Herlambang and Nusa Idaman Said from the Centre for Environment Pengajian and Application of Technology BPPT to the media recently. Nusa Idaman Said explained that the government has issued Kepmenkes No 907/Menkes/SK/VII/2002 to the Terms and Drinking Water Quality Monitoring. Terms of drinking water''in accordance Permenkes it must be free of inorganic materials and organic. In other words the quality of drinking water must be free of bacteria, chemicals, toxins, hazardous wastes and so forth,''said Arie.

Drinking water quality parameters that relate directly to health in accordance Permenkes is related to microbiology, such as E. Coli and total coliform. Associated with organic chemistry in the form of arsenic, Flouride, chromium, cadmium, nitrate, cyanide and selenium.

While the parameters that are not directly related to health, which include odor, color, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, taste, and temperature. For the chemical parameters in the form of aluminum, iron, chloride, manganese, pH, zinc, sulfate, copper, residual chlorine and ammonia.

Water pollution in the region major cities in Indonesia, continued Ariel, very big. Based on statistical data BPS (Central Bureau of Statistics) DKI Jakarta 1998 about 50% of households using tap water (taps), soil water using a pump at 42.67%, dig wells and other 3.16% 0.63%. ''The problems start to appear on product quality drinking water.

The water quality of rivers and ground water less qualified. Many people dispose of garbage, debris and waste into rivers. In fact, there are other ways to dispose of hazardous waste plant at a depth of several meters,''said Arie. Furthermore, he explains the source of clean water in Jakarta come from the Citarum River (80%), Cisadane (15%) and the rest Ciliwung.

Those rivers across various rural, residential, industrial, and transportation is quite solid. However, public awareness in protecting the environment is still low, so the river one of the natural resources vulnerable to contamination. In rural areas the community was experiencing a crisis worthy of drinking water.

Excessive use of pesticides pollute the water in rice fields which then flows into the river and used the public for daily life. Not a few villagers were washed with detergent at the edge of time. Likewise, coastal communities having trouble finding fresh water. As a result, they use sea water with high salinity. ''In the meantime, drinking water treatment technology that is used taps are still lagging behind. In the process the raw water into drinking water taps technology used only eliminate the bacteria E. Coli and iron. While the content of carcinogens is never done,''said Arie. What he said is justified by the Nusa Arie who completed a master's in Environmental and Sanitary Enggineering at Kyoto University in Japan. He sees the management of drinking water in the taps still leaves a carcinogen.

''Since the number of organic and non organic substances in raw water, the taps will provide chlorine into the water as a disinfectant. The amount given quite a lot because it is adjusted by the amount of organic substances contained in water.''Large enough dose of chlorine, continued Nusa, can react with other compounds into chloroform, khlorofenol, and so forth.

The function of water especially the water we drink is so important to the survival of the human food .Tanpa can survive 4 weeks but without water only 5 days. Water shortage resulted in the emergence of many diseases. For example, high blood pressure, heart disease, Varicose veins, Wasir.dll.

In clean water has gone through an elaborate filtration process to produce pure water is healthy, but gas - vehicle and industrial exhaust, pesticides, hazardous chemicals is currently so much litter source - the source of water. So that was almost hard to find a suitable drink pure water anymore. We always thought that spring water would be cleaner in the hill country, long ago it's true, but today is almost hard to find natural water really clean.

Bomb nuclear testing, chemical substances pollute the air. When the rain and seep down to earth, but a small part will break down the remaining residue will contaminate water sources even though being used.

Water purity is measured with a TDS (Total Disolves Solid) with the amount of Part Per Million (PPM). The water content of particles - particles have high ppm high
The test results of water by using elextrolyzer which mimics the process of separating the water in the human body During this PDAM never analyze new compounds of chlorine due to excess it. In fact, the effect could create free radicals. ''So, the emergence of diseases is actually caused by poor drinking water quality,''said Nusa. Even, he added, the element iron, detergents, and other pollutants still found in the water despite the clear and clean appearance.

Arie added contamination of drinking water supplied to the public purposes can be caused by industrial waste, domestic waste, hazardous and toxic wastes, corrosion of piping and also due to a byproduct of the disinfection process with chlorine compounds. ''The contamination can occur ranging from raw water source, during processing or in the distribution pipeline.''

Therefore, further Arie, Indonesia's population is still difficult even now free from diarrheal disease, cholera, dysentery to typhus. For, the disease associated with water (waterborne deseases).''Nusa see the relationship between the quality of public health with clean water consumed interrelated.

In addition to diarrhea, typhoid, cholera and dysentery, other diseases that are often found are hepatitis A and acute anterior poliomelistis. Both researchers emphasize the importance of public knowledge about the dangers of chemicals in drinking water. ''Many people have found poisoned drinking water because of chemical compounds in drinking water exceeding the allowed threshold concentration,''said Arie. Actually, this chemical compound can be natural or due to human activities pollute the drinking water.

Some chemicals that are toxic to the human body are heavy metals, pesticides, compounds hydrocarbon pollutants, radioactive substances of natural or artificial, and so forth.

An example is nitrate commonly found in agricultural activities. Nitrate pollution caused by agricultural waste water containing nitrate compounds resulting from the use of nitrogen fertilizer (urea). Nitrate compounds in drinking water in large quantities cause methaemoglobinameia. This disease is a condition of hemoglobin in the blood is transformed into methaemoglobin, so the blood deprived of oxygen. Flouride (F) is a natural chemical compounds in water at various concentrations. At small concentrations of about 1.5 mg / l would be beneficial to dental health. When high concentrations (greater than 2 mg / l) cause tooth decay (dental patches). ''When the bigger 3-6 mg / l causing damage to the bone.

Dose Flouride in drinking water maximum of 0.8 mg / l.''is another dangerous element mercury (merkurium, Hg) is an element of heavy metal toxins on the body. Merkurium result of industrial waste had caused loss of life on Minamata case of Japan, 1950. Drinking water was not contaminated by cadmium (Cd). Drinking water usually contains Cd with a concentration of 1 ug or sometimes up to 5 ug. WHO has issued recommendations to drink the water content of 0.01 mg / l while the Government Regulation No. 20/1990 maximum levels of cadmium in drinking water for 0,005 mg / l. Other toxic substances commonly found in Selenium in seleniferous area (rainfed).

In areas such levels of selenium in groundwater (wells) or surface can be high. WHO set the levels of selenium in drinking water of 0.01 mg / l whereas
Government Regulation No. 20/1990 recommend selenium levels that allowed 0.01 mg / l. (Nda/V-1) Source: Media Indonesia Online (22/03/2005)

Drinking Water

0 Facts About Water

N.W. Walker, Doctor of Science, etc.
Inorganic  Vs Organic Materials
"Now let me give a lesson in chemistry.
There are two types of chemicals, inorganic and organic. Inorganic chemicals such as chlorine, aluminum and sodium fluoride are helpless (inactive), which means it can not be absorbed by body tissue and blood vessels in the body. Kemistri our body consists of 19 organic minerals, all of which must come from living things or beings that ever lived. When we eat an apple or other fruit or vegetable, fruit such is life. The fruit still has a useful life (to survive) for some time after the quotation from the tree. The same principle applies to foods derived from animals, fish, milk, cheese and eggs. Organic minerals are very important in keeping our bodies to stay alive and stay healthy. If we are stranded on an island where none of the plants, then we will die. Although there is the ground beneath our feet contains 18 inorganic minerals, our bodies still not be able to absorb minerals etc.. Only plants that have the ability to filter out inorganic minerals from the soil. No one can filter out food from inorganic minerals. "

Drinking Water

0 Mineral Water Vs Pure Water

Dr. Allen E. Banik with Carlson Wade
It is believed that mineral waters help to complete the elements for metabolism in the body. But there is scientific evidence which states that many of these minerals are in an inorganic form (die). When these minerals enter the circulation in the body, this mineral can not be used in physiological processes to build the body's cells. These inorganic minerals only interfere with the body's biological work which is very sensitive and very complex. This mineral is also very memforsir kidneys working system. For example, will be (biologically) impossible to provide the body with iron if by way of supplying the "iron pile" or supplying to other inorganic minerals. The best way to supply the body with iron is through fresh fruits and raw vegetables and fresh. With this, we can see that the mineral water can easily supply the mineral "dead" or "inorganic" minerals into the body where it can not be digested / broken down properly by the body. Dr. Henry A. Schroeder, a famous scientist in the field of minerals, said: "The minerals needed by the human body are found in water is not significant compared with the minerals contained in food." Medical Journals in the United states: "The needs of the body in minerals found in large quantities of food, not drink from water." Fact: The content of organic minerals found in drinking water represents only 1% of the total mineral content contained in the water. One glass of orange juice contains more beneficial minerals for the body than the 30 gallons of drinking water that has not been processed.

0 Minerals in Our Drinking Water

Inorganic Vs Organic
There are 120 inorganic elements that make up the earth's surface. Inorganic minerals is also known as mineral salts. When these inorganic minerals destroyed / broken down in the water, so-called "Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), total solids are broken down / destroyed." Throughout our lives, we have been taught that we need minerals in our diet, and no one can argue this. However, many who questioned the composition and the true source of that really needed to supply our body with essential minerals. Should these minerals organic or inorganic? Many believe the water we drink is a good source of minerals needed by the body. Really? Should we depend on our drinking water or our food to provide the minerals that the body needs? Minerals contained in water are known as "inorganic" - Minerals contained in our food supply is known as "organic" Perhaps the following excerpts and articles will help determine the answer for you.

Drinking Water

0 WATER CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH

Dr. Henry A Schroeder, a famous scientist in the field of Minerals, said: "The minerals needed by human body obtained in the Water is not significant compared with the minerals contained in foods". Journal of the American Medical said: "The body will need large amounts of minerals obtained from food, instead of WATER” Minerals - minerals found in natural water is off, water does not contain enzymes, which are needed by the body which is also the essence of life." Minerals derived from fruits, vegetables and meat that is needed by the body. It is believed that mineral waters help to complete the elements for metabolism in the body. But there is scientific evidence which states that, many of these minerals are in an inorganic form (die). When these minerals enter the circulation in the body, this mineral can not be used in physiological processes to build the body's cells. Minerals contained in water are known as "inorganic" - Minerals contained in our food supply is known as "organic"

Drinking Water

0 A drinking water p urification process

Drinking water production from surface water

On this page you will find an explanation of a drinking water purification process. All process steps are numbered and the numbers correspond with the numbers in the schematic representation of the drinking water process found below. This is a summing up of the process steps:

a: Prefiltration
1) The uptake of water from surface waters or groundwater and storage in reservoirs. Aeration of groundwater and natural treatment of surface water usually take place in the reservoirs. Often softening and pH-adjustments already happen during these natural processes.
2) Rapid sand filtration or in some cases microfiltration in drum filters.

b: Addition of chemicals
3) pH adjustment through addition of calcium oxide and sodium hydroxide.
4) FeCl₃ addition to induce flocculation for the removal of humic acids and suspended particulate matter, if necessary with the addition of an extra flocculation aid. Flocs are than settled and removed through lamellae separators. After that the flocs are concentrated in sludge and pumped to the exterior for safe removal of the particulates and sludge dewatering.

5) Softening in a reservoir, through natural aeration or with sodium hydroxide, on to 8,5 ^oD. This is not always necessary. For instance, in case natural filtration will be applied, softening takes place naturally.

c: Natural filtration
6) Drinking water preparation step that is specific for the Netherlands: Infiltration of the water in sand dunes for natural purification. This is not applied on all locations The water will enter the saturated zone where the groundwater is located and it will undergo further biological purification. As soon as it is needed for drinking water preparation, it will be extracted through drains.

d: Disinfection
7) Disinfection with sodium hypochlorite or ozone. Usually ozonation would be preferred, because ozone not only kills bacteria and viruses; it also improves taste and odour properties and breaks down micro pollutants. Ozone diffuses through the water as small bubbles and enters microrganisms cells by diffusion through cell walls. It destroys microrganisms either by disturbance of growth or by disturbance of respiratory functions and energy transfers of their cells. During these processes ozone is lost according to the reaction O₃ -> O₂ +(O).

e: Fine filtration
8) Slow sand (media) filtration for the removal of the residual turbidity and harmful bacteria. Sand filters are backwashed with water and air every day.
9) Active carbon filtration for further removal of matter affecting taste and odour and remaining micro pollutants. This takes place when water streams through a granular activated carbon layer in a filter. Backwash is required regularly due to silting up and reactivation of an active carbon filter should be done once a year.

f: Preservation and storage
10) Addition of 0.3 mg/L sodium hypochlorite to guarantee the preservation of the obtained quality. Not all companies chlorinate drinking water. The water will eventually be distributed to users through pipelines and distribution pumps.
11) Aeration for recovery oxygen supply of the water prior to storage. This is not always applied.
12) Remaining water can be stored in drinking water reservoirs.
In the following schematic representation of the drinking water preparation process dotted arrows represent the incoming chemicals and red arrows represent the outgoing flows.

Schematic representation of the drinking water preparation process

Water is not always infiltrated in sand dunes during treatment. Holland clearly illustrates this:
- In Rotterdam water is stored in reservoirs in the Biesbosch, where it undergoes natural treatment
- In Amsterdam the water was stored and naturally treated in sand dunes on to the year 2000, now it is stored in reservoirs
- In The Hague the water is still stored and naturally treated in sand dunes

-lenntech-

0 Drinking Water Treatment

 

Public Water Systems

Public Water Systems (PWSs) come in all shapes and sizes, and no two are exactly the same. They may be publicly or privately owned and maintained. While their design may vary, they all share the same goal - providing safe, reliable drinking water to the communities they serve. To do this, most water systems must treat their water. The types of treatment provided by a specific PWS vary depending on the size of the system, whether they use ground water or surface water, and the quality of the source water.

Tapping a Source of Water

Large-scale water supply systems tend to rely on surface water sources, while smaller systems tend to rely on ground water. Around 35 percent of the population served by community water systems (CWSs) drink water that originates as ground water. Ground water is usually pumped from wells ranging from shallow to deep (50 to 1,000 feet). The remaining 65 percent of the population served by CWSs receive water taken primarily from surface water sources like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Treating Raw Water

The amount and type of treatment applied by a PWS varies with the source type and quality. Many ground water systems can satisfy all Federal requirements without applying any treatment, while others need to add chlorine or additional treatment. Because surface water systems are exposed to direct wet weather runoff and to the atmosphere and are therefore more easily contaminated, federal and state regulations require that these systems treat their water.

Water suppliers use a variety of treatment processes to remove contaminants from drinking water. These individual processes may be arranged in a "treatment train" (a series of processes applied in sequence). The most commonly used processes include filtration, flocculation and sedimentation, and disinfection for surface water. Some treatment trains also include ion exchange and adsorption. Water utilities select a combination of treatment processes most appropriate to treat the contaminants found in the raw water used by the system.

Types of Treatment

Flocculation/Sedimentation

Flocculation refers to water treatment processes that combine or coagulate small particles into larger particles, which settle out of the water as sediment. Alum and iron salts or synthetic organic polymers (used alone or in combination with metal salts) are generally used to promote coagulation. Settling or sedimentation occurs naturally as flocculated particles settle out of the water.

Filtration

Many water treatment facilities use filtration to remove all particles from the water. Those particles include clays and silts, natural organic matter, precipitates from other treatment processes in the facility, iron and manganese, and microorganisms. Filtration clarifies water and enhances the effectiveness of disinfection.

Ion Exchange

Ion exchange processes are used to remove inorganic contaminants if they cannot be removed adequately by filtration or sedimentation. Ion exchange can be used to treat hard water. It can also be used to remove arsenic, chromium, excess fluoride, nitrates, radium, and uranium.

Adsorption

Organic contaminants, unwanted coloring, and taste-and-odor-causing compounds can stick to the surface of granular or powder activated carbon and are thus removed from the drinking water.

Disinfection (chlorination/ozonation)

Water is often disinfected before it enters the distribution system to ensure that potentially dangerous microbes are killed. Chlorine, chloramines, or chlorine dioxide are most often used because they are very effective disinfectants, not only at the treatment plant but also in the pipes that distribute water to our homes and businesses. Ozone is a powerful disinfectant, and ultraviolet radiation is an effective disinfectant and treatment for relatively clean source waters, but neither of these are effective in controlling biological contaminants in the distribution pipes.

Monitoring Water Quality

Water systems monitor for a wide variety of contaminants to verify that the water they provide to the public meets all federal and state standards. Currently, the nation's community water systems (CWSs) and nontransient non-community water systems (NTNCWSs) must monitor for more than 83 contaminants. The major classes of contaminants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), synthetic organic compounds (SOCs), inorganic compounds (IOCs), radionuclides, and microbial organisms (including bacteria). Testing for these contaminants takes place on varying schedules and at different locations throughout the water system.

Transient non-community water systems may monitor less frequently and for fewer contaminants than CWSs. Because these types of systems serve an ever-changing population, it is most important for them to monitor for contaminants such as microbiologicals and nitrate that can cause an immediate, acute public health effect.

Water systems also monitor for a number of contaminants that are currently not regulated. This monitoring data provides the basis for identifying contaminants to be regulated in the future.

Distribution to Customers

An underground network of pipes typically delivers drinking water to the homes and businesses served by the water system. Small systems serving just a handful of households may be relatively simple. Large metropolitan water systems can be extremely complex - sometimes with thousands of miles of piping serving millions of people. Although water may be safe when leaving the water treatment plant it is important to ensure that this water does not become contaminated in the distribution system because of such things as water main breaks, pressure problems, or growth of microorganisms.

The Water Cycle

Drinking water can come from both surface water and ground water. The water cycle

begins with rainwater and snow melt that gathers in lakes and rivers which interact with ground water.

Water Treatment Plant

Follow a drop of water from the source through the treatment process. Water may be treated differently in different communities depending on the quality of the water which enters the plant. Groundwater is located underground and typically requiresless treatment than water from lakes, rivers, and streams.

-Water Treatment Solution-

0 History of drinking water treatment

 

History of drinking water treatment

Humans have been storing and distributing water for centuries. Before, when people lived as hunters/ collectors, river water was applied for drinking water purposes. When people permanently stayed in one place for a long period of time, this was usually near a river or lake. When there were no rivers or lakes in an area, people used groundwater for drinking water purposes. This was pumped up through wells.

When the human population started growing extensively, the water supply was no longer sufficient. Drinking water needed to be extracted from a different source.

About 7000 years ago, Jericho (Israël, figure 1) stored water in wells that were used as sources. People also started to develop drinking water transport systems. The transport took place through simple channels, dug in the sand or in rocks. Later on one also started using hollow tubes. Egypt used hollow palm trees and China and Japan used bamboo strunks. Eventually one started using clay, wood and even metal.

In Perzia people searched for underground rivers and lakes. The water went through holes in rocks into the wells on the plains.

Around 3000 B.C., the city of Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan) used a very extensive water supply. In this city there were public bathing facilities with water boiler installations and bathrooms.

In ancient Greece spring water, well water, and rainwater were used very early on. Because of a fast increase in urban population, Greece was forced to store water in wells and transport it to the people through a distribution network. The water that was used was carried away through sewers, along with the rainwater. When valleys were reached, the water was lead through hills under pressure. The Greek where among the first to gain an interest in water quality. They used aeration basins for water purification.

Figure 1: bathing residence in Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan

The Romans were the greatest architects and constuctors of water distribution networks in history. They used river, spring or groundwater for provisioning. The Romans built dams in rivers, causing lakes to form. The lake water was aerated and than supplied. Mountain water was the most popular type of water, because of its quality.

For water transport the aquaducts where built. Through these aquaducts water was transported for tens of miles. Plumming in the city was made of concrete, rock, bronze, silver, wood or lead. Water winnings were protected from foreign pollutants.

Figure 2: a Roman aquaduct

After the fall of the Roman empire, the aquaducts were no longer used. From 500 to 1500 A.D. there was little development in the water treatment area. In the Middle Ages countless cities were manifested. In these cities wooden plumming was used. The water was extracted from rivers or wells, or from outside the city. Soon, circumstances became highly unhygenic, because waste and excrements were discharged into the water. People that drank this water fell ill and often died. To solve the problem people started drinking water from outside the city, where rivers where unpolluted. This water was carried to the city by so-called water-bearers.

The first drinking water supply that supplied an entire city was built in Paisley, Scotland in 1804 by John Gibb, in order to supply his bleachery and the entire city with water. Within three years, filtered water was transported to Glasgow.

In 1806 Paris operated a large water treatment plant. The water settled for 12 hours, before it was filtered. Filters consisted of sand and charcoal and where replaced every six hours.

In 1827, the Englishman James Simpson built a sand filter for drinking water purification. Today, we still call this the number one tribute to public health.

0 10 Reasons to Drink Water

 

1. Water is absolutely essential to the human body’s survival. A person can live for about a month without food, but only about a week without water.

2. Water helps to maintain healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite.

3. Water leads to increased energy levels. The most common cause of daytime fatigue is actually mild dehydration.

4. Drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease the risk of certain types of cancers, including colon cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer.

5. For a majority of sufferers, drinking water can significantly reduce joint and/or back pain.

6. Water leads to overall greater health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that can cause disease.

7. Water can prevent and alleviate headaches.

8. Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance.

9. Water aids in the digestion process and prevents constipation.

10. Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circ