| Water is essential for the sustenance and well-being | | | | Common methods used for treating water are water |
| of all life-plant, animal, and human. The total body | | | | softeners, water treatment chemicals, distillation, |
| water (TBW) content averages 60% of body weight | | | | activated carbon filters, ultraviolet (UV) filters, and |
| in men and about 55% in women. Vegetables contain | | | | reverse osmosis. |
| about 80% to 90% water. | | | | Water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium |
| Rivers and lakes form the source of surface water, | | | | salts by replacing them with sodium salt. The water |
| while wells form the source of ground water. Water | | | | thus obtained is not hard. Water treatment chemicals |
| from these sources does not usually conform to | | | | like soda ash neutralize the acidity of the liquid. |
| quality standards for human uses like bathing, drinking, | | | | Distillation vaporizes the water, which is then |
| washing machines, dishwashers, boilers and water | | | | condensed to give pure water. This does not remove |
| heaters, pets, and sometimes even for plants. It is | | | | volatile organic impurities that will co-distill along with |
| rendered unfit for use due to acidity, smell, color, | | | | water. Activated carbon filters work by the principle |
| heavy metals, dissolved solids (TDS), pollutants | | | | of surface adsorption; they remove organic impurities. |
| (organic compounds like insecticides and herbicides), | | | | Ultraviolet filters are used to kill the bacteria by |
| and bacteria and microbes. Hence, the water needs | | | | ultraviolet radiation. Reverse osmosis removes about |
| to be treated to obtain the desired quality, free from | | | | 90% of all the impurities present using a |
| contaminants, for human consumption. | | | | semi-permeable membrane. |
| Treatment of water depends on the contaminants | | | | Thus, it is important to properly test the water and |
| present in it. Any of the following methods-or | | | | use suitable measures for its treatment in order to |
| preferably a judicious combination of the | | | | meet the quality norms. |
| methods-would readily offer water of desired quality. | | | | |