The water filtration process removes undesirable biological contaminants, chemicals, and other compounds from raw water to make it fit for drinking or use in scientific or industrial applications. There are several ways to purify water and these are often used together to achieve the best results.

Drinking water standards, and water purity for scientific and medical use, are set by governing agencies that set limits on the allowable concentration of contaminants. The only way to tell if water meets these standards is to test it. Even clear water can be contaminated, and it is not possible to tell by looking if water is pure enough to drink. Water may not be safe to drink after passing through a single water filtration process.

For example, boiling water kills biological substances but it does not remove chemical contaminants that could be dangerous if ingested. That is why many people install water purifiers in their homes. It gives an added sense of security that their water is pure and safe to drink.

For home use, the most common water filtration systems are carbon filters, reverse osmosis systems, and distillers. Each has their advantages and disadvantages. Most home systems combine at least two methods into the water filtration process. For example, a distiller usually incorporates a carbon filter. The distiller removes solid contaminants while the carbon removes gases from the steam.

For home use, the water filtration process often takes place near the point of use, for example under the kitchen sink. That way water used for drinking and cooking is purified while water used for bathing or laundry is not. This saves wear and tear on the water filter and cuts down on cost.

For commercial use, the water filtration process often occurs at the point of entry of the main water line so the entire building has purified water. Labs often incorporate both point of entry and point of use filters. This provides the entire lab with purified water but the use of specialty filters added at certain points in the water line allows for increased purity for specific applications.

Most of the industrialized world has access to purified water yet millions of people still do not have access to pure, clean water. In those instances or during disasters and emergencies, it is possible to set up an emergency water filtration process to make water that is safe to drink.

To do this, filter obvious solids out of the water and then boil the water for at least one minute. This kills organisms but will not remove chemicals. The chemicals can be removed with a carbon filter if it is available. If water cannot be boiled, it can be purified with common bleach at the ratio of 1/8 teaspoon to one gallon of water. Let the water sit for at least thirty minutes before drinking. Although this is a crude water filtration process, it can remove many dangerous pathogens from the water.

The water filtration process can be as simple as boiling water or as elaborate as a municipal treatment plant treating water by flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Those are two ends of the extreme. Most people will be more familiar with point of use or counter top water purifiers. All of these work towards the same goal and that is to provide mankind with safe drinking water.

Andrew Long writes Scientific related articles for publications and his own series of websites. Go to http://www.labface.com for more information about this unique b2b network and marketplace.

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