Banana Stem as Water Purifier Essay Example

also to treat safe municipal water for aesthetic purposes by removingchlorine, bad taste, odors, and heavy metals like lead and mercury. Large rivers may be polluted with sewage effluent, surface runoff, or industrial pollutants from sources far upstream.

However, even small streams,springs and wells may be contaminated by animal waste and pathogens. The presence of dead animals upstream is not uncommon. In most parts of the world, water may be contaminated by bacteria, protozoa or parasitic worms from human and animal waste or pathogens which use other organisms as an intermediate host. Pathogenic strains of E coli bacteria survive briefly outside the body, to infect new hosts.

Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp. , both of which cause diarrhea (see giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis) are common pathogens. In backcountry areas of the United States and Canada they are sometimes present in sufficient quantity that water treatment is justified for backpackers,[1] although this has created some controversy. [2][3] (See Wilderness acquired diarrhea. )

In Hawaii and other tropical areas, Leptospira spp. are another possible problem. 4] Less commonly seen in developed countries are organisms such as Vibrio cholerae which causes cholera and various strains of Salmonella which cause typhoid and para-typhoid diseases. Pathogenic viruses may also be found in water. The larvae of flukes are particularly dangerous in area frequented by sheep, deer, or cattle. If such microscopic larvae are ingested, they can form potentially life threatening cysts in the brain or liver. This risk extends to plants grown in or near water including the commonly eaten watercress.

Alternatives

A more popular solution to Chlorine Dioxide water purification are ClO2 generators, however their

use is steadily falling out of fashion in industry as these systems generally require the use of strong acids to work and can take several hours to reach their full yield with poor efficiency. The requirement to store the hazardous gas in a pressurized chamber poses a risk some sites prefer not to take.

Newer dosing systems have proven to provide a safer alternative producing ClO2 in solution and offering a huge leap in efficiency converting around 95% instantly only requiring the use of weak FDA approved acids offering a much safer method of producing ClO2 as there is no storage which proves a more effective Chlorine Dioxide Water Treatment. Many people refuse to drink municipal water because they believe it can contain unhealthy chemicals.

If municipal water isn't available to you, then you must filter and treat well water. Water purifiers that go under your sink or attach to your faucet can be expensive, but a number of alternatives are available. Water-filtration Pitcher A water-filtration pitcher is an affordable option. You add water from your tap to a compartment located in the top of the pitcher. A charcoal filter removes impurities as the water drains into the pitcher, which can then then be stored in the refrigerator.

While these pitchers are convenient, they also have drawbacks. Depending on how often the pitcher is used, a new filter must be purchased every two to three months. The costs of the filters can add up if the pitcher is used frequently. Also, the water can take a long time to completely drain through the filter and into the pitcher. Bottled water is a

common staple on many shopping lists.

Buying water in bottles can be expensive, although if you purchase them in bulk, you can often get a better deal. Although bottled water is marketed as purified, it might not be as pure as the companies that sell it want you to believe. According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, water that is purchased in bottles is not necessarily any safer for you to drink than the water that flows from the tap. Even though the federal Food and Drug Administration regulates bottled water, the levels of treatment varies greatly.

Water Cooler

Purchasing a water cooler is a viable option for pure water, especially if you have a large family. You can find a water-delivery service in your area and sign a contract for service. They will sell or rent a cooling unit to you and deliver full bottles of water on a specific schedule. The company also will collect the empty bottles. While these water coolers take up space and use electricity, they offer fast access to safe, cold drinking water.