All About Water

The history of water treatment has been marked by slow, gradual discoveries that coincided with human development.  While water filtration technology only became successful and widely used in the 20^th century, the history of water treatment can be traced back to thousands of years ago.

Early in The History of Water Treatment

Man has sought pure, clean water for as long as he has been on Earth.  The earliest recorded mention of water filtration and purification can be found in Sanskrit writings from about 2000 B.C.E.  These writings state that “impure water should be purified by being boiled over a fire…or it may be purified by filtration through sand and coarse gravel and then allowed to cool.”  This demonstrates that even in some of the earliest civilizations the basics of water purification were known.  There is also some evidence that the ancient Egyptians used wick siphons for water clarification.  Later, following the tutelage of Hippocrates, the Greek and Roman empires used cloth bags and additives such as pounded barley to filter out bad tastes in water.

Important Discoveries in the History of Water Treatment

After Sir Francis Bacon renewed interest in filtration in 1627, a number of important scientific discoveries deeply affected the history of water treatment.  Around 1690, Anton van Leeuwenhoek invented an early version of the modern microscope, which allowed scientists to more effectively study particles in water.  Meanwhile, in Italy, Lucas Antonius Portius invented the first effective sand filtration system using multiple perforated compartments and large grains of sand.  These two inventions allowed people in 19^th century Britain to examine disease-causing bacteria in water and create one of the world’s first municipal water treatment systems.

Modern Developments in the History of Water Treatment

In the early 1900s, English physicians discovered that chlorine was very effective in eliminating disease from water, and chlorination of public water systems began.  The United States and other countries soon followed suit, and in 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency passed the Clean Water Act, requiring cities to filter public water.  Today, amid growing concerns about the safety of water fluoridation and chlorination, individual households have begun to install filtration devices to taps, showerheads, and entire plumbing systems.

The History of Water Treatment Continues

The history of water filtration is still being written.  While individuals in America and other countries continue to improve the quality of household water, many people in developing countries lack the ability to properly filter their water.  The challenge moving forward will be in improving water filtration for all of humanity.

Many people wonder how good the water quality in their area is. When water contains contaminants, it leaves behind tiny particles that are dissolved in the water, particles that are called “total dissolved solids.”  This map charts total dissolved solids in the water. Although this chart doesn’t show exactly which contaminants are present in your water and whether they’re bad for you, it’s still a good measure of water purity.

Click on the map to find out more about your local water quality.

Fluoride in water supplies is quite a controversial topic these days. As with nearly every topic, there are two sides of the fluoride debate. Some believe fluoride to be beneficial, especially in oral health and overall costs. Others, however, believe the possible side effects of fluoride in the water to be far too risky and even unethical.

Fluoride in Water Fights Tooth Decay

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fluorides prevents tooth decay. Bacterias from certain foods create acids which eat away the natural minerals lining the teeth. Fluoride restores the minerals, preventing further damage to the tooth, and even helping to restore damaged teeth. When it is in the water supply, teeth are repeatedly exposed to the fluoride, allowing for frequent protection. Tooth decay has become extremely prevalent, especially in children and teenagers. Half of teens, ages 12-15, have at least one cavity. Fluoridated water can be very beneficial to people of every age, as studies have shown that over a person’s lifetime, tooth decay can be reduced by 25 percent.

Fluoride in Water Saves Money

Due to the consistent protection teeth receive through fluoridated water, overall costs of oral health decrease. The outright cost to fluoridate water is about .50 per person, based on a city of 20,000 or more. The CDC claims that “every $1 invested in this preventive measure yields approximately $38 savings in dental treatment costs.” Fluoridated water is more cost effective than obtaining fluoride from other means, such as toothpaste or mouth washes, though these methods still provide the same protection.

Risks of Fluoride in Water

Not everyone is convinced that fluoride is beneficial, however, and believe the risks and potential side effects of fluoride outweigh the benefits. Some studies show that fluoride can potentially cause cancer, lower the IQ, cause changes in bone structure and inhibit the immune system. One study in the United Kingdom showing that miscarriages and birth defects were 15 percent more likely in areas with fluoridated water, compared to those without it. Additionally, in this fluoridated city, Down’s Syndrome was 30 percent more likely. Like everything, fluoride has potential side effects, but that does not mean that these side effects will come to fruition. The CDC has deemed use of fluoride safe, though risks do still exist.

The Verdict on Fluoride in Water

Though there are benefits to fluoride in water supplies, there are also risks to be accounted for before deciding one way or another.

Chlorine in Water Treatment

Chlorine is a common disinfectant that is widely used for water disinfection. Chlorine’s disinfecting properties has made it useful in providing clean and safe tap water for many homes and communities. However, chlorine in water also has its own set of health risks. Because of this, it is advantageous to know the different ways to remove chlorine from water or entirely replace the application of chlorine in treating water.

Why There’s Chlorine in Water

Chlorine in water is well known and widely used as a disinfectant. The application of chlorine is effective for deactivating various pathogenic microorganisms – mostly bacteria or viruses, which cause illness. Chlorine is usually added into public water supplies in order to kill different bacteria present in the water or the water pipes. These bacteria can be hazardous to human health. Aside from disinfecting water, chlorine is also used to disinfect various home and hospital areas and bleach fabrics. These different applications of chlorine have been in use for over two centuries.

The Health Risks of Chlorine in Water

All of the disinfecting qualities of Chlorine come with a price though. It has been identified that chlorine in water reacts with different naturally-occurring components which cause it to form into toxins called trihalomethanes (THM). There has been a connection seen between THMs and disease like asthma, eczema, heart diseases and bladder cancer. Dr. Peter Montague from the Environmental Research Foundation has enumerated a number of studies that have shown that pregnant women who drink chlorinated tap water in moderate to large amounts are at a high risk of suffering miscarriages and birth defects.

Ways to Remove Chlorine in Water

A carbon filter is proving to be an effective device for removing chlorine, toxins like THMs and other harmful contaminants from water. Another benefit of using a carbon filter is that it is cheaper compared to other electronic filters but produces the same good quality water. There is also a simpler way of removing chlorine and other compounds from water without the need for a home filtration system. This involves placing water in an uncovered container and leaving it for 24 hours inside the refrigerator.

Alternatives to Using Chlorine in Water

Although resolving water contamination and cleaning up watersheds is proving to be a challenging ordeal, there are alternatives to using chlorine as a form of water treatment. Dr. Peter Montague also shares that a number of Canadian and European cities are using ozone to disinfect their water instead of chlorinating it. Cities in the United States like Las Vegas and Santa Clara are also switching to this alternative. We could all become healthier by switching away from using chlorine in water.