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.

Water Regulation

Environmental Protection Agency

In the United States, the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to uphold standards of public health and protect the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency bases their efforts upon scientific information and enforces protection of the environment and its inhabitants, human, animal, and plants, with fair and effective policies established through the federal government. With the cooperation of communities, businesses, local, federal and tribal entities, the EPA has been a proven success in sustaining the eco-systems of the United States in a productive manner, setting the standard for global environment protection efforts.

Water Regulation

Laws concerning water regulation enacted by the United States Congress are the basis of the regulations and policies of the EPA. Important water regulation of the Environmental Protection Agency have been enacted by the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Other important legislation includes the laws to control and lessen the impact of hazards to our environment from atomic and fossil energy, conservation and recovery, and issues pertaining to public health.

Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act allows the Environmental Protection Agency to protect waterways in the United States from the harmful effects of pollution. This water regulation includes man-made and natural ponds and lakes, wetlands and rivers. CWA was enacted in 1972 and mandated the restoration and maintenance of the waterways of the United States by:

• Setting standards for industries to control pollution.
• Requiring states and tribal entities to address water quality and develop pollution control programs.
• Creating processes of development in wetlands to ensure environmental quality.
• Authorizing the EPA to oversee emergency response situations of release of oil or other hazardous substances that are a threat to public welfare.

Safe Drinking Water Act

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to announce and enforce standards to ensure the quality of public drinking water systems. The types of contaminants and standards are extensive and amended regularly to reflect the latest scientific findings. The SWDA is applicable to every public water system in the United States.

Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments

Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments requires states and territories to develop nonpoint pollution programs. The CZARA mandates are under the joint auspice of EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act

Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act mandates drinking water systems must be periodically assessed for vulnerabilities to terrorist or other intentional malicious acts.

Approximately 70% of Earth’s surface is covered with water. The oceans hold about 96.5% of this water and the remainder is found in rivers, lakes, streams, glaciers and underground. With an ever increasing population, and because of the misuse of Earth’s waters, measures eventually had to be put in place that would protect and preserve this vital resource. Hence, this need brought about the Clean Water Act.

What is the Clean Water Act?

The Clean Water Act was originally enacted in 1948 and introduced as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. In 1972 the Act was amended and expanded. In 1977 the Act was again largely amended and at that time it came to be known as The Clean Water Act, or, simply as the CWA. The Act was put in place to regulate the discharge of toxic chemicals in the water supply. The Act also regulates quality standards for surface waters. Prior to the Clean Water Act, industries as well as individuals simply discharged all manner of wastes from pipes or ditches directly into bodies of water. The Clean Water Act was designed to regulate this and to help stop further pollution of our waters by requiring permits from the EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to regulation, the CWA also forced violators to clean up. Further violations result in ever increasing fines and other penalties.

What does the Clean Water Act regulate?

Not only does the Clean Water Act regulate the disposal of chemicals or other wastes that are allowed to enter any bodies of water, it also provides means of enforcing the regulations, and authorizes funding for wastewater treatment facilities and monetary grants to states for water quality programs. The Act also provides provisions for the protection of wildlife by requiring permits to dispose of wastes or toxic chemicals. Some sections of the Act, such as Section 404 which pertains to the use of wetlands, are very controversial.

How does the Clean Water Act effect businesses?

Prior to the Act, it was common for businesses such as factories to simply run a pipe to a body of water and allow their waste products to flow out of it. This practice was detrimental to fish, other marine life and to the quality of the water supply itself. It was the intent of the Act to bring about the elimination of the practice of discharging pollutants into navigated waters by 1985. Another goal was to restore water quality to levels which would once again support the propagation of fish and other wildlife. Businesses who were in the habit of allowing their waste products to run into the waters were now required to find other means of disposal. To allow run off of any kind, they must now have permits which are issued by the EPA. Heavy fines are imposed for failure to comply.

Agriculture is one business that has been impacted greatly by the Clean Water Act. For example, prior to its institution, farmers had no regulations as to how much manure they could spread on their fields. Applied too heavily, or combined with rainwater, the manure ran off and flowed into nearby ditches and streams. It also leeched into the water table, contaminating drinking water in the surrounding area. The CWA provided regulations to lessen these effects. It also provided the means of enforcing such regulations.

How does the Clean Water Act effect consumers?

The CWA ensures that consumers have clean and safe water for their needs. Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams are cleaner as a result of the Clean Water Act. Our waters are once again populated with fish and other marine life and their ecosystems have been restored. Thanks to the CWA it is safer to drink, we can swim in and use these waters for other recreational purposes once again.