What does water purification consist of?

Eliminating substances that can be dangerous to health, such as algae, sand bacteria or viruses.

There is no water that cannot be purified, as long as the appropriate technology is used and the processes are complied with.

In order to ensure that the whole population has access to this resource, once it has been purified, it is necessary to follow a series of standards to achieve the perfect quality, in line with the criteria set by the local and international authorities.

Where do we purify water?

Water purification is carried out in specific facilities known as water purification plants. Their technical name is Water Treatment Plants.

The process can vary depending on the natural conditions of the land:

When we get it from a river or lake, we do so through a process of separating the components of the natural water, and after eliminating impurities, filtering and disinfecting with chlorine or ozone.

When it contains heavy metals and/or salts, the process is complicated and costly due to the risk these elements pose.

In areas with a scarcity of water resources, such as coastal areas, desalination is carried out via inverse osmosis or distillation.

Stages of water purification

What does the process consist of?

The water purification process is made up of six steps:

Pretreatment of the water: large solid elements are removed by straining it through a grille. This prevents branches and large objects from slipping through, as well as protecting living beings.

Coagulation-Flocculation The pH is adjusted by adding acids and coagulant agents.

Decantation: Separation is carried out by using the weight of the particles carried by the water in suspension. The densest harmful sediments are left at the bottom. The less dense ones remain dissolved in the decanted water.

Filtration: the water is passed through a porous medium that eliminates the less dense sediments, to finish straining the impurities.

Disinfection of the water: We add chlorine to remove any kind of bacteria or virus. The exclusion of pathogens from natural ground water or spring water can also be achieved with radiation from ultraviolet rays and the application of ozone.

Safety controls and analysis

Once the five previous stages have been completed at the water treatment plant, we carry out various analyses on the water to ensure it is drinkable; it should be colourless, odourless and tasteless and comply with the current regulations in each country.

Currently, over 2 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water. At Acideka, we work with different projects that aim to give those people access to drinking water systems, a basic need that is essential for ensuring their health and wellbeing.