What are the specific ways to treat and purify water? Which is the best method?

Moira Laughlin

There are many ways to purify water, twenty-four ways to be exact. Which all fall under four categories, separation, chemicals, filtration, and oxidation. When performing separation methods it consists of separating the bacteria through heat, light, and gravity. The methods of separation are as follows, sedimentation, boiling water, distillation, and ultraviolet light. Chemicals can also be used to purify water but is not usually considered as the best method being that if used in the incorrect way the chemicals can be harmful. Some of the chemicals used to purify water are chlorine, bromine, and iodine just to name a few. Then you have the filtration methods which consist of paper or cloth, charcoal, reverse osmosis, as well as enzymes and bacteria, and many more. Last but not least there are oxidation methods which are aeration, ozone, and electronic purification and dissolved oxygen generation.
The best method all depends on what type of water you want to be purified. Drinking water is best filtered, while pool water is best purified with chemicals.

Citations:
Etrich, P. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.enviroalternatives.com/watermethods.html