Water that is safe to drink is called potable water.Compare how easily potable water can be obtained from:• waste water (sewage)• ground water (fresh water).[6 marks]Question 7 continues on the next page
Question
Water that is safe to drink is called potable water.Compare how easily potable water can be obtained from:• waste water (sewage)• ground water (fresh water).[6 marks]Question 7 continues on the next page
Solution
Obtaining potable water from waste water (sewage):
- Collection: The first step is to collect the wastewater from various sources.
- Preliminary Treatment: This involves the removal of large pieces of waste material. This is usually done by passing the wastewater through screens.
- Primary Treatment: The water is then allowed to stand in a large tank which is known as a sedimentation tank. Here, heavier solids sink to the bottom and are removed.
- Secondary Treatment: The water is then treated with bacteria that consume most of the organic material that remains in the water.
- Tertiary Treatment: This is the final cleaning process. The water is treated with chemicals and passed through filters to remove any remaining impurities.
- Disinfection: The water is then disinfected, usually with chlorine, to kill any remaining bacteria or viruses.
Obtaining potable water from ground water (fresh water):
- Location: The first step is to locate a source of groundwater. This is usually done by drilling a well into the ground.
- Extraction: The water is then pumped up from the ground.
- Filtration: The water is then filtered to remove any impurities.
- Disinfection: The water is then disinfected, usually with chlorine, to kill any bacteria or viruses.
In comparison, obtaining potable water from wastewater is a more complex and costly process than obtaining it from groundwater. However, in areas where fresh water is scarce, it may be the only viable option. Additionally, the process of treating wastewater can also be beneficial in that it reduces the amount of waste that is released into the environment.
Similar Questions
The terms ‘potable water’ and ‘drinking water’ both refer to water that comes from surface and ground sources and is treated to levels that that meet government issued standards for consumption and food preparation. True or False?
able to:• distinguish between potable water and pure water• describe the differences in treatment of ground water andsalty water• give reasons for the steps used to produce potable water
What term is used to describe water that is safe for humans to drink? PotablePureBottledSterilised2What are the two main stages in the treatment of ground water to make it potable?Desalination and sterilisationDistillation and desalinationPassing it through filter beds and sterilisationPassing it through filter beds and desalination3Which of the following is not a method or substance used to kill microbes during the purification of water?UV lightOzoneAntibioticsChlorine4Which two processes can be used to make drinking water from sea water? Filtration and sterilisationDistillation and reverse osmosisFiltration and reverse osmosisDistillation and anaerobic digestion5In the treatment of waste water, sewage is screened to remove large pieces and then filtered to produce sewage sludge. How is the remaining liquid (or effluent) then treated? Aerobic biological treatmentAnaerobic digestionBoilingSterilisation6What are two possible uses of sewage sludge after further treatment? Animal feed and fertiliserFertiliser and potable waterBuilding material and renewable energy sourceFertiliser and renewable energy source
Chapter 6: Water Hazards General information Safe drinking-water, sanitation, and hygiene are crucial to human health and well-being.” Drinking unsafe water harms health through illness such as diarrhea. Untreated diarrhea can contaminate groundwater and surface waters used for drinking water, which can make drinking water even more unsafe (WHO, b). Some 829,000 people are estimated to die each year from diarrhea as a result of unsafe drinking-water, sanitation, and hand hygiene. Yet diarrhea is largely preventable, and the deaths of 297,000 children aged under five years could be avoided each year if these risk factors were addressed. Where water is not readily available people may decide handwashing is not a priority, thereby adding to the likelihood of diarrhea and other diseases.” Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production, or recreational purposes (WHO, 2022b). A variety of pathogenic and toxic substances can be found in drinking-water, wastewater, recreational water, and during flooding. This unit discusses many of these substances; however, several are not exclusive to one type of water but can be found in various types. For example, Cryptosporidium is discussed under recreational waters, yet it is also found in contaminated drinking-water, wastewater, and flood water. Additionally, some pathogens are present in both water and food. How many people die each year from diarrhea due to unsafe drinking water, sanitation, hand hygiene? Drinking water Globally, at least two billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with human waste. Microbial contamination of drinking-water as a result of contamination with feces causes the greatest risk to drinking-water safety(WHO, 2022b). In addition to fecal contamination, chemical contamination of water continues to cause a health burden, whether natural in origin such as arsenic and fluoride, or anthropogenic such as nitrate (WHO, b). Although not only found in drinking water, the following contaminants are of major concern: cholera, typhoid, arsenic, and nitrates. Cholera Basic Information Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and remains a global threat to public health. Cholera transmission is closely linked to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Researchers have estimated that each year there are 1.3–4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths worldwide due to cholera. The cholera bacterium is usually found in water or in foods that have been contaminated by human waste from a person infected with cholera bacteria. Cholera is most likely to occur and spread in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene (CDC, 2022b). In cholera endemic countries, an outbreak can be seasonal or irregular and represents a greater than expected number of cases.
What poses the greatest risk to drinking water safety?Group of answer choicesWater left in the sunWater contaminated with fecesWater from fast-flowing streams or riversWater taken from the ground
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