water purification
Making liquid potable
Water purification is the process of removing contaminants from water to make it safe for drinking or other uses.
Methods range from simple filtering and boiling to chemical treatment and reverse osmosis.
Municipal water purification treats water on a large scale before it reaches homes; portable purification systems serve hikers and disaster relief.
The water purification plant serves three counties.
Separating solids from liquids
- reverse osmosisPressure-driven membrane filtration
- distillationPurification via vaporization
- chlorinationDisinfecting with a halogen
- ozonationDisinfection using O3 gas
UV treatment · activated carbon · boiling · sedimentation · coagulation · flocculation · sand filter · biofilter
Particles settling in liquid
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- parasitesOrganisms feeding off hosts
heavy metals · chlorine · fluoride · arsenic · lead · nitrates · pesticides · microplastics
Porous separation device
- cartridgeSealed container for supplies
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- pre-filterCoarse initial separator
- storage tankContainer for bulk materials
pump · faucet filter · clarifier · cistern · reservoir
Contaminated drainage from buildings
- sewageLiquid refuse in drains
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- septic systemOnsite sewage treatment installation
- latrineBasic outdoor toilet
greywater · blackwater · sewage treatment · drainage · runoff · leachate · hygiene · public health
filtration
Separating solids from liquids
- reverse osmosisPressure-driven membrane filtration
- distillationPurification via vaporization
- chlorinationDisinfecting with a halogen
ozonation · UV treatment · activated carbon · boiling · sedimentation · coagulation · flocculation · sand filter · biofilter · zeolite
sediment
Particles settling in liquid
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
parasites · heavy metals · chlorine · fluoride · arsenic · lead · nitrates · pesticides · microplastics · turbidity
filter
Porous separation device
- cartridgeSealed container for supplies
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- pre-filterCoarse initial separator
storage tank · pump · faucet filter · clarifier · cistern · reservoir
wastewater
Contaminated drainage from buildings
- sewageLiquid refuse in drains
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- septic systemOnsite sewage treatment installation
latrine · greywater · blackwater · sewage treatment · drainage · runoff · leachate · hygiene · public health
- Bushcraftfire starting, shelter building, animal tracking, foraging, knot tying
- military supportmedical services, transportation, communications, engineering, logistics
- remediationbioremediation, remediation, cleanup, biodegradation, detoxification
- campingtent, campfire, campsite, campground, sleeping bag
- sanitationsewage, sewers, cleaning, sewer, disinfecting
- water resourcesfreshwater, aquifers, aquifer, watersheds, groundwater
water purificationwater contamination
Harmful substances in drinking supply
water pollution · contamination · pollution · toxification · waste disposal
water purificationeutrophication
Excess nutrients depleting oxygen
environmental contamination · algal bloom · agricultural runoff · leachate
water purificationwater contamination
Harmful substances in drinking supply
water pollution · water poisoning · chemical runoff · toxic dumping
water, purity, purify, watered, watering, aquarium, waters, aquatic, waterless