Advantages of disinfecting drinking water

Tim Hoesterey
FYS Chemistry and Your Future
The Advantages of Disinfecting Drinking Water

Clean drinking water has been a priority for human survival for as long as mankind has been on this earth. Much of the way humans have developed this earth is based on accessibility to fresh water. There are many ways that water can be disinfected, but some of them are: chlorination, ozonation, ultraviolet treatment, osmosis, and distillation. Chlorination is the easiest and cheapest, and it is the most commonly used method for purifying drinking water in America. However, many people are concerned of the health risks that could come with drinking chlorinated water, but the good of chlorination greatly outweighs the bad. Since the use of chlorination typhoid and cholera have virtually been eradicated in Europe and North America.

Chlorination: is the process of adding the element chlorine to water as a method of water purification.

Cryptosporidium: a deadly parasite that is resistant to standard disinfection methods, and is small enough to pass through standard filters.

I find water treatment interesting partly because I have taken care of my pool chemicals since I was old enough to know how to do it, and because I am thankful that I don’t have to wake up every morning and worry about being thirst. Many times I take fresh water for granted, and I believe that it is very good to know the work that goes into disinfecting our water so that we can have a high standard of living.

Chemistry in Your Life: Second Edition. By: Colin Baird. Pg. 498-502