Water Treatment Systems
brita and pur filters
good for apartment dwellers charcoal filter removes odors bad tastes chlorine put in fridge so bacteria doesn't grow in filter
activated carbon filters
remove through chlorine, volatile organic compounds, sediment, tastes, odors through chemical adsorption dont removed dissolved inorganics, minerals and salts
what is a benefit of private filtration systems?
revenue opportunity can sell the reverse osmosis water to customers to drink instead of bottled water or to bathe in for a higher room rate. these rooms usually also have ventilation and hypoallergenic bedding
private filtration systems range...
simplistic to complicated, cheap to expensive
how does the US government clean the water to make it "potable"?
1. coagulants are added to the water to bind the particulates in the water together 2.sedimentation process makes heavier particulates drop out of the water 3. water goes through a filtration process that takes out remaining smaller particulates 4. disinfectant is added (chlorine) to kill harmful bacteria and viruses in the water 5. water leaves the treatment plant and is either used or stored until needed
small commercial and residential filtration system
1. water from city goes into filter one which removes sediments 2. filter two activated carbon removes smells tastes and volatile organic compounds and chlorine 3. filter three reverse osmosis filter (waste water goes down drain) 4. water flows into tank where it is stored until needed 5. another carbon filter in the faucet to freshen up the water
las vegas water has approximately how many grains per million of hardness?
19 grains
how does a magnetic water softener work?
bar magnets are put on the inside of water pipes that keep the minerals in the solution as they travel through the pipes - eliminates corrosion, protect cooling towers and boilers
membrane filters
can remove a host of matter from water depending on the pore size
can you use water from the ion exchange to water plants?
can use the potassium chloride water but not the sodium chloride water
faucet filters
cheaper than bottled water and less waste than bottled water
what has been the chief treatment used to destroy disease causing pathogens found in municipal water?
chlorine
what has to be removed before a water goes through a reverse osmosis membrane?
chlorine; it will destroy the filter
where can these filtration systems be used in a commercial setting?
cooling towers, boiler water used in domestic and heating hot water, guest water for drinking and bathing, water for cooking water for laundry
minerals in the tap disadvantages?
damage water and sewer pipes over time, corrode faucets, yellow whites in the laundry, unpleasant showers and baths, increase kidney stones in people who drink hard water
cascade
delivers treated water in reusable containers to your home
commercial ion exchange water softener
designed for hotels and other commercial applications fewer bells and whistles but are also much bigger than normal ion exchange
what have been the concerns about water safety?
destroying disease causing pathogens founding municipal water. also, the removal of particulates in the water that cause turbidity but not in every community
Third world countries
developed nations usually have a program like the US government. but developing countries don't have water treatment facilities a lot of the time. death and disease. relief agencies are trying to teach people to make their own low cost water treatment plants out of soda pop bottles and elastic bands
how is water softened? 2 ways
either remove calcium and magnesium or keep the minerals in solution and keep them from precipitating out causing scaling and corosion
symptoms of hard water
feels slimy in your hands 2. have to use a lot of soap to clean 3. stains on sink. 4. clogs plumping and shortens life of appliances and increases energy bill
what is turbidity
how murky the water is
what other water softeners are on the market? should we use them?
magnetic systems. not been proven effective by science cartridge, carbon and membrane filters
ion exchange process
most hotels use this. table salt and resin called zeolite best for hot water where minerals precipitate out best. softened water is slightly salty. bad for people with hypertension or heart disease. They should use potassium chloride instead 1. zeolite is coated with sodium ions 2. water passes over the resin (negative charge) and the sodium (positive charge) is released into the water and the calcium and magnesium (positive charge) stick to the resin because calcium and magnesium have a stronger charge that sodium 3. takes equipment a little energy and salt 4. when resin is saturated, the softener goes through a recharging process by introducing salt (so much salt that it overcomes the charges of the calcium and magnesium) which strips away the calcium and sends it down the sewer
How long has america been treating its water to prevent disease?
most of 20th and 21st centuries
how much calcium or magnesium is considered to be "hard water"
one or more parts per million of calcium or magnesium
what is the irony with minerals in the water?
people will pay for bottled mineral water than regular bottled water but don't want it when it comes out of the tap
what is more expensive, potassium chloride or sodium chloride?
potassium chloride
private water treatment
since public water treatment is concerned primarily with potability, restaurants, bars, hotels have to add additional procedures to ensure that the water is aesthetically pleasing (murky) and tastes good (no calcium or magnesium)
hard vs soft water on laundry stains
soft water up to 100 times more effective. less soap (70% less), lower temp and still better job at removing stains
iron in tap water disadvantages?
stains on fixtures and clothing and taste bad
cartridge filters
string wund polypropylene filter to get sedimentation out of water
reverse osmosis filters
the best but very expensive, produce more than 2 units of waste water for every one unit of treated water avoid reverse osmosis filters that run continually
sulfur in tap water disadvantages?
very bad taste and odor