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Cleaning ourselves and cleaning our household is part of human nature. A predominant part of it is driven by basic survival instincts that ensure the satisfaction of basic needs such as food, shelter and others. Water is an essential need to a sense that we cannot live without it. Also, in everyday household activities, water usage is present. It is a major source of polluted runoff critically jeopardizing our groundwater. Contamination on our waterways are caused by extra fertilizer on lawns, oil spill out on driveways, remains from paints and solvents used on ramparts and decks all end up and totting up as unsafe chemicals. All of these are carried into storm sewers or nearby lakes, rivers and streams – the same water we depend upon for drinking, bathing, fishing and swimming.

Without realizing it, you could be fouling your own drinking water. Unfortunately, water treatment is costly and complicated. So in our own ways, we must make sure that water is treated fine so our health and the health of Mother Nature are out of harm’s way. Little things, when combined together, could make big things and big differences.

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Water is an increasingly scarce resource for much of the World's population. Global warming, an increasing world population and generally increasing incomes mean the demand for water is likely to rise further. If current trends continue, we will use 40% more water by 2024 than we do now. In industrialized countries much of the water used for non-potable purposes such as industrial applications, toilet flushing and irrigation, is unnecessarily treated to potable-water standard. We have to carefully treat waste water to protect water resources and ensure water is available for abstraction.

Recycling and reusing water conserves existing water resources, reduces the need for new fresh water and, because it is no longer discharged to the environment, reduces contamination and degradation of freshwater resources. Waste water can be recycled/reused as a source of water for a multitude of activities such as agriculture, aquaculture, fire fighting, flushing of toilets, parks and golf course watering, and essentially for several other non-potable requirements. Potential reuses of waste water depend on the characteristics and contents of waste water, which determine the methods and degree of treatment required. While agricultural irrigation reuses, in general, require lower quality levels of treatment, domestic reuse options need the highest treatment level. Level of treatment for other reuse options lie between these two extremes. Agricultural irrigation has, by far, been the largest reported reuse of waste water.

Industrial reuse of waste water represents major reuse next only to irrigation in both developed and developing countries. Often industries are located near populated area where centralized treatment facilities already generate reclaimed water. Depending on the type of industry, water can be utilized for cooling water make-up, boiler feed water, process water etc. Cooling water make-up a majority of industrial operations and represents the single largest water usage.

Indirect reuse is already a viable option for many parts of the world. Adequately treated waste water meeting strict quality criteria, can be planned for reuse for many non-potable domestic purposes. Non-potable reuse leads to both a reduction water consumption from other sources, and a reduction in waste water flow rate. So, non-potable reuse schemes can avoid adverse environmental consequences associated with conventional water sources and waste water disposal systems. Non-potable domestic reuse can be planned either within single households/buildings, or on a larger-scale use through a reticulation system meant only for use for non-potable purpose.

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Philippine Ocean Marine Life

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WATER POTABILITY

By Mark Victor Cano

  Imagine a day without clean and potable water. A day in which the water you used for drinking became contaminated. Difficult, right? Ever wonder how your water became safe for human consumption? That is where the water treatment process comes into place. Water Treatment is done to ensure that the water flowing from your faucets is fit for drinking using an advanced process called microfiltration which is a process of removing contaminants between 0.1 to 10 microns from fluids by using a microporous membrane to purify the water and reversed osmosis.

In a laboratory analysis, for the potability of water, there are 5 factors that will be considered. The first one is physical characteristic which include turbidity, color, taste, and odor. The second one is chemical characteristic are ph, alkalinity, total solid, fluoride, hardness and iron. The third is bacteriological characterstic which is the most important single test for the examination of water.  It checks for indications that could mean chemical and/or fecal contamination on water. The fourth is biological examination of water checks for microorganisms responsible for bad odor and taste. Lastly, the radiological examination is done only for water receiving wastes from nuclear installations, radio isotope laboratories or even industrial factories.

There are many ways on cleaning water so everybody can enjoy its many benefits. One is called household treatment wherein you can do any of the following: Boiling is the most common household water treatment because most of the time, bacteria cannot survive temperatures of more or less 100°C. Filtration is obviously the simple removal of solids from water just like a household strainer that can be found in the kitchen. Water purification also apply to a larger scale than a household. Public water supply water purification is similar to household water treatment but on a larger scale. Imagine boiling or filtering water to the amounts of water comparable to a public swimming pool. In maynilad and mwss, large scale water treatment is done everyday to ensure all their clients receive clean and usable water. Almost all characteristics of water must first be identified so you know what water treatment method to use. Most of the time, one characteristic of water requires more than one treatment method. for example, water from a lake or a creek is muddy and possibly toxic if there are industrial factories nearby. That water requires first to be filtered to remove the solids, or distillation can be used wherein water is boiled until it evaporates then the vapor is caught where it condenses then the condensed vapor which is now water,  flows to a separate container totally separating the water from the solids. In general, water treatment is not a one step process and it requires a lot of resources just to produce drinkable or usable water.

Now you know how and where the water you are using from the faucet of your home come from. I surely hope that after reading and understanding how difficult it is to produce clean water, you should come to a realization that clean water is hard to comeby and it "it doesn't grow on trees". Therefore, from now on, you should learn to conserve the water you are using because one day, we could run out of water to use or drink and if that happens, would you use toxic water for your shower or drink dirty water?

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WTR CNSRVTN

by Jen Pineda

Photo by elrina753

What is water conservation?

Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally-sound way to reduce the demand for water.  For some, it is merely saving water like buying a water-efficient appliance or turning off the tap when brushing your teeth. But, water conservation is more complex than that. It also involves changing the way people think about water use and developing a new way of doing business where water conservation is central to planning. Lastly, it involves encouraging the development and use of best practices, as well as rewarding innovation.

Why conserve?

Water conservation means using our water wisely and caring for it properly.  Water is one of the most abundant natural resources that we have.  More than three quarters of the earth's surface is covered with water.  Since each of us depends on water for life, it is our responsibility to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our water pure and safe for generations to come.

Our water supply is finite.  97% percent of all the water on the earth is salt water which is not suitable for drinking. Only 3% percent of all the water is fresh water, and only 1% percent is available for drinking water. The other 2% percent is locked in ice caps and glaciers.

With all the people on Earth relying on such a small percentage of all the water, it only makes sense that we must preserve and conserve our water.  

What can I do?

There are many effective ways to conserve water around you.  A whole lot of people doing a little bit adds up to a whole lot.  We must all make changes in our lifestyles that will change the course of our water and its quality. 

Here is a list of how you can conserve water.

There are number of ways to save water, and they all start with you. 

Sources:

www.monolake.org/waterconservation 

http://www.lenntech.com/water-quantity-faq.htm

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Greenpeace ‘Water Patrol’ spotlights toxics pollution in Marilao River | by Greenpeace Southeast Asia | Philippines

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Worker at waster water treatment facility. Manila, Philippines | by World Bank Photo Collection

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Water flowing at a waste water treatment facility. Manila, Philippines | by World Bank Photo Collection

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Concert at the MV Greenpeace after a direct action against export of hazardous wastes to developing countries like the Philippines | by Greenpeace Southeast Asia | Philippines

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Greenpeace calls for full disclosure on industrial pollutions during International Coastal Clean-up Day | by Greenpeace Southeast Asia | Philippines

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Tampuan Dive | by Greenpeace Southeast Asia | Philippines

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Global Day of Action Against Waste Incineration | by Greenpeace Southeast Asia | Philippines

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LGUs, community groups join Greenpeace call for phase-out of toxics in Marikina River | by Greenpeace Southeast Asia | Philippines

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Greenpeace Water Patrol spotlights chemical discharge pipes along Marikina River | by Greenpeace Southeast Asia | Philippines