© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
2012
List of water purification techniques in chronological order:
1. Sedimentation
2. Sand/gravel filters (India, 2000 B.C.)
3. Simple boiling
4. Treatment with herbs such as amla (which has very high vitamin C content), khus
(cooling agent, blood purifier & tonic), seeds of the nirmali (Strychnos potatorum) & lily
roots.
5. Use of copper vessel.
6. Distillation.
7. Charcoal filtration.
8. Sunlight exposure.
9. Use of iron sulfate or aluminium sulfate or a mixture of both of them in order to load the
suspended particle & enhance the sedimentation speed. (Egypt, 15 to 13 th century B.C.)
10. Use of wick siphons.
11. Hippocrates Sleeve (5th century B.C.)
12. Multiple sand filtration method (1685, Lucas Antonius Portius, Italy).
13. Use of sponges & sand in variety of configurations (1746, Joseph Army, first patent in
water purification).
14. Three tank upward flow backwash filter (1791, patented by James peacock).
15. Slow sand filters (1827, Robert Thom)
16. Ceramic filters
17. Rapid sand filters (1880, USA)
18. Chlorination
19. Coagulation + rapid sand filtration (mid-1890s, The Louisville (Ky.) Water Co.)
20. Ozonation (1906, France)
21. Use of sodium hypochlorite (1908, The Jersey City (N.J.) Water Works, USA)
22. 1935 Discovery of synthetic ion exchange resin
23. 1959 Discovery of synthetic reverse osmosis membrane
24. Cartridge filter technology (mid 1960)
25. Biosand filters (early 1990)
26. 2003 Report on use of noble metal nanoparticles for the degradation of pesticides.
Here is the list of useful links which would lead you to informative websites on various topics
Overview:
S.No LINK
DESCRIPTION
.
http://www.epa.gov/safew This link helps you understand the basics of water
1
ater/kids/flash/flash_filtra treatment via beautiful flash animations. It will also teach
tion.html
you how to build a rudimentary water filter at your home.
You would require flash player to be installed in your
browser.
2
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/e
du/characteristics.html
This link gives you a brief overview of the scientific analysis
techniques for water quality inspection. It has some beautiful
pictures which will give you a feel of the subject. Topics
covered are Temperature pH Specific conductance
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
Dissolved oxygen
3
http://watersheds.org/eart
h/karstmovie.htm
4
http://www.freedrinkingw
ater.com/watereducation3/31-waterbottled-waterpurification-process.htm
5
http://www.bionewsonlin
e.com/s/what_is_water_p
urification.htm
6
http://www.cybernook.com/water/Solution
s.html#top
7
http://utilities.columbus.gov
/About_Us/WaterTreatment
Process.htm
8
http://www.freedrinkingwat
er.com/water-education2/2water-quality-defined.htm
2012
Turbidity
Hardness Suspended sediment
This link provides you an interactive animation to make
you understand how groundwater gets polluted. It not only
provides the overview, but also provides the cut view of
the land in order to explain the route of pollution. For
viewing this website, you need flash player.
This website gives a brief introduction to water
purification. It mainly focuses on use of microorganisms
for water purification. It encloses research data of over 50
research groups around the world who are involved in
water purification using microbes. Great link for scientists.
Great link. Provides brief application oriented description
of present day water purification techniques along with
reviews over a large range of topics. It also advises you
about the type of water purifier you should own.
This link describes the general water treatment process
adopted by large scale plants. It also gives a brief
description of developments in this field in the 20th
century.
Definition of clean drinking water
1. Sedimentation:
It is the simplest & oldest process involved in water purification.
Contaminated water is allowed to stand undisturbed.
Heavier particles settled down with time.
The upper portion of water is decanted off slowly to get clean water.
S.No.
1.1
Link
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/chem
istry/chemistry-iii/chemistryconcepts/mixtures.php
http://www.tutorbene.com/index.aspx?P
ageID=92
description
This link displays how sedimentation is done in a
chemistry lab. Here they have used loading using
alum to enhance sedimentation rate. (loading)
This link gives a simple description of the
process off sedimentation & decantation.
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/was
te-water-treatment/sedimendation
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/was
te-water-treatment/sedimendation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3_
hpvYlavA
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-toperform-separation-by-decantationchemistry-lab-269377/
2012
This link gives a more of a industrial based utility
of the process
Describes more of a sort of utility of
sedimentation in waste water recycling
A nice visual aid for easy understanding
Describes how decantation is done in lab
2. Sand/gravel filters:
Consists of sand/gravels as filtering substance
Contaminated water is allowed to pass through a bed of sand/gravels.
Depending on the particle size, contaminants are sieved out.
S.No.
1.1
Link
description
3. Boiling:
Simplest method for disinfection of water
Heating water kills microorganisms by disintegrating the organic matter
Removes dissolved gases
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
4. Treatment with herbs/organisms:
Our ecosystem contains a very good water purification system which consists of living
organisms. They continuously work in cooperation in order to keep the environment
clean. They work both at small scale as well as at large scale.
Ayurvedic treatment (small scale):
amla (which has very high vitamin C content)
khus (cooling agent, blood purifier & tonic)
seeds of the nirmali (Strychnos potatorum)
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
2012
lily roots.
Treatment ponds (large scale)
S.No. Link
http://www.d-sector.org/article1
2
3
4
5
6
description
This link provides a brief tour through the
det.asp?id=411ed
possibility of using herbs for water treatment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisms This link provides a basic information about
_used_in_water_purification
currently used organisms (plants as well as
animals)
http://www.chemenviron.net/RJCE/RJ A research paper exploring the anti-bacterial
CE/SP/SP1a.pdf
effects of tulsi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatment It provides a brief overview of use of plants for
_pond
water treatment on large scales
http://www.eautarcie.com/Autarky/3.W Provides a little more advanced information
astewater_purification/B.Plant_purific regarding the topic. The links within are good for
ation.html
advanced users.
http://www.eanveshan.com/node/215
This article gives a brief introduction to “Water
Purification in Ancient India”. The major
techniques include use of herbs for the purpose.
5. Use of copper/silver vessel.
Copper & many other metals have been found to be effective for disinfection via
oligodynamic effect.
S.No. Link
description
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodyna Gives a nice description about the phenomenon&
1
mic_effect
its utility
http://www.saltlakemetals.com/Silver_ Perfect link: describes each and every aspect
2
Antibacterial.htm
about use of silver for anti-microbial purposes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a
3
A video describing manufacture of ceramic water
mvWRTCmBA
filters with colloidal silver impregnated in it
6. Distillation:
S.No.
Link
http://www.tutorbene.com/index.aspx?Pa
1
geID=92
2
3
4
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/desa
lination/distillation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distillation
http://www.distillationgroup.com/distill.
htm
description
This link gives the definition along with the
schematic diagram of distillation setup in
small scale.
This link gives a little more detailed &
scientific description of the process.
A great link to know everything about
distillation, from domestic to lab to
industrial. The links within are good enough
to guide you through the entire world of
distillation
Gives a generalized idea about distillation
process at industrial level
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
2012
7. Charcoal filtration.
Uses activated charcoal as an adsorbent
It is a cheap & easy method to remove odor producing organic chemicals from
water.
S.No. Link
description
http://www.home-water-purifiers-and- Good link for complete description about carbon
1.1
filters.com/carbon-water-filter.php
filters. Gives brief description of its working, pros
& cons, features, features, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fi
1.2
Good description of mechanism & utilities
ltering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp
w6PVQClUo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M
BaaSEr9ECc
1.3
Simply incomparable video demonstrating the
power of charcoal to clean water.
Use of nano-structured carbon to filter out water
from Coca-cola
8. Sunlight exposure.
Solar water disinfection - the SODIS method
S.No.
1.1
A part of the sunlight is UV light.
These high energy electromagnetic waves have the capability to kill microbes by
disintegrating their genetic material.
Link
description
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_disinfection
Great link to look upon. Describes
A to Z about the technique.
http://www.sodis.ch/index_EN
This is the official website for
SODIS. Here you can get to know
everything about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnjO-y8-Crw
Impressive video on the topic.
Gives a brief overview about the
advantages & disadvantages also.
http://www.youtube.com/user/keegio?ob=5#p/a/u/1/qfh- Good video. Quick & easy to
R2lsgm0
understand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN_c22teWME
Perfect video for a layman.
9. Loading:
Iron sulfate or aluminium sulfate or a mixture of both of them is used in order to
load the suspended particle
This enhances the sedimentation speed.
It originated in Egypt, 15 to 13th century B.C.
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/chemistry/chemistryEmail: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
2012
iii/chemistry-concepts/mixtures.php
10. Wick siphons:
Wick siphons are used for extracting clear water.
Works on the principle of capillary action.
Clean water moves through the pores of the cloth & dirt particles are left behind.
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
11. Hippocrates Sleeve (5th century B.C.)
It is a simple filtering cloth
Pore size small enough to prevent visible size dirt from passing through it
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
12. Multiple sand filtration method
Contains sand bed with varying particle size
Largest to smallest particle size in the direction of water flow
Capable of trapping microbes along with dirt particles
Developed in 1685 by Lucas Antonius Portius, Italy
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
2012
13. Sponges:
Sand along with sponge was used in a variety of configurations
This technology was a hybrid of sand filter & charcoal filter
Developed by Joseph Army in
It was the first patent in water purification.
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
14. Three tank upward flow backwash filter (1791, patented by James peacock).
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
15. Slow sand filters (1827, Robert Thom)
S.No Link
description
.
1.1
http://www.youtube.com/watch This video demonstrates how a slow sand filter works
?v=zHilE1ukkjY
16. Ceramic filters
S.No Link
.
1
2
Description
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3amvW
Perfect link to understand the parts &
RTCmBA
working of the filter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvvdokn Ceramic water filters: pot with a silver lining.
IJ6M
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
3
4
5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEx33D
vpj0s
http://www.filterpurefilters.org/the_filter.ht
m
http://www.wsp.org/wsp/sites/wsp.org/files/
publications/926200724252_eap_cambodia
_filter.pdf
2012
Everything about it. Video 1
Ceramic water filters: pot with a silver lining.
Everything about it. Video 2
Gives a scientific as well as sociologic
description of the filter
A study on use of ceramic filters in
Combodia. Really nice & very descriptive.
17. Rapid sand filters (1880, USA)
18. Chlorination
S.No.
Link
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
description
Provides a good scientific & easily understandable
disinfection/chlorine-disinfectant
description of the process.
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/ This link talks about the scientific evaluation of
disinfection/disinfection-efficiency
efficiency of any disinfectant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorina A complete description of the process along with
tion
advantages & disadvantages.
http://www.waterresearch.net/watertreatment/chlorinat
ion.htm
http://www.edstrom.com/doclib/mi4
174.pdf
http://www.waterandhealth.org/drink
ingwater/wp.html
http://www.brighthub.com/engineeri
ng/civil/articles/77511.aspx
http://www.ehow.com/waterchlorination/
A complete guide to a private well owner for
chlorination
A good scientific documentation containing
everything about the method
A really good survey on the topic
History of chlorination
The links within are really good to look upon.
They may help you to solve many of your day to
day problems.
19. Coagulation + rapid sand filtration (mid-1890s, The Louisville (Ky.) Water Co.)
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
20. Ozonation
Uses ozone as a source of disinfectant
Ozone generates oxygen free radical which reacts with organic molecules &
degrades them.
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
S.No.
1.1
2012
Nowadays ozone is generated in situ in water purifiers.
(1906, France)
Link
description
http://www.excelwater.com/eng/b2c/ozone.ph Good link for people who have
p
some basic level of scientific
knowledge.
http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/ENV149/oz Similar link as above but a little
onation.htm
more compact.
http://www.o3ti.com/wastewater-waterDescription about usage of ozone
treatment.htm
for waste water treatment.
http://www.biozone.com/
A commercial link which
describes the technique very
well. You can also get
information about commercially
available ozone generators.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_up6hFz Good video for getting brief
mVc
description about ozonation.
21. Use of sodium hypochlorite (1908, The Jersey City (N.J.) Water Works, USA)
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
22. 1935 Discovery of synthetic ion exchange resin
Used for softening hard water
S.No.
Link
1.1
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/
water-softener/softner-waterconditione
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/
water-softener/water-softeningconditione
description
Describes what is water
hardness & its types.
Provides a nice & impressive
image of effect of hardness.
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
23. 1959 Discovery of synthetic reverse osmosis membrane
Removes dissolved ions
S.No.
Link
1.1
description
http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_quality/quality1/4308-ultrafiltration-membrane-filter-tech.htm
http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_quality/quality1/3408-membrane-technology.htm
24. Cartridge filter technology (mid 1960)
S.No.
Link
1.1
2012
Description of
membrane filters
This link describes
the paradigm shift
from granular to
membrane
filtration
description
25. Biosand filters (early 1990)
Simple & innovative design for developing countries
Removes dirt, microbes & dissolved contaminants
S.No.
Link
description
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioSand_F
1
Gives a brief description about structure &
ilter
history of bio-sand water filters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb0
2
Excellent, very interactive & convincing
xf3mRbJM
link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L
3
Good video to show at schools. Very
MWzb7DMS8
convincing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaO
4
Good link for children.
5
6
OmaGzx0g&feature=related
http://www.biosandfilter.org/biosandfilt
er/index.php/
http://www.purefilteredwater.com/bsf.h
tm
Homepage of organization which is
working for popularizing this great
innovative filter.
Provides data about the effectiveness of the
filter
Email: [email protected]
© This intellectual property belongs to Ved Prakash
2012
26. 2003 Report on use of noble metal nanoparticles for the degradation of pesticides.
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
27. Aquaporins:
Water channels found in all living organisms
They have pore size just enough to allow water to pass through & nothing else.
Technology still in papers.
Expected to solve all water purification related problems
S.No.
Link
description
1.1
http://www.youtube.com/watch Nice animation describing possibility of
?v=ERTkE91ICB8
use of aquaporins for water purification
on industrial scale
http://www.aquaporin.dk/
Homepage of the organization which
promotes research on aquaporins. Links
within will guide you through every
aspect of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aq Gives a whole lot of information about
uaporin
aquaporins
http://www.aquaporins.org/pete Another organization promoting
r.htm
aquaporins
Email: [email protected]