Drinking Water Treatment for Safe and Clean Water

In this introduction, Professor Hu from the School of Public Health at Taipei Medical University discusses the importance of drinking water treatment. While water is abundant, drinking water is a rare resource, and not all forms of water are safe for consumption. Freshwater sources, such as rivers and groundwater, can be used, but they may require treatment to remove suspended solids and pathogens. Disinfection is also necessary to ensure the safety of drinking water. Turbidity and the number of pathogens, typically measured using E. coli, are essential indicators of drinking water quality. High turbidity indicates an increased risk of pathogens, while the presence of E. coli can indicate fecal contamination.

The suspended solids in water are too small to settle due to their small size and electrostatic repulsion, which prevents them from aggregating. Despite modern water treatment processes, some parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardiasis can survive and pose a risk to human health.

In summary, safe drinking water is essential for human health, and water treatment processes are necessary to remove contaminants and ensure safety. Turbidity and the number of pathogens are essential indicators of drinking water quality.

Review questions: – What are the sources of drinking water, and why do they need treatment? – What indicators are used to assess drinking water quality, and why are they important? – What are the challenges in removing contaminants from drinking water, and how can they be addressed?