Water treatment is the process of removing all those substances whether biological, chemical or physical that are potentially harmful to the water supply for human and domestic use.
This treatment process helps to produce water that is safe, palatable, clear, colorless and odorless.
The basic steps of water treatment include coagulation, precipitation and filtration. It is essential to treat water before supplying it to consumers to create a sustainable life.
Biotechnology offers a range of solutions to effectively remove contaminants and provide safe drinking water.
In the past, various methods were used to treat drinking water which include chlorination, sand filtration, ceramic filtration and boiling among others.
Current water treatment methods have gained prominence which include membrane technology, carbon based purification, nano filtration and Bio- based water remediation.
These current water treatment methods have various merits over the former methods which include improved effectiveness, which means a wide range of contaminants can be removed including micro organisms, chemicals and heavy metals.
As an example, acoustic nanotube technology uses an acoustically powered molecular screen connected to carbon nanotubes, which allows water to flow through blocking contaminants.
Water is driven away from contaminants, thus negating the need to flush out the filter system.
An oscillator circuit produces an acoustic vibration that debonds the water molecules which the system moves through the filter for purification.
NASA devised this method at the International Space Station.
The process uses acoustics in place of pressure to purify water.
They also offer increased efficiency by removing large volumes of contaminants more quickly, the processes are more environmentally friendly and sustainable and offer better safety by reducing risks of water borne disease transmission.
More than a million people die each year from lack of access to safe water and sanitation due to health impacts alone.
Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to transmission of diseases like cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio.
Clean water is fundamental to health and is crucial in reducing mortality rates among infants and young children.
Contaminated water is the leading cause of chronic diarrhea which pose severe threat to children under 5 years old.
Every year countless children die from preventable causes related to chronic diarrhea.
According to the United Nations, improved access to safe water is the most significant factor in alleviating global poverty.
Contaminants in unclean water can cause stunted growth in children.
Studies have shown that consistent exposure to unclean water has long term impacts on the brain causing neurotoxic effects, gastrointestinal illnesses, cancer and kidney damage.
The most vulnerable people are the young children, pregnant women, elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
Harare’s long unresolved water crisis is a ticking time bomb of magnified health risks especially in the densely populated surburbs of Budiriro, Glenview and Mbare.
Due to the adoption of morden water treatment methods, there will be a global disease burden reduction by 10%, health complications and morbidity will be reduced as well.