Water purification takes place on small and large scales, and water filtering can provide clean and potable water for industrial applications, in addition to individual households.
The filtration process reduces the concentration of contaminants such as: suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi.
Why water filtration is important
It is virtually impossible to determine water quality on the basis of appearance. Multiple processes—such as physical, chemical, or biological analyses—have been developed to test contamination levels. Levels of organic and inorganic chemicals are some of the common parameters analyzed to determine water quality and contamination levels.
Tap water is often filtered in a water purification facility before it reaches the end user. Nevertheless, authorities test the water quality right after the water is filtered, before it goes in the municipal feed lines, which generally produces results above the required standard. What remains unaccounted for is the age of the feed lines and their length, however.
It is not uncommon for the pipes to be decades old, and by traveling a long time through them, filtered water can become polluted with everything it encounters along the way. Old pipes can redistribute microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses, as was the case in Flint, Michigan Crisis, and Chicago in regards to lead pipe. In the event that water is not filtered, the likelihood of exposure to harmful contaminants increases.
For instance, there is evidence that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans. The U.S. EPA reports that if humans or animals ingest PFAS, over time the contaminants can accumulate in the body. Exposure can lead humans to suffer from adverse health effects such as: a weakened immune system, cancer and thyroid hormone disruption.
