IIP PROJECT

WATER
CONSERVATION
AND PURIFICATION
INTRODUCTION
 Water conservation includes all the policies,
strategies and activities to sustainably manage
the natural resource of fresh water, to protect
the hydrosphere, and to meet the current and
future human demand.
 Population, household size, and growth and
affluence all affect how much water is used.
 Factors such as climate change have
increased pressures on natural water resources
especially in manufacturing and agricultural
irrigation.
 According to a 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) report,
1.1 billion people lack access to an improved drinking water
supply; 88% of the 4 billion annual cases of disease are
attributed to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation and
hygiene, while 1.8 million people die from diarrheal disease
each year.

 The WHO estimates that 94% of these diarrheal disease cases

are preventable through modifications to the environment,
including access to safe water.

 Simple techniques for treating water at home, such as

chlorination, filters, and solar disinfection, and for storing it in safe
containers could save a huge number of lives each year.
WATER PURIFICATION
 Water purification is the process of removing undesirable
chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and
gases from water. The goal is to produce water fit for specific
purposes.
 The methods used include physical processes such as
filtration, sedimentation, and distillation; biological processes
such as slow sand filters or biologically active carbon;
chemical processes such as flocculation and chlorination;
and the use of electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet
light.
SOURCES OF WATER
1. Groundwater:
 The water emerging from some deep ground water may
have fallen as rain many tens, hundreds, or thousands of years
ago.
 Soil and rock layers naturally filter the ground water to a high
degree of clarity and often, it does not require additional
treatment besides adding chlorine or chloramines as
secondary disinfectants.
 There may be a requirement to reduce the iron or
manganese content of this water to make it acceptable for
drinking, cooking, and laundry use. Primary disinfection may
also be required.
2. Upland lakes and reservoirs:
 Typically located in the headwaters of river systems, upland
reservoirs are usually situated above any human habitation and
may be surrounded by a protective zone to restrict the
opportunities for contamination.
 Bacteria and pathogen levels are usually low, but some bacteria,
protozoa or algae will be present.

3. Rivers, canals and low land reservoirs:

 Low land surface waters will have a significant bacterial load and
may also contain algae, suspended solids and a variety of
dissolved constituents.
4. Surface Water: Freshwater bodies that are open to the
atmosphere and are not designated as groundwater are
termed surface waters.
ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES

1. Atmospheric water generation is a new technology that can provide

high quality drinking water by extracting water from the air by cooling the
air and thus condensing water vapor.
2. Rainwater harvesting or fog collection which collect water from the
atmosphere can be used especially in areas with significant dry seasons
and in areas which experience fog even when there is little rain.
3. Desalination of seawater by distillation or reverse osmosis.
4. Glaciers found on the mountains can also act as an economical source
as the neighbouring regions can easily benefit because their close
proximity to them.
5. Grey Water/Reclaimed Water which is basically non industrial waste
water can be used again as a source to replenish ground water, irrigation
and household activities like flushing.
Problems with current sources/ Why
we need new sources
 Treatment of waste water to reuse it and making it potable is a very big process.
But the current system has certain drawbacks which prompts us to look out for
new techniques. Some of the problems are listed below -
1. Energy Consumption, is a major drawback in the current processes. Each
process from aeration systems to blowers to pumps requires vast amount of
energy.
2. The Disinfectants that are being used like Chlorine and UV are extremely
dangerous to human body and their small traces can cause various diseases to
humans.
3. Sometimes because of improper filtration and treatment, certain chemicals
continue to persist and a distinct Odour and taste to the water.
4. Waste generated by these methods is also a big disadvantage as it further
increases the workload as proper waste disposal is also important for the
environmental concerns.