Water Treatment Technology




		It is not possible to speak, in general terms, about the "best" method of water treatment. First, untreated water may contain a variety of microbes and other contaminants, and the means for addressing certain pathogens, such as cysts, may be ineffective against others, such a viruses. Second, while a comprehensive system—one that combines filtration, disinfection and adsorption—may provide the broadest protection against waterborne disease, it is also the most costly per liter of water treated and may be impractical under many circumstances. Moreover, certain technologies may not be indicated due to the conditions of the water (e.g., high turbidity, low pH), the site (e.g., no power or water pressure) or the community (e.g., little expertise in monitoring and maintaining systems). For these reasons, it is important to learn as much as possible about the waterborne pathogens and the various technologies available to fight them, to carefully analyze and understand the conditions presented by the target site and population, and to use this knowledge to specify and implement the most cost-effective water treatment solutions.