Getting safe water for drinking is very important, evident by the number of people who lose their lives from drinking dirty water. It is important for everyone to mind the water that they drink, making sure that it is clean and safe. There are various ways to treat water, both modern and traditional. In this post, we will take a look at some of the common diseases caused by drinking dirty water, and the methods that we can use to treat this water and make it safe for human consumption.
Common diseases caused by drinking dirty water
Here are some of the diseases that result from unsafe drinking water, and claim a lot of lives all over the world.
- Cholera
- Guinea Worm
- Typhoid Fever
- Cryptosporidium
- Gastroenteritis
- Diarrheal Disease
- Dysentery
These are a few of the diseases, and to prevent them, here are some methods.
Ways to make water safe for drinking
Boiling
This is a traditional method that has been successfully used to treat water since humans discovered fire. Standard in the third world and upcountry settings, this approach is one of the best when it comes to making water safe. Any organism that can cause disease and lives in water has no chance of surviving in the hot temperatures of boiling water, so boiling kills them all and sterilizes these pathogens, making the water safe for consumption. All that is needed is a pot and a reliable source of heat or fire.
Chlorine
The use of chlorine to treat water is a modern method that uses the chemical chlorine. This chemical is harmful to pathogens that live in water but has no harmful effects on humans, so long as it is taken in the recommended amounts. If you live in the city or developed country where piped water is a norm, then this is the primary method used to treat the water. For those that lack access to piped water, then this same method can be used, only that the chlorine has to be manually mixed with the water. Just visit a pharmacy or shop online for domestic chlorine water treatment. Instructions on how to use are usually included in the packaging.
UV water purifier
It is a known fact that ultra violet waves are strong enough to kill germs in the water. UV water filters shine a UV ray to water and kill the germs in it. This purifier can be easily found in online shops.