One of the most common concerns about water is contamination. Water contamination is common all over the world especially in countries that do not have strong environmental policies. Due to this, manufacturing industries and other factories tend to just dump their wastes in bodies of water without having them treated. Water treatment is very important so that the waste that is produced would not be very toxic and harmful to the environment and to the people that surround the area. Pesticides, insecticides, and other chemical substances that are placed on plants also contribute to water contamination. They can seep into the souls and go to the lakes and rivers. Metals and chemical substances present in water systems can lead to our houses and be present in the water we drink. These contaminants can poison us and affect the proper functioning of our system. Hence, it is very important that we ensure that our drinking water is not contaminated.
Water purification is very important especially in places where we are not sure whether the water is clean. By purifying the water that we drink, we can be sure that it has no chemicals and other toxic substances that can poison us. One of the popular methods of water purification is ozone treatment. Ozone is a gas that is made up of three molecules of oxygen. This substance is unstable and it easily degrades back to oxygen gas and a free oxygen atom. This free atom is a free radical and is very reactive. Ozone is very effective when used as a disinfectant to eliminate bacteria and viruses that can be harmful to the body. Because it is a strong oxidizing agent, it can react with metals and reduce their concentration in water. Metals oxides are formed in the ozonation process. These substances are insoluble and they easily precipitate out, making it easier to eliminate them in water through filtration.
Compared to chlorination, ozonation is not dependent on the pH of the water. It is effective no matter what the acidity of the water is. Ozone can react rapidly with the contaminants and the process of ozone treatment does not require the addition of chemicals in the water. However, the cost of ozone treatment makes its use limited to people who have the money for it. Moreover, the by-products of this water purification process are currently under study for their possible carcinogenic effects.
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