What Is The Water Purification?

The water purification supply of sufficient quality for human consumption and consumption is essential to prevent disease and toxic effects to the body. To achieve this is necessary to set permissible limit values ​​concerning its biological, physical, organoleptic, radioactive, and chemical properties. To guarantee and maintain the water quality in the systems until it is delivered to the consumer.It must remain subject to a water treatment method. These are the steps in the water purification process if the water remains used for human consumption.

The water purification process consists of a Physico-chemical treatment aimed at removing contaminants that can pose a risk. Among the pollutants, we find microorganisms, inorganic compounds (salts, minerals, metals), and organic compounds (fats, oils, petroleum derivatives, pesticides, detergents, medicines).

Which Standards Regulate The Treatment Of Drinking Water In Mexico?

To set the permissible limits for the quality and treatment of water for human consumption and consumption, the following standards apply in Mexico:

OFFICIAL MEXICAN STANDARD NOM-127-SSA1-1994, “Environmental health, water intended for human consumption – Quality limits and permitted treatments that must remain added to water for purification.”

Official Mexican NORMA NOM-201-SSA1-2015, “Products and Services. Water and ice for human consumption, packaged and in bulk. Sanitary specifications”.

It is essential to know that the cleaning treatment always depends on the correct parameters. So it is recommended to conduct a water analysis before establishing a treatment chain.

In the bottled water market, the big brands got us used to the taste of lightly salted water (osmotic water), but that doesn’t mean that purified water that isn’t low in salt is not suitable for consumption. In Mexico, compliance with NOM-127-SSA1-1994 is enough to ensure it is potable.

1. Disinfection

Chlorine is the most common antiseptic use to reduce or eliminate microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses that may be present in water. The addition of chlorine to drinking water has significantly reduced the risk of diseases, such as diphtheria, typhoid, and cholera.

Chlorination disinfects the water but does not purify it com

Mexican standards stipulate that a residual concentration of free chlorine of 0.5 to 1.5 mg / l must remain achieved.

 2. Filtration With Granular Media

Filtration is the cleaning process that removes suspended matter in the water. Filters that use granular media are also known as deep beds. Depending on the nature of the medium, they can retain particles greater than 1 micrometer in diameter. Although they usually only retain those greater than 5-10 micrometers that may be present in water, such as soil, sand, etc., silt, and others. Sediments should remain filtered early in the cleaning process to remove particles that could contaminate. Or clog equipment used in later stages.

The most common granular media are quartz sand, zeolite, anthracite, garnet (garnet), or a combination of some of them in a so-called media bed.

Granule filters must remain backwashed when the pressure differential between inlet and outlet reaches ten psi.

3. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)

CAG is an excellent adsorbent for organic compounds, which may be toxic or cause water’s color, smell, or taste.

In addition, at this stage, GAC acts as a reducing agent for free chlorine, which it converts into chloride ions (Cl-).

CAG is naturally a suitable medium for bacterial growth. First and foremost, it intercepts organic molecules, many of which are biodegradable and provide food for these organisms. In addition, they have a rough surface that allows bacteria to fixate well and prevents them from being wash out by water. Therefore, bacterial growth is an inevitable consequence of operating adsorber devices with CAG.

There are several hygiene processes for bacterial control in charcoal beds that must remain performed regularly. The frequency depends on its efficiency, the operating conditions, and the location of the device.