Viruses in drinking water

Summary: Viruses in drinking water present yet another challenge of purifying the water of contaminants. Viruses are minute microorganisms that are even smaller than bacteria, but they can cause some very serious ailments. The major reason of worry is that viruses can be waterborne.

Viruses can be waterborne. Almost everyone has an idea nowadays that viruses are minute parasitic disease causing organisms. They are so minute (in the range of 0.004 to 0.1 micron in diameter) that they cannot be detected by conventional microscopes that are used to detect the presence of bacteria. However, these super microscopic organisms can cause severe damage to human and animal health through airborne and waterborne diseases. The waterborne diseases that are transferred by viruses include poliomyelitis, hepatitis, meningitis and gastroenteritis. To remove the viruses in drinking water and decontaminate it, we are in desperate need of machines that can detect viruses and remove them from the water supply system. Hopefully, such ideal machines are already here, machines that can detect and remove viruses from water, freeing the water of contamination.

The machines for removing viruses in drinking water should be adept at removing all different kinds of contaminants from the water supply and not only the viruses. The machines should be energy efficient and cost efficient and at the same time highly effective in rendering the water free of contaminants. There are different kinds of contaminants in water and clean drinking water is a basic health necessity of everyone on this planet. To respond to this fundamental requirement, adequate steps should be taken to purify the water through machines that are energy efficient and effective at the same time.

The use of machines to purify the water of viruses in drinking water is the best use that a machine can be put into. The use of machines to purify the water of contaminants should not however include the addition of any harmful chemicals to water supply; neither should there be provision of waste water release from these machines. However, care should also be taken to see that the contaminants that are separated from water are disposed carefully in an environment friendly manner; otherwise the entire purpose of installing these machines would be lost.