History of Water (p.2)

Sparta
Other water treatment methods included a drinking cup invented in the ninth century B.C. was used by the Spartan society. The cup was designed to hide badly colored water from its user, causing the mud to stick to its sides.

Dark Ages
During the Middle Ages, few experiments were attempted in water purification and filtration due to the persecutions that were taking place until the Renaissance period beginning in the late fourteenth century, which ended the lack of scientific and intellectual investigations of the Dark Ages.  This was the sparked for a new period of discovery.  In this period, often called the Age of Discovery, several inventions came about that greatly changed the world. One of these changes was the invention of the microscope, a scientific innovation that greatly affected the history of cleaning water filters .

Beginning of Desalination
Sir Francis Bacon was the first person that experimented with Desalination, Records showed to be the first experimentation in water filtration .  According to Sir Francis Bacon experiment, if seawater is allowed to infiltrate through the sand, it can be purified.  His experiment did mark rejuvenation in water filter experimentation. The results of this experimentation inspired scientists to continue to experiment with water filtration technology.

A century later, Anton Van Leeuwenthoek, considered the father of microscopy, built a microscope by grinding and polishing the tiny curved lenses, he was able to reach magnifications of up to 270 times the original object size. This consider at the time advanced microscope had a great effect upon the study of water purity and water filtration . Scientists were now able to view tiny material particles present in water that had been presumed to be clean. This discovery would greatly impact the future of water treatment and disinfection.

One good example of the effect of the Microscope brought to the water treatment was the used chlorine to kill the cholera bacteria in the water, this lead to the rise of water chlorination as an effective disinfection process. This experiment revolutionized the prevalent theory that good-tasting and odorless water naturally meant it was healthful and safe. After these findings were published, several cities began to treat all water with sand filters and chlorine before distributing it to the public.

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