Water Treatment Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is potable water?
Water that is fit to drink.
What are the three main sources of water in the UK?
- Surface water
- Ground water
- Waste water
What is surface water?
Water from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
How much of the domestic water supply in parts of south-east England comes from ground water?
As much as 70%.
What is waste water?
Water that has been contaminated by a human process.
What is the first step in the water purification process?
Filtration.
What does filtration involve?
A wire mesh screens out large twigs, followed by gravel and sand beds filtering out solid bits.
What is sedimentation in water treatment?
Adding iron sulfate or aluminium sulfate to make fine particles clump together and settle at the bottom.
What is the purpose of chlorination in water treatment?
To kill harmful bacteria and other microbes.
What is a soluble impurity that cannot be filtered out during water treatment?
Minerals that cause water hardness.
How is potable water produced from sea water?
By distilling the sea water.
Why is distillation of sea water expensive?
It requires a lot of energy.
What type of water should be used in chemical analysis?
Deionised water.
What is deionised water?
Water that has had ions such as calcium, iron, and copper removed.
Why is using normal tap water in experiments problematic?
It can interfere with reactions and give false results.
True or False: Ground water is typically less pure than surface water.
False.
Fill in the blank: The treatment of waste water is preferable to _______ it.
disposing of
What is ground water?
Water from aquifers (rocks that trap water underground)
