Ancient civilizations flourished and thrived near the
water source. Water was necessary for survival as it was used for
drinking purpose and agricultural operations. Our ancestors were much
concerned about the quantity rather than the quality of water source.
More and more emphasis was given on aesthetic problems like water
appearance, taste and odour. But later slowly humans started to realize
the importance of pure drinking water. The quest for pure water led many
inventions and innovations that reached to us after traveling a long
journey of thousand years.
Water Treatment in Ancient Scriptures and Writings
Both the ancient Sanskrit and Egyptian writings clearly reveals the
practices that were followed for keeping the water pure and germ free. "Sushruta
Samhita" the ancient Sanskrit text which dates back to 2000B.C
clearly states the methods for keeping the water clean. The methods
specified in the Sushruta Samhita includes: Boiling, heating under sun,
or dipping heated iron into the water. The text also reveals the
filtration process according to which water can be purified filtering it
through sand and coarse gravel and then allowed to cool. In other
Sanskrit text, Ousruta Samhita filtering through charcoal method is
given.
Painting Evidence
Paintings from the Egyptian tomb, dating back to 15th and 13th century
B.C clearly depicts the picture of water treatment device
Water Treatment By Hippocrates
Hippocrates who is considered as the father of medicine wrote treatise
on public hygiene. He mentioned clearly how water could be purified. He
invented "Hippocrate's sleeve," which was cloth bag and was
used for water purification. This treatment was helpful in removing
hardness and bad smell from the water.
The Greek and Romans too developed various methods for treating water
in order to control tastes and odor.
Experimental beginning of Desalination
Sir Francis Bacon in his famous compilation "A Natural History of
Ten Centuries" talked elaborately about desalination. According to
him if seawater is allowed to percolate through the sand, it can be
purified.
The experiment of sand filtration was first illustrated by the famous
Italian physician Lucas Antonius Portius. He wrote elaborately about the
multiple sand filtration method in his famous book "Soldier's Vade
Mecum". He illustrated water filtration experiment by using three
pairs of sand filters.
Drive for Clean Water
Many communities now decided to treat water using sand filtration
method. The municipal officials too began to take serious note to supply
clean water to the citizens. In the first decade of 18th century, the
Parisian scientist La Hire proposed in the French Academy of Sciences
that every household have a sand filter and rainwater cistern as they
will help in keeping the water pure and fresh.
Municipal Water Treatment Begins
The first first municipal water treatment plant was installed in
Scotland in the 19th century in Scotland which consisted of sand and
gravel filters. Municipal water treatment on similar pattern was
installed in London in 1829.
The sand filtration method saw further progress when rapid sand
filtration was developed in the U.S. in the 1880s. In this unit water
jets or backwashes were used for cleaning the filter media and
mechanical agitators were used for loosening debris. This enhances the
treatment capacity. Taste and odor of water was improved by the use of
charcoal filtration.
In mid 19th century water cleanliness and its relation with good health
was understood. Since then many other techniques of disinfecting water
like chlorination was developed. After industrial revolution many more
progress in water treatment was made.
