Common water contaminants and pollutants

Unfortunately we find ourselves living in an age which suffers from chronic pollution and environmental contamination as a by-product of daily life.  This is why we have water treatment facilities in the first place – no longer is the water safe to drink straight from the stream or lake.  Luckily there are a multitude of treatments available to remove the contaminants and pollutants which are present in the water supply.

There are a number of common problems confronted by water treatment facilities when it comes to contamination of the water supply.  These issues fall into several broad categories – biological, mineral and chemical.  Biological contaminants include viruses, fungi and algae.  Mineral pollutants include hard salts and other mineral substances poisonous to the human population.  Chemical pollutants include pesticides and other residual substances present in the water due to air, soil or water pollution.

Biological contaminants are of real concern to most water supplies.  In particular, the E. coli, campylobacter, and shigella bacteria, the giardia lamblia parasite, and the cryptosporidium protozoan are a key focus in the disinfection process.  If any of these viruses or bacteria were to escape into the water supply it could lead to serious health problems with symptoms similar to food poisoning.