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Water Filtration

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Submitted By zande413
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Water is the most important element on Earth, and covers most of the planet. However, 97.5% of the water on Earth is salt water from the ocean and is undrinkable. Less than 1% of the water on earth is available for human consumption. Humans need water to live, so it is necessary that the water we drink is clean and safe. The average American family will either drink bottled water or water from their tap. Some families decide to purify their water using a filter. A water filter is designed to remove impurities from water using a small physical barrier or a chemical process. A water filer can remove particles that are much smaller than the holes through which water passes. A water filter will prevent from ingesting harmful organisms by capturing them inside the filter. The effectiveness of a water filter is determined by something called pore-size efficiency. Pore-size efficiency is measured by the size of the openings in the water filter. The measurements are microscopic, and are called microns. One micron is 1/1,000 of a millimeter. To remove bacteria, the micron size must be less than 0.4 microns. Water filters can be bought commercially, or handmade. If someone was camping in the wild, they can make their own water filter by laying materials that will filter through and remove unsafe particles. If water is untreated, it can contain bacteria, parasites, and other dangerous organisms that can cause severe reactions within humans. Some reactions causes by unfiltered water can be nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue and vomiting. Diseases can also be spread through contaminated water. Some of them are botulism, cholera and dysentery. There are four main types of water filters. Activated carbon filters remove organic contaminates that affect the taste and smell of water. Ion exchange units can remove minerals like calcium and magnesium from water. Those are

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