How is City Drinking Water Treated?
The City of Toronto's Humber Wastewater Treatment Plant entrance as viewed from The Queesnway
As cities became larger in the early 1900s, waterborne diseases became rife, and tackling this problem became a priority for many municipalities. Outbreaks of typhoid and cholera were rampant in cities at this time, and a solution was required. In the present day, we don’t have major waterborne disease epidemics due to municipal water treatment. The introduction of chlorine as a disinfectant killed virtually every pathogen, and in recent years, we have seen chloramine (chlorine mixed with ammonia) as a more powerful alternative.
Let’s take a closer look at how city water is treated and how effective it is for your home.
Municipal Water Treatment
The drinking water in any city can be treated in a number of different ways depending on certain circumstances. The local conditions, geography, industry, agriculture, and many other factors all affect the water conditions in your area. Many municipal water treatment plants still use chlorine to kill waterborne microorganisms that may be lurking in the water. Some water treatment plants have switched to chloramine because it persists longer in the water, and it has improved efficacy. Around 30% of water suppliers now add fluoride to the drinking water to reduce tooth decay.
Is City Water Treatment Effective?
Is city water safe, and is the water treatment used effective at removing contaminants? It’s easy to be complacent when you live in a modern first world nation with a track record for clean drinking water. But, this is a mistake because we have problems with how we treat and deliver drinking water to homes. Chlorine has been a very effective disinfection agent in the past, but the switch to chloramine has been necessary due to a drop in efficacy. In recent years we have started to see pathogens that are resistant to chlorine and be extension chloramine, which is a chlorine based disinfectant. The use of chlorine may still be effective in some areas, but when this chemical interacts with certain organic compound byproducts can be created, including acids and trihalomethanes.
Another key problem is the water network delivery system infrastructure that lies under our feet. This interconnected system is an impressive feat of civil engineering, but in most of our nation, this infrastructure is degrading. Over the years, our water delivery and wastewater infrastructure has been underfunded, and this has created problems. Even if the water is clean when it leaves the treatment plant, it has to pass through miles of pipes that may be compromised. Even a small crack or break can allow contaminants to enter the water supply before it reaches your home. This can lead to contaminations and boil water advisories until the problem is fixed. But, a pipe break can go undetected for some time, and during this period, contaminated drinking water is delivered to homes in the area.
How Can You Secure a Clean Source of Drinking Water?
If you rely on city water, it’s a great idea to add an extra layer of protection for your home. Installing your own reverse osmosis water system will remove contaminants and supply clean water to every tap and plumbing fixture. This will ensure that you have clean water for drinking, cooking, showering, and any other activity that uses water in your home.