We know it sounds suspicious, but water recycling is actually a real thing. Did you know that out of all the bodies of water on Earth, only 3% is freshwater? That’s right, the world’s oceans and seas make up around 97% of the total volume of water on this planet, and it’s all salt water. So yes, water is a precious resource that we need to take care of. And on that note, what is water recycling anyway?
The Process of Water Recycling
The name is self-explanatory, water recycling is the process of treating wastewater and making it potable and safe for us, humans, to reuse. It is a process that was born to help us manage our resources, especially in arid areas.
Collection and Treatment
The first step in the water recycling process is collecting wastewater from different sources. These could be industrial sources that involve water to create new things, homes, and laundry wastewater, or even businesses that produce a significant amount of wastewater.
Once the wastewater is collected, it is then treated to kill bacteria and viruses that might be present. The treatment also includes filtering the wastewater to remove bigger particles and sediments.
Purification and Disinfection
After the first rounds of treatment, the recycled water is further purified, this time, to remove the toxic substances from potable water. Disinfection of the water is also done again at this stage to kill any pathogens left from the first treatments.
Distribution and Application
Once the water is done with the previous processes, it is sorted according to the resulting liquid and distributed according to usage. Some non-potable water is given to farms for irrigation, homes for flushing, and other industrial processes.
Some facilities are capable of turning the wastewater collected back into drinkable water. These go under strict guidelines and meticulous treatment and sorting before the water can be bottled and sold in stores.
Water Recycling is Good for the Planet
It might sound a little out of the norm, but in fact, water recycling has been going on for centuries on small scales. Some cultures are known for reusing rainwater, for example, to water plants, or use in cleaning and replenishing livestock.
So in more ways than one, we, as individuals, can also contribute to water recycling in our own ways. It is good for the planet, after all. Plus, it prevents us from using more of the 3% natural freshwater than we need.
It is not just some environmental jargon. Water recycling is actually a thing that we might not even be aware of. There are many water purifying and treatment facilities all over the world that specialize in helping us use and reuse water for our everyday lives. It is a practice that shouldn’t be stigmatized, on the contrary, we should be grateful and adopt the recycling of everything, including water, on a daily.
If you want to know more about water recycling and how you can help. You can search on the web for ways to help the cause.