Droughts Necessitate New Water Sources

Lack of rain has led to shortages of drinking water in the southwestern United States and communities are struggling with ways to find potable water for their citizens. While there are numerous means piping water into many areas, larger towns are taking a closer look at some of the more unconventional ways to provide water.

Some of the communities hardest by draught are using green technology to upgrade their waste treatment plants, using microbes to clear solid waste materials from the waste and then using substantial purification methods to clean and purify the remaining liquid. Once it has gone through the processing plant, the water is then deemed clean enough to be added to the communities' water supply.

While tests and taste have shown the water to be clean and healthy for human consumption, not everyone is amenable to drinking water that has gone from the commode to the tap. Community leaders and purification technicians attest to the safety of the water but the mindset can be difficult to overcome. Additionally, the added costs of ensuring proper purification make the water a little more expensive than other conservation methods.

Ensuring a safe water supply is also threatened by pollution, regardless of purification efforts being used. A majority of water supplies is held in lakes or rivers and pumped into purification plants before being sent to the tap. When the amount of water that is consumed around the world is considered, the need for clean water is a major consideration for environmental concerns. Although purification efforts can turn even the dirtiest water into a usable commodity, the pollutants in the water take a toll on the plants performing the purification.

The old belief that once the water is gone, it's gone is not all that true anymore considering how technology has been able produce clean water from an almost muddy source. However, there are some contaminants and chemicals that, likely, are not able to be removed. Consider major spills of gasoline recently that threatened to enter the water supply. It could take years to clean the water to be able to use it for consumption.

Pipelines to move water from one part of the country to another are also considered, but in many instances the costs outweigh the benefits, except when those in drought-stricken areas consider the alternatives. Stopping the pollution before it reaches the supply, and making life easier on those responsible for purifying the drinking water, is only one way to protect this important natural resource.