Where does our drinking water come from?

WHERE DOES OUR DRINKING WATER

COME FROM?And how is it produced?

Origins of Scottish Water◦ In Scotland 97% of the population receives water from the public water supply. ◦ Scottish water is originally taken from the rain. ◦Water in people´s homes is either taken from surface water, lakes, lochs, reservoirs,

etc, or from under the ground where it is flitered through the process of seeping through the soil.

◦Most people´s water comes from surface water but there are some places in Scotland where water comes from under ground.

◦Water is stored underground in an aquifer. The most effective aquifers are th sandstone aquifers in South West Scotland and Fife.

Process of Collecting Water◦ The water is piped from the lochs and reservoirs to the water treatment works. It is

then cleaned to take out any dirt or harmful bacteria.◦ The cleaned water is now ready to drink and is piped into homes and businesses. ◦Once the water has been used it is called waste water. The waste water is piped to

the waste water treatment works to be filtered and cleaned.◦ The cleaned water is then piped back into the sea and the water cycle starts again

as it has done for millions of years.

Scottish Water Treatment Process◦Water needs to be treated to get rid of any harmful bacteria to make it safe to drink,

and the way it is treated depends on where it has come from. ◦ All water contains some naturally occuring substances and each type of water needs a

different treatment process to ensure it is safe to drink. ◦ Example of treatment process:

1. screening2. aeration3. clarification4. filtration5. disinfection6. pH Adjustment

Scottish Water distribute 2,400,000,000 litres of water every day.

Icelandic Drinking Water◦ 95% of the water that is used in

Iceland is untreated groundwater.◦Groundwater is obtained from

springs, boreholes and wells. ◦ It is normally without minerals

because the lava cleans out the water. So there is no need to add anything to the water.

Icelandic drinking water is among the best in the world.

Where Is The Water Taken From?◦ The drinking water in Reykjavík is taken from boreholes near Reykjavík, a place

called Heiðmörk. ◦ The names of these particular boreholes are Gvendarbrunnar. ◦ All water is taken from covered wells which are between 10 to 140 meters deep.

History Of Drinking Water In Belgium

◦ Industralisation no hygiene pollution of river water

◦ Result ◦ Diseases: cholera, typhus

Now◦ 3 ways

◦ Pumping surface water◦ Pumping up groundwater◦ Seawater desalination

Surface Water◦More purified than groundwater

Higher price◦Multiple steps:

◦ Aeration (add oxygen)◦ Get rid of impurities◦ Filtration◦ Desinfection◦ Storage

Groundwater◦No living organisms after 6 weeks

Hygienic, but oxygen-free Fewer steps

◦ Steps:◦ Aeration (add oxygen)◦ Filtration

Seawater Desalination◦Desalination plant◦Many ways

◦ Ex. Destillation◦ Salt water fresh water

Dutch Proverb◦ „Zich als een vis in het water voelen“◦ „Water bij de wijn doen“◦ „Spijkers op laag water zoeken“

Bibliography ◦www.scottishwater.co.uk◦www.lyellcollection.org◦www.scotland.gov.uk◦www.google.com/images◦www.visindavefurinn.is◦www.wikipedia.be