Access to clean, safe drinking water is essential for human survival since water is essential for all biological processes. Although water purification procedures do a good job of removing toxins and impurities, the importance of water minerals is sometimes overlooked.
To guarantee a steady supply of potable water, water treatment is essential. Even though many methods and technologies are used to purify water, the minerals in it are often disregarded. Minerals in water are essential to the process of purification and can improve the water’s flavor and nutritional value.
Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, iron, and zinc are just some of the minerals discussed in this article. We’ll also contrast mineral water with regular tap water and discuss the advantages of each. Finally, we’ll look at the minerals like sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate, and calcium chloride that are added to water to improve its quality throughout the treatment process.
WHAT MINERALS ARE IN WATER?
Water’s flavor, nutritional value, and purity may all be affected by the variety of minerals it naturally contains. Water typically contains the following minerals:
Calcium: Calcium, while crucial for strong bones and teeth, is also what gives water its hardness.
Magnesium: Among its many roles in the body, it helps keep the heart and muscles healthy.
Potassium: Helps maintain healthy blood pressure and nerve function.
Sodium: It flavors water, but too much of it might raise blood pressure.
Bicarbonate: Helps keep the body’s pH stable by neutralizing excess acidity.
Iron: Iron, which is often present only in trace levels, may discolor water and alter its flavor.
Zinc: Important for a healthy immune system and general well-being.
TAP WATER vs. MINERAL WATER
Tap Water:
Water that comes out of a home’s tap is called “tap water,” and it comes from municipal water systems. It goes through extensive purification procedures to make sure it’s fit for human consumption. Some salient features of municipally supplied water include:
Cause and Care: The water we drink and use in our homes comes from places like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. It is then put through a series of procedures, including filtering, disinfection (usually with chlorine or chloramine), and sedimentation, to get rid of any remaining contaminants and bacteria.
Mineral Composition: Depending on the water’s origin and processing, municipal tap water may or may not include trace minerals. The geological properties of the water source and the treatment methods affect the mineral content of piped-in water.
Regulations and Security: The safety of drinking water from the tap is overseen by many government agencies. Standards and regulations for drinking water establish maximum contamination levels, guaranteeing that the water customers get from the tap is safe to drink.
Price and Availability: Most people can get their tap water for a low price, and it’s always available. Pipes and other infrastructure bring it straight to people’s doors, making it easy to get and readily accessible.
Mineral Water:
Natural minerals are present in mineral water because they come from a spring or well deep beneath. Its purported health advantages and unique flavor are major selling points. Some distinguishing features of mineral water are as follows:
Natural Mineral Composition: The presence of naturally occurring minerals in the water supply is what gives mineral water its distinctive flavor. Its unique taste and mineral content come from the calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other trace elements present in it. The mineral content of mineral water is best preserved when it is bottled close to its source.
Restricted Treatment: In contrast to municipal water, mineral water is seldom treated. Typically, it is filtered to get rid of bigger particles and bacteria, but it doesn’t get much of a chemical or disinfectant treatment.
Labeling and Regulation: The mineral content of water must be clearly stated on the bottle. The mineral water must meet all applicable safety requirements and be appropriately labeled, which may involve various regulations in different regions.
Types and Manufacturers: Different brands and kinds of mineral water will have different mineral compositions. Mineral waters may vary in their composition and quantity of minerals; some are naturally carbonated.
Positive Health Outcomes Expected: The mineral content of the water has been linked to possible health advantages. It’s worth stressing, however, that not all evidence supports these assertions, and that people have different needs.
MINERALS USED FOR WATER TREATMENT:
Several techniques are used to filter out debris and other contaminants to improve water quality. Certain minerals are crucial to the following procedures:
Sodium Bicarbonate
Used in the treatment of water to raise alkalinity and alter pH.
Magnesium Sulphate
Used as a coagulant to help filter out sediment and biological waste from water.
Calcium Chloride
Facilitates treatment by adjusting water hardness and increasing stability.
Sodium Hypochlorite: This mineral, sometimes known as bleach, is an effective disinfectant used to purify water and eliminate harmful microorganisms.
Activated Carbon: Activated carbon is not a mineral, although it is utilized extensively in water purification. Charcoal and coal ash are the basis for a porous substance that may remove harmful pollutants from water.
Aluminum Sulfate: Aluminium sulfate, more often known by its chemical name alum, is added to water as a coagulant to help remove silt and suspended solids by causing them to cluster together.
These minerals, among others, are crucial to the success of the water treatment process, guaranteeing that customers get clean, drinkable water.
Conclusion:
Minerals in water are crucial components that improve its flavor, health benefits, and general quality. We can better comprehend the function that minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, iron, and zinc play in water purification if we have a firm grasp on their existence and importance. Mineral water from underground springs contains naturally existing minerals that may be beneficial to one’s health, whereas tap water is subjected to rigorous treatment methods that remove them. Tap water can also contain particles of rust just like we can see on steel bars. To further improve water quality and guarantee the availability of safe and clean drinking water to communities, water authorities may use minerals like sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate, and calcium chloride in water treatment operations.