Potable Water Sources
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 10.1.2
Sources of Potable Water
Potable water can be obtained from:
Fresh water
- Fresh water only needs filtering and sterilising.
- It is the easiest source to treat.
Seawater
- Seawater is the most expensive source to treat because of the large amounts of energy needed to desalinate the water.
Waste water
- Treatment of waste water involves many steps.
- Less energy is used to treat waste water than to desalinate seawater.
Test yourself on Potable Water Sources
Why is fresh water the easiest source of potable water to treat?
What sources can potable water be obtained from?
Why is seawater the most expensive source of potable water to treat?
How does the energy needed to treat waste water compare with the energy needed to desalinate seawater?
How does the number of treatment steps for waste water compare with the number of treatment steps for fresh water?