Let's critically discuss ozonation

Understanding the fundamentals of ozonation

As technology advanced, the use of a machine that produces ozone called the Ozonator has become handy in ensuring that water we drink is highly safe and doesn't contain any pathogen.

The use of an Ozonator has so far improve the quality of drinking water. Let briefly discuss how this machine operates.

Ozone as we all know is a gas that is found in the atmosphere and help in protecting us against the ultra radiation produced from the sun.

Ozone is a bluish gas that we can feel its flavor usually after a storm. They are oxidizing, unstable and highly reactive.

This is one of the principal and key advantage exploited when they are used in water treatment and sterilization.

Artificial Process of ozonation

The Ozonator machine produces artificial ozone when a very powerful electric charge through the the water , this causes oxygen molecule in it to be split into two, the singlet oxygen seeking to regain its normal state combines with another oxygen molecule to form a very powerful tri-atomic oxidant molecule we know as Ozone (O3).

At this stage, it becomes more unstable and reactive than their previous state.

Ozone due to their very powerful oxidizing potential kills all know type and forms of bacteria, fungi, virus and pathogens in the water or in the atmosphere.

This is why they are employed in decontamination and sterilization of water and even other substances we eat like meat, fish including our environment.

Having this machine at home to continuously sterilize our home and internal environment obviously can do a lot of good especially during this pandemic of Covid-19. You could use it to sterilize your home as well.

The last stage of UV sterilization. The use of Ozonator and UV sterilization can go hand in hand in ensuring that the environment used for the water production is safe and sterile.

Final stage is usually the UV-sterilization - here the water is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation from a germicidal bulb.

As the water passes through the UV light, eliminates pathogens that might still be in the water before they are package for distribution to end users.

UV radiation is preferred over chlorination because of the health implications associated with the use of chlorine in sterilizing water.

Chlorine can is a potential carcinogenic substance - has potential to cause cancer in humans. There could be some remnants of this chemical in water meant for drinking, hence one of the reason it is not used especially in treating water we drink on daily basis.

The UV radiation is more effective and safer because it causes damage to the DNA of the bacteria, virus or any micro organism in the water without having any effect on the water for human consumption.

As the water flows out of the UV tube, it goes straight to the water packaging machine for filling, sealing and packaging into appropriate nylon or plastic containers as the case may be.

This setting is exactly what you see in satchet water factories.

How safe are we consuming satchet and plastic packaged water?

Drinking water packaged in nylons or plastics are relatively safe as long as they are not exposed to temperature above room temperature.

A usual saying goes thus "what you don't know cannot kill you". When always bear in mind that some of all this popular sayings are relative. By being relative I mean, it is feasible depending on the prevailing circumstances.

Its just like saying "the patient dog eats the fattest bone", this alone cannot even hold water when a man who has been on lockdown for nearly one months now, sees where they are sharing food and won't rush to get his. What you actually don't know can kill you... let's wake up

Some of us are guilty of carelessly keeping satchet or plastic bottled water under sunlight. This could be consciously or unconsciously either way, it is not good. Though this is more common with retailers that buy these water in large quantities and store.

Most plastics contain a substance known as Biphenol A (BPA). Most of all the materials made from BPA are usually clear and tough.

It basically helps to strengthen the plastic and that's why you would observe that satchet water nylons have high tensile strenght. They don't easily cut when you extend them.

Under increased temperature or exposure to sunlight, this BPA content of the nylon leaches quickly into the water causing a change in the taste of the water.

In a nutshell, when nutshell, when temperature is high, most of the BPA in the plastic or satchet water is released into the water.

This is one of the reasons why any water you buy that has been under heat, if you drink it, you would observe it has some weird taste. You should not even buy water in plastics exposed undersunlight over a long period of time.

Some of the effects of this BPA on the body system, causing an immbalance in hormone levels.

Animal Rresearch study has shown that it also affects reproduction and brain development. It has also been indicated to caused cancer upon continuous exposure.

Though you will need high dose of this BPA before it starts manifesting various signs and symptoms. You don't need to wait till you starting suffering from the effects of this chemical.

Avoid keeping plastic and bagged water anyway near heat. Reject buying bag of water that has been kept under the sun.

Rounding up our discussion, you would agree with me that, actually no water is a waste. The dirtiest of all waters can still be purified.

All it requires is a standardized method of purification. Water recycling remains an effective process that ensures that regions that do not have adequate water supply make efficient and effective use of the little one available.

Speaking strictly, water doesn't have taste neither does it have colour. When you buy water and observe that weird taste, it's simply obvious that is has been contaminated. You might not really observe this when it is chilled.

Don't buy problem with your money. Bagged and package plastic and nylon water must not be exposed to sunlight or temperature above room temperature to avoid the BPA content of the plastic leaching into the water.

Stay safe, health is wealth.