We can make dirty water become clean by using a process known as water purification. Water purification is the process by which we make dirty water become clean for use. Some ways we can purify (make water clean) water are: 1. Filtration/Filtering 2. Addition of Alum 3. Boiling 4. Addition of iodine tablets 5. Use of chlorine.
- Filtration: Filtration is the process by which solid particles are removed from from water. Some solid particles that can be found in water are: plastics, stones, leaves and sand particles. There are different ways we can filter water to make it clean. The most common method is the use of filter paper.
2. Addition of Alum: We can also purify water by adding alum. Alum is a chemical used to make water clear. Alum is in a solid form but easily dissolves in water. Alum can only make water clear but it cannot kill germs in the water. When we add alum to water, it collects all the small particles in the water to settle at the bottom of the water. As the particles settles under the water, the water above becomes very clear. The clear water is then poured gently into different container living the dirt in the bowl. Look at the illustration below:
3. Boiling: Boiling is another method we can use to purify water. One good thing about boiling is that it kills every single germs in the water. Let us perform an activity to show how to purify water by boiling.
