Traditional and Conventional Water Treatment Methods: A Sustainable Approach

Water is a valuable natural asset and an essential resource for life sustenance. Practically, all living things rely upon water for life as water is one of the fundamental parts of living things. Water has generally assumed a significant part in human progress and civilization. At the point when individuals initially started settling in new places and cultivating crops for sustenance, it was close to water sources like groundwater springs, streams, or lakes. Water is utilized locally for cooking, for washing of dishes and clothes, for hygiene purposes, and for farming and gardening activities. Adequate drinkable water, personal hygiene, and sanitation are fundamental elements to guarantee human well-being. In many emerging and developing nations, many people, particularly in rural communities, are compelled to take low-quality water from streams which are mostly polluted and contaminated. A poor and inadequate supply of water influences well-being and health by restricting efficiency and maintenance of individual hygiene and causing intense infectious diarrhea, or other waterborne illnesses. It is calculated that around 748 million individuals keep on depending on unimproved sources of drinking water, of which about 173 million individuals depend on direct utilization of surface water. In rural areas, reliance on groundwater is common if it is available in sufficient quantities, while surface water is often contaminated. Access to an affordable, safe, reliable, and easily accessible water supply is essential for good health. However, for many years, about 1 billion people in developing countries have been without access to such essential water supplies. However, many rural communities around the world have devised means of purifying their available water before consumption. Water treatment typically involves processes for clarifying and disinfecting water. The aim of water treatment is the evacuation of turbidity and other toxic elements including organic entities. Water quality can be significantly improved by traditional water treatment methods. This chapter presents some methods of water purification that are practiced in rural areas across the world, some of which are still in use till date, and compares them with other conventional methods in practice from a perspective of sustainability.