Nearly 90% of the US population gets it’s drinking water from a public water system (PWS), that treats, stores and distributes the water.
A Case for Potable Water Geomembranes
To purify water, water treatment facilities need to ensure that the water passing through the systems receives adequate exposure to the proper levels of chlorine. One way to do this is through the use of geomembranes. Outlined below are three ways in which geomembranes can be used to help tackle the drinking water crisis.
1. Curtains and Baffles
Potable Water (PW) geomembranes can be used to make curtains or baffles for potable water tanks. The chlorination process that takes place in these tanks is designed to kill any bacteria, viruses, and algae before exposure to humans. Essentially, the addition of these curtains and baffles can prolong the contact the water has with the chlorine. Once properly treated, the water is then passed through an outlet pipe.
2. Tank and Pond Liner
As tanks that hold drinking water age, they can suffer from cracks and a number of other deficiencies that can lead to contamination. PW geomembranes can be installed as liners in these tanks in order to help minimize the waters contact with unsanitary conditions. PW geomembranes can also be used in ponds and reservoirs in order to prevent the loss of potentially hundreds or thousands of gallons of treated water monthly.
3. Floating Covers
Raw water reservoirs tend to leave water susceptible to a variety of contaminants, such as pollen, airborne particles, animal droppings, dead animals, etc. However, a floating cover made of PW geomembrane can protect this valuable water supply. The following are some benefits associated with geomembrane floating covers:
- Prevent evaporation
- Prevent algae growth
- Reduce need for water treatment chemicals
- Prevent production of trihalomethane (THM) type compounds
While the use of geomembranes alone cannot completely solve the world’s water problems, increased usage could be an easy place to start.
