Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Potable water is water that is safe to drink.
About Potable Water
- Potable water can be obtained from fresh water or salt water.
- The method to obtain potable water depends on the source.
- Fresh water is the easiest to make potable. This is done by filtering the water to remove solid particles then adding Chlorine or using Ultraviolet Light to kill any harmful micro-organisms.
- Salt water must have the salt removed first. This can be done by distillation which also kills micro-organisms and purifies the water. However, this is very expensive because it requires heating the water. It can also be done using a process called reverse osmosis in which the salt water is sent through pipes at extremely high pressure. The walls of the pipes are a partially permeable membrane and so the high pressure forces the water through but not the salt.
Extra Information
References
AQA
- Potable water, page 102, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Potable water, page 252, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Potable water, pages 163, 165, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Potable water, pages 195, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Potable water, pages 208-209, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Potable water, pages 226, 227, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Potable water, pages 297, 298, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Potable water; Production of, pages 195-6, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA