Mankind has faced the challenge of obtaining safe drinking water for millennia. Many cities were founded on rivers, as water was recognised as one of the key ingredients for sustaining a civilisation. In the last two centuries, in particular, society has developed a greater understanding of water quality through science and engineering principles. Providing safe drinking water has been one of the most important public health goals for countries internationally, and is undoubtedly one of the key contributing factors of global growth in human population. Today water filtration is taken for granted in many parts of the world, although there is still scope to improve this. Aquafil® water drinking fountain and bottle refill units make use of this technology, bringing clean, fresh-tasting water to public spaces.

 

So how is water prepared so that it is suitable for drinking?

Filtration is an important part of the equation when it comes to clean drinking water. The first recorded experiment for filtration in modern history is attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, who believed that using sand to filter seawater would purify it. His hypothesis proved to be incorrect, but it paved the way towards further studies on clean drinking water filtration, such as sand filters in 1804. This is one of the first steps in filtration.


After filtration, the use of disinfectants is required to clean the water for drinking purposes. In 1905, chlorine was first used as a primary disinfectant for drinking water in Lincoln, England. This was the first recorded use of chlorine as a permanent water chlorination technique. This method was utilised in Lincoln to replace slow sand filters when it was discovered that the filter was faulty and the water supply was contaminated. The chlorination method introduced by Dr. Alexander Cruickshank Houston fed a concentrated solution of chloride of lime to the water that was being treated. Eventually, chlorine gas was used to clean water instead, which is how countries such as the USA disinfect their drinking water.

 

For Australians, the government and water authorities use settling, coagulation, filtration, and disinfection techniques to provide safe drinking water through taps. They have to use sufficient disinfectants to stop any re-growth of microorganisms during the delivery of tap water through pipes. While tap water is generally deemed safe to drink in Australia, they can still contain many impurities, both natural and artificial, which can affect the taste.

 

Our Aquafil® water drinking fountain and bottle refill stations offer an additional level of filtration as an optional design feature. Our filters can reduce the chlorine taste as well reduce possible contaminants such as dirt, lead particles and asbestos fibers in drinking water. As an added benefit, our filters slot perfectly inside our water stations, protected and concealed from public view. Many stations also have the added benefit of anti-bacterial bottle refill nozzles that provides an extra layer of safety for users.

 

Water is a key factor in the wellbeing of our communities. Many cities and civilisations were founded around water bodies as it is a crucial resource for survival. Filtration of water has come a long way, especially in the last 150 years, with the advent of modern science and engineering. Aquafil® water drinking fountain and bottle refill stations make use of this, by offering high quality, accessible drinking water products available to the public with the latest in water filter technology.