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Water is essential to all life. Without it, the living breathing biosphere that exists on the surface of the earth wouldn’t be possible. Nicknamed the “water” planet, earth is covered by one of our most precious resources. However 97% of it is locked in the oceans, and is toxic to humans and many plants and animals. So how do we obtain fresh water resources?
To understand, we need to turn to the Hydrologic Cycle. The Hydrologic Cycle is Mother Nature’s process for moving water around the globe. It is the Earth’s way of purifying and cleaning our planetary water through distillation.
The cycle begins as the sun heats the water in our rivers, lakes and oceans. In the heating process, small amounts of water vapor leave the surface of the water and rise into the atmosphere, leaving behind impurities (Evaporation). When the water vapor cools, it forms clouds (Condensation). As the air temperature in the upper atmosphere drops, the water vapor cools and converts back to a liquid/solid in the form of rain or ice depending upon the surrounding air temperature (Precipitation).
When the rain or snow droplet reaches the surface of the Earth, it is ready to become part of the process again. It is this process that cleans the Earth’s water.
Simple as 1,2,3:
1. Evaporation
+
2. Condensation
+
3. Precipitation
=
99.99+% Pure Water
Water is Not Created or Destroyed
Water continually changes location and form. The water we drink today may have been lapped up by dinosaurs millions of years ago, or helped to fill Julius Caesar’s bathing pool. The water we use now is the same supply that the planet started with in the beginning. Its quality is renewed again and again by the natural Hydrologic Cycle.
Our air is frequently polluted by modern and industrial activities and as raindrops pick up these contaminants on their way back to earth. The water becomes even more polluted as it flows in our streams, lakes, rivers, oceans or moves underground. Some of this contamination is from “natural” sources, but much of it is due to manmade pollution. Because of this, we need to treat the water so that it can be used for the wide array of purposes that humans use water.
Steam-distillation Follows The Hydrological Cycle To Clean Water
Steam distillation is sometimes referred to as Nature’s Distiller. The same three steps Nature uses to clean our water are the steps used in the steam-distillation process.
1. Water in the boiling tank comes to a boil and creates steam.
2. The steam, being lighter than air, rises and leaves behind the impurities that may have been present in the boiled water.
3. The pure steam then enters a cooling section where it is cooled and converted into pure steam-distilled water.
References:
1. Athol E. Meder, Distillation: Process and Technology, 2004 Feb, pg. 1-2.
2. Eldon Muehling, “How does steam-distillation work?” Ask Dr. Water Newsletters, 2005.
3. Water Technology, www.watertechonline.com
For more info, call Nikki Lee Shelton at 775-673-2152.
