what do you mean by portable water? how water can be made safe for drinking
The water suitable for drinking is called potable water.
Water is purified by the following process:
First, the insoluble impurities that are heavier than water are separated b y the processes ofsedimentation and decantation . In this process, water is allowed to stand in large tanks where insoluble heavier impurities settle down. Alum and lime is also added to speed up the process and to make it more efficient.
Then filtration is carried out in which the water is passed through layers of gravel and sand. In this process, fine particles of suspended impurities are removed.
After this process of filtration, the water becomes very clean. It only has to be disinfected in order to make it potable. This is done by chlorination of water. Chlorination kills harmful bacteria and other microorganisms present in water and make it suitable for human consumption.
Water can also be made suitable for drinking by boiling it, which kills the germs. In homes and offices, water purifiers using porcelain candles and ultraviolet light are used to purify water.