Developed regions of the world also experience clean water problems, and California where supplies in major reservoirs and many groundwater basins are said to be below average is among them.
However, breakthrough research from UCLA may help remedy the situation.
A team of scientists from UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has developed a new mini-mobile-modular (M3) “smart” water desalination and filtration system.
“The system measures in real-time water pH, temperature, turbidity and salinity,” said Cohen, who is also the director of UCLAs Water Technology Research (WaTeR) Center, which is overseeing this project.
“It can control a variety of process variables, including the precise measure of chemical additives to condition the water,” he adds.
The researchers say in a recent trial 65 percent of the water that was fed in was recovered as drinking water, but it could go up to 95 percent using an accelerated chemical demineralization process that was also developed at UCLA.
The continuing research into efficient ways of obtaining clean water is a reminder of the importance of water quality for the well-being of communities across America.
Some health practitioners have also advocated including alkaline water in everyday diet. This type of water has a higher pH level, and there is evidence it may help to neutralize stored acids and toxins and facilitate their removal from the body.
Some also believe alkaline water can help resist disease and slow the aging process.