Processes to purify water: Clean water

Living things such as plants and animals rely on water. Life cannot exist without it.

Animals and water

Blood is made up of about 55% water. This helps to carry nutrients around the body
of animals. All animals would eventually dehydrate without water. Not only does
water keep an animal cool, but water is also needed to digest food and remove
waste. People depend on water for the same reason. Without clean water, people
would also not be able to grow food, keep clean or be healthy.

Plants and water

Plants also need nutrients dissolved in water. Hippos that live in wetlands spread
their waste in the water. The waste contains nutrients that the plants can use. The
plants absorb the nutrients through their roots. The nutrients are used to make food
for the plant.

The importance of clean water

Water management is everyone's responsibility, but the municipality officials of towns

and cities have the responsibility of looking after the water treatment facilities. The
municipality must purify water to keep people healthy.

How a water treatment facility works

Water treatment plants are places where water from dams, rivers and aquifers is
cleaned. To clean a water treatment facility the water, the following steps are taken:

• Water is pumped to the water treatment plant.

• Water is filtered through a sieve.
• Water is then filtered through a very fine material called a membrane.
• A chemical called chlorine is added to kill any germs.
• Other chemicals are added to remove any bad tastes or smells from the
water.
• The water is pumped to factories and houses.
There are four ways to purify water.

Boiling water

Boiled water is heated to kill any germs in the water. This method uses a lot of
electricity or firewood and does not remove soluble or insoluble pollutants.

Filtering water

Pouring water through a funnel and filter paper removes most of the insoluble
pollutants, such as sand. But germs can pass through the filter paper. So can soluble
pollutants such as salts and chemicals.

Settling water

Water that is allowed to settle will appear clean, but not all the insoluble pollutants
will settle. Germs and soluble pollutants are not removed.

Chemical treatments

Chlorine or iodine can be added to water to kill germs, but these chemicals are
expensive and can make the water taste awful.
 Clean water

1. How much of water is blood made up of?

2. What do plants use nutrients absorbed for?

3. Who is mainly responsible for looking after the towns water treatment facility?

4. What is water filtered through?

5. What chemical is used to kill germs in water?

6. List 2 ways to purify water.

 Processing materials: Traditional processing

Traditional materials and uses

The indigenous people of our country use natural materials from their habitats to
make useful products. They use calabashes, ostrich shells, reeds, grasses and clay.
From these materials they make containers, jewellery, clothing and build houses.
They use upright sticks and weave saplings horizontally between these sticks to form
a lattice shape. They fill the spaces with clay that they find in river beds. They plaster
the outside and inside of these stick-and-clay walls with more clay. People still use
reeds and grasses as thatching for the roofs of homes. These permanent rondavel-
shaped homes protect them from wind, rain, heat and cold.

How to shape clay

Clay is a type of soil that is made up from very small particles. The particles stick
together and can be formed into different shapes. When you press a piece of clay
tightly in your hand it holds its shape. Clay can be formed into pots and bowls to
store water and grains. They also make pots for cooking food.

The oldest technique for making pots is called "molding from the lump". A lump of
clay is placed on the floor and the sides are squeezed out and up until it takes on its
shape. Another technique is "coiling". The base of the container is first formed.
 Traditional processing

1. What type of people from our country use actual materials from their habitats
to make useful products?

2. Name 2 types of natural materials used.

3. Name 2 products that can be made from the material.

4. What is used to build a Rondavel? Shapes houses?

 Clay

1. What is clay made up from?

2. Can clay be formed into different shapes?

3. Name 2 things clay can be formed into.

4. List the 2 techniques of shaping clay.