Human existence is dependant on water, and civilizations are built on the availability of
clean and healthy water. From the earliest agricultural settlements to the thriving
metropolises of modern time, all are dependant on water. Without water we would have
nothing, and without clean water humans would be rife with disease.
It has been theorized that the waterborne health risks of hunter-gatherers was low, but as
agriculture expanded and nomadic trends faded these risks increased. Settlements
expanded and population began to expand faster than ever before. Water contaminated
with pathogens became a serious risk to the growth and development of towns, cities, and
even nation states. Clean water is an absolute necessity for any progress of any
civilization. (Vuorinen et al., 2007)
Ancient civilizations had little protection against waterborne epidemics, as the disease
and transmission were not understood. The increased population density and livestock
amount, along with the infrastructure to sustain them, lead to the pollution of the water
that served the communities and those downstream of it. The pollution of the potable
water increased the risk and occurrence of diseases. (Rose and Masago, 2007)
Although they may not have understood the science behind clean water and disease
transmission, ancient peoples realized the importance of clean water, as evident in their
myths and religions. Ancient cults valued water and cleanliness, and the scientific level
of the society were connected to the purity of water used. Greek philosophers and
medical writers understood the significance of quality water for the health of people, but
the importance of proper sanitation was not realized until the 19th century. (Vuorinen et
al., 2007)
During the period know as the Antiquity (500 BC ~ 500 AD) waste and wastewater
management was quite poor, creating a major health risk. The Roman Empire had
aqueducts to bring water to larger settlements, and sometimes plumbing in certain
buildings. While this was better than previous systems, it still lead to a setting which
fostered infection. Lacking toilet paper, sponges moistened in washbasins were used to
rinse. Toilet facilities were available to all but were cramped, lacked privacy and had no
allowance for the washing of hands. Private toilets were usually without running water
and were located near the kitchen. These factors fostered the growth and spread of
intestinal pathogens. Due to the nature of trade around the Mediterranean and the manner
in which water and waste were handled, the area was at high risk of infectious disease.
(Vuorinen et al., 2007)
The industrial era (1900s) saw the spread of flush toilets, where the sewage was expelled
through sewer pipes. This became as common as the aqueducts of the ancient Roman
Empire, and reduced the health risks people faced. The role of water in the spread of
disease was realized with the discovery of pathogens that carry the diseases. However, as
industrialization increased so did the population density of cities and this lead to health
and environmental problems overwhelming these large urban areas. (Vuorinen et al.,
2007)
Drinking water began to be disinfected to prevent the spread of disease was started near
the turn of the 1900s. Now that they understood the pathogens that cause the common
diseases, they were able to prevent their transmission. Chlorination emerged as the main
technique for treating water. Treatment of water was becoming common in the
industrialized countries and microbiological problems associated to water were
considered to be a problem of the developing world. Despite these advances some
waterborne epidemics continued into the 20th century. It has been postulated that this is
due to the lack of attention paid to sewage treatment, leading to source contamination.
(Rose and Masago, 2007)
Modern society would not be able to function if it advancements in water treatment had
not been made. Water treatment options are numerous and effective. It is now possible to
disinfect enormous quantities of water in a short period of time. Without this ability
urban centers would not have been able to develop as much as they have, disease would
have spread quickly limiting the sizes cities can reach, and causes problems for the
citizens.
The availability and quality of water is taken for granted in western society, but we
should be thankful for the abundance of water. If population continues to grow and water
use does not fall dramatically, clean fresh water shall become scarce one again changing
the manner in which our society functions.
From a business point of view, it is possible that water could see a significant jump in
price as demand increases. Investing into technologies which increase the efficiency of
water acquisition, treatment and recovery would see a benefit now, as well as into the
future. Water will always be a necessity so there will always be a market for clean,
healthy water.
Chemical contamination of ground water, a main source of drinking water, was not
addressed until the late seventies. With the vast increase in population and increase in
urbanization, ensuring that all potential drinking water sources are clean is of the utmost
importance. (Danil De Namor, 2007) As world demand continues to increase the well
being of humans depends on the quality of our water, and as such water should be
protected against contamination and misuse.
References
Danil De Namor, A.F. 2007. Water purification: From ancient civilization to the XXI
Century. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 7(1): 33-39.
Rose, J.B., and Masago, Y. 2007. A toast to our health: Our journey toward safe water.
Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 7(1): 41-48.
Vuorinen, H.S., Juuti, P.S., and Katko, T.S. 2007. History of water and health from
ancient civilizations to modern times. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply,
7(1): 49-57.