history of water treatment
history of water treatment
(OP)
Not really a technical question, but I was wondering if anyone has any good references as to the history of water treatment in the USA or the world? Something like a time line that tells when various treatment techniques became accepted practice, when disinfection was required, ect.
BobPE
BobPE





RE: history of water treatment
A lot of this stuff has tie-ins into Greek, Phoenician, Eygptian engineering practice.
Hope this helps.
saxon
RE: history of water treatment
KRS Services
www.krs-services.com
RE: history of water treatment
Remeber, "make no little plans"!
saxon
RE: history of water treatment
Chicago it is! That bit of history sounds absolutely fascinating as well. Is there a web or reference material that I could get hold of particularly illustrating the grade raising and reversal of the river.
KRS Services
www.krs-services.com
RE: history of water treatment
www.mwrdgc.dst.il.us./
saxon
RE: history of water treatment
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/hist.pdf
RE: history of water treatment
Other early examples are shown in Eygptian tombs ca. 15th century BC, and a biblical reference (Exodus 15:22-27).
About 8 pages are devoted to the the evolution of industrial water treatment, principally for boilers, beginning with James Watt's steam engine.
RE: history of water treatment
http://www.waterhistory.org/
RE: history of water treatment
The Quest for Pure Water by M.N. Baker, McGraw-Hill and AWWA 1981
Some of the preceding quotes are contained herein.
RE: history of water treatment
The water treatment bible amongst water treaters is:
"The Nalco Water Handbook." It has great references and suggested reading that will help you trace the history of water treatment.
Todd
RE: history of water treatment
RE: history of water treatment
RE: history of water treatment
RE: history of water treatment
I just had to respond to this
For some perverse reason I have a collection of victorian books on Sanitary engineering, with some plate of the original designs by Thomas Crapper. These date back to 1880 and include much of Londons sewage system and its redesign form the original lead waterworks from the roman period. Around 1850, the river thames basin was a real cess pit and the prevailing winds out east made the east end of london most undesirable with noxious fumes. Maybe I can turn the book into a pdf doc and put it one the web. Much of what was founded during the British empire held true to this day.
In mid victorian times, BC (before the crapper)
Night soil was collected by a man with a handcart. Better dwellings had a WC, water closet, the forerunner of the septic tank, with a brick built outhouse around it, usually at the bottom of the backyard.
Crapper, invented the indoor loo and the U bend. Many late victorian houses in London had a back addition built on to accomodate this new marvel.
Im not sure who invented the cistern flush?
The original Crapper was served by a bucket, pretty fool proof , no ball cock to go wrong and overflow
A simple system that I enjoy to this day.
Much of our former triumphs in sanitation still exist in our former colonies, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and of course yourselves
for example
www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/sbeder/sewage/history2.htm
If I had my time over again, I would have opted for Water and Sewage rather than PetroChem, less glamourous but much more stable and of growing importance. 30 years ago the world was going to run short of oil, now thats baloney, but the world is certainly going to have problems with water.
Keep the faith
RE: history of water treatment
Regards, and good reading.