Repository: UIHistories Project: SWE - Proceedings of the First International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists [PAGE 144]

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or at least under the threat of water shortage. Even in those territories where abundant water is available, the human being has by his activities induced a wavering in the availability of the continuously protected supply of this essential condition of its existence by the contamination of his environment. Water Pollution The pollution of water is no new phenomenon, but it was not until after the Second World War that the situation become catastrophic in some places. The rise in the standard of living has in general occurred at the expense of natural water systems. Society with its high level of development, large centres of population, huge industrial plants, radioactive materials, along with an ever-increasing use of chemicals, has multiplied many times the amounts of "nonnatural" water. Thus the waterways have to accept large amounts of organic and inorganic matter, with the result that many inconveniences become apparent even to the senses: They have a disagreeable odor, the water becomes muddy and grass-grown, and algae and waste floats are formed. The bacterial content may also be increased to such as extent that the health of the people is subjected to hazard. All over the world, the serious nature of the situation has been realized, and immediate measures have been taken to protect the supply of natural water. Legislation on water protection has been passed, industrial plants have been obliged to acquire apparatus for waste water purification, informative and educational work has been carried out among the public in large, and systematic research work is more and more engaged in. The protection of water has become a matter of public interest. It has been recognized that prevention of water system pollution is not merely a matter that concerns the people of today, but also that the possibilities available to coming generations to live and to gain their livlihood on this planet depend on it. In consideration of the means of protecting the water supply of a city or other centre of population, the first concern is the protection of the waters of the region concerned against the pollutant effect of the sewerage system. This is easy to understand, as industial and residential waste waters, which are often conducted in sewage to the water systems, constitute the worst enemies of water purity. However, such waste waters are not the only consideration in this respect; many other hazards, such as liquid fuels, radioactive materials and chemicals, may contribute to the pollution of water systems and even completely spoil the water supply. Quality specifications for water The quality of water is commonly defined by the purity or impurity of the water. Nevertheless, natural water is only rarely quite pure. Before

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