August is National Water Quality Month, a time dedicated to preserving Earth’s most precious resource: water. Water is essential to all life on Earth, and the need for clean, accessible water is more urgent than ever because, according to the World Resources Institute, about 50 percent of the world’s population experiences extremely high water stress for at least one month of the year. And by 2050, that number could rise to nearly 60 percent.

The origins of National Water Quality Month date back to the 1970s, with the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 and the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974. These laws were instrumental in improving water quality, and in 2005 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations established National Water Quality Month to raise awareness and encourage action to protect the nation’s water sources.

Without easy access to clean water, there would be no drinking water straight from the tap, no swimming pools, and no lakes and rivers clean enough for recreational activities. Clean water is not only vital for humans, but also for the ecosystems that depend on these water sources.

The chemical industry plays a critical role in developing products and technologies that make clean water possible. Advances in technologies made possible by chemistry contribute to water conservation, sanitation, reuse and the conversion of contaminated water into clean, safe drinking water for people around the world.

Chemistry plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and quality of our drinking water. Chemistry’s products, such as chlorine and water disinfection tablets, can help provide drinking water in regions around the world affected by emergencies and environmental disasters. And PVC plastic in pipes can help save energy and water by being used in water supply systems that minimize leaks, are not susceptible to corrosion, and resist environmental stress.

Various chemical processes are used to remove pollutants and make the water safe for consumption:

• Coagulation and flocculation: These processes add chemicals such as aluminum sulfate to the water. These chemicals cause particles to clump together, making it easier to remove contaminants.
• Filtration: Activated carbon filters are used to capture organic compounds and other pollutants. This process relies on the chemical properties of carbon to adsorb contaminants.
• disinfection: Chemicals such as chlorine and chloramine are used to kill harmful pathogens in water, an important step in preventing waterborne diseases.
• pH adjustment: To adjust the pH of the water and ensure that it is neither too acidic nor too alkaline, chemicals such as lime or sodium hydroxide are added.

National Water Quality Month is intended to remind us of the critical role water plays in our lives and the environment, and of the important role the chemical industry plays in providing safe and clean drinking water.