A Brief Dive into the History of Water Filtration
Water, the source of life, has been a focal point of human civilization since the dawn of time. With the average adult human body being about 60% water, it isn’t surprising the resource has been a core staple in our diet and livelihoods.
However, water directly from the sea, river, or spring can be filled with nasty contaminants that, over time, pose a danger to our health.
Throughout history, various techniques and innovations have been developed to ensure water's safety for consumption. Today, water filtration is a popular method used across homes, commercial properties, and public buildings to purify water.
Let Culligan ZeroWater take you on a journey through the history of water filtration, tracing how they've evolved over the millennia…
Ancient Beginnings: Basic Filtration Develops
The need to filter water is not a recent phenomenon. Ancient texts and archaeological findings hint at rudimentary water purification techniques employed by our ancestors.
- Ancient Egypt: The famous Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the Egyptians' use of a series of vessels to filter their water. Egyptians also used aluminium sulfate, iron sulfate, or a combination of both to eliminate suspended particles.
- Ancient Greece: Hippocrates, the father of medicine, recognised the importance of clean water for good health. He considered rainwater superior and emphasised that it should be boiled and filtered before consumption to eliminate any unpleasant odour and prevent voice hoarseness. He created the "Hippocratic sleeve" — a cloth bag through which water could be poured to filter sediment and reduce impurities.
Both of these show an early filtration system as they attempted to remove the larger contaminants and total dissolved solids (TDS) from the water.
Middle Ages to Renaissance: Disease Spurs The Development On
As time progressed, the dangers of contaminated water became more evident, especially during outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Throughout the Middle Ages, there are references to several waterborne diseases being prevalent. Dysentery, a common and severe intestinal infection, and Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease spread through contaminated water, were widely spread.
- Sanskrit Writings: Ancient Sanskrit writings from around 2000 B.C. describe water treatment processes involving heating water under the sun and filtering it through sand and coarse gravel.
- 14th Century: Sir John Harrington in England designed an early version of a flush toilet, which included a rudimentary filtration system.
19th Century: Science Meets Filtration
The 1800s marked a transformative period for water purification as scientific understanding blossomed.
Waterborne diseases, such as cholera, continued to be rife across the world. During this time period, scientific discovery was thriving, and this was used to not only continue the history of water filtration but also to demonstrate and evidence the link between water and disease, emphasising the need for water filtering.
- Early 1800s: The use of sand filters became more popular in Europe. These filters were used to remove debris and reduce bacterial contamination. The earliest recorded instance of using sand filters to clean water dates back to 1804. This was when John Gibb, a bleachery owner in Paisley, Scotland, set up a test filter and sold the excess clean water to locals. Over the next twenty years, engineers from private water firms fine-tuned this method. The pinnacle of their efforts was realised in 1829 when engineer James Simpson established the world's first treated public water system for the Chelsea Waterworks Company in London. This system supplied purified water to all local residents, and its design became a model replicated across the UK in the subsequent years.
- 1854: Dr. John Snow, during a cholera epidemic in London, discovered the link between contaminated water and disease. In his 1855 essay, "On the Mode of Communication of Cholera," he showed the connection between Soho's water supply and the spread of the cholera epidemic. By employing a dot distribution map and statistical evidence, he highlighted the link between water quality and the incidence of cholera. His findings persuaded the local council to shut down the water pump, leading to an immediate halt of the outbreak. This discovery was a watershed moment in understanding the importance of clean drinking water.
20th Century to Present: Modern Innovations
The modern era witnessed rapid advancements in filtration technology, with a growing understanding of microbes and chemicals.
- 1970s: The reverse osmosis process was perfected. This saw a giant leap in the history of filtration as it provided a simple, safe, and cost-effective way to remove over 99% of contaminants from water.
- Late 1900s: Activated carbon filters, which use a process of adsorption to trap contaminants, became popular in household and municipal applications.
- Today: Most water filters use a two-stage filtration system that combines sediment and activated carbon filters to remove as much from our tap water as possible. However, the history of filtration won’t stop here, as development is still happening. Science is still furthering discoveries on the importance of clean water for our health and how we achieve the perfect water for our bodies.
Culligan ZeroWater Enters the Timeline
For over 90 years, Culligan has been on a mission to provide clean and healthy drinking water from taps, not just bottled water.
In 2020, ZeroWater became a proud member of the Culligan family, bringing their unique filtration system to wider markets.
Today, Culligan ZeroWater filters use a five-stage filtration system that removes 99.6% of total dissolved solids, including metals, salts, pesticides, and other contaminants from tap water.
Why Trace The History of Filtration?
In tracing the rich tapestry of the history of water filtration, we witness humanity's enduring commitment to health and the tireless pursuit of pure, clean water.
Today, as we stand on the shoulders of those innovations, Culligan ZeroWater filter jugs, dispensers, and steel water bottles represent the pinnacle of that journey, ensuring every drop is as pristine as nature intended.
Embrace the future of water purification with Culligan ZeroWater and taste the legacy of centuries of innovation. .
Order your home’s water filter jug, dispenser, or bottle online today.
