According to American research, standard drinking water treatments are sufficient to eliminate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
- Wastewater analysis reveals the presence of the virus
- Reprocessing techniques for this water eliminate the risk of contamination from tap water
- A clotting agent causes virus particles to clump together allowing them to be eliminated
Wastewater analyzes are proof of the presence of Covid-19 in cities, but some are concerned: insofar as this water is cleaned and treated then redistributed in the drinking water networks, is it possible contract the virus by drinking tap water? According to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology, this water does not present a risk. Carried out by a team from Texas A&M University, the research shows that treatments commonly used to clean water are effective against the new coronavirus.
Elimination from the first purification step
The researchers carried out this test using a type of coronavirus that only attacks bacteria. They placed it in clean water and then the water was filtered through a coagulant, regularly used in water treatments. This type of product, a kind of salt rich in metals, pushes the particles present in the water to aggregate. This phenomenon then facilitates their removal. Under the microscope, the researchers saw that clumps of virus formed, when removed, the presence of virus was reduced by 100,000.”The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires 99.99% of the virus to be removed or inactivated in drinking water, and we’ve found that even without filtration or chlorination, we can get rid of 99.999% of the virus.“, explains Shankar Chellam, author of this study.
Results valid for different types of viruses
The scientist specifies that even if it is not SARS-CoV-2 that was used, these results are applicable to all viruses whose surface is similar, that is to say covered with spike proteins and a lipid envelope. “Coagulation is the first step in the water purification processunderlines the researcher. These results are very encouraging, because there are other purification steps afterwards (…), which will make it possible to further reduce the health risks.” Often the water is then filtered, then disinfected, before returning to the distribution networks. “This study proves that the decontamination technologies that are already used in water treatment structures can extract or inactivate the coronavirus and other structurally similar viruses.concludes the researcher.
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