The tale of the tap: where we get our water

Summary

Join Drop and Plop on a fun and educational journey to discover how water reaches our taps! From underground boreholes to reservoirs, the duo explores the process of water treatment, showing how dirty water becomes clean and drinkable. With the help of chemicals, filters, and high-tech tanks, water is purified and ready for use. Along the way, Drop and Plop emphasize the importance of not wasting water, teaching kids about the journey of water and encouraging them to be mindful of their consumption. A quirky, informative video that makes learning about water both entertaining and important!

Takeaways

• 😀 Water from our taps comes from underground sources, like boreholes, as well as springs and reservoirs.
• 😀 Most of the water we drink is sourced from underground aquifers, where rainwater is absorbed and stored.
• 😀 Water from reservoirs may contain fish and other particles, so it needs to be cleaned before it's safe to drink.
• 😀 The water treatment process involves several stages, including filtering, adding chemicals, and checking for harmful bacteria.
• 😀 Chemicals are used to coagulate the dirt, making it easier to remove from the water during treatment.
• 😀 The coagulated dirt forms clumps in the flocculation chamber, which are then removed in the Dissolved Air Flotation Tank (DAFT).
• 😀 After the water is cleaned and free from solids, it goes through sand and carbon filters to remove bad tastes, smells, and chemicals.
• 😀 Chlorine and lime are added to disinfect the water before it's safe for drinking.
• 😀 The water is then pumped directly to our homes, ready for use, but we should always be mindful not to waste it.
• 😀 Water conservation is important because cleaning and delivering water is a complex and energy-consuming process, so saving water helps reduce waste and strain on resources.

Q & A

Where does most of Wessex Water's drinking water come from?

Over 70% of Wessex Water's drinking water comes from underground sources called boreholes, where rainwater soaks into porous rocks and collects in aquifers.

How does water from a reservoir get cleaned before being used?

Water from reservoirs, which can contain fish and other debris, is cleaned at the water treatment center before being stored in service reservoirs and pumped into people's homes.

What is the purpose of chemicals being added to dirty water in the treatment process?

Chemicals are added to help coagulate the water, making it thicker and stickier, which makes it easier to remove dirt and impurities in the next treatment stages.

What is the flocculation chamber used for in water treatment?

The flocculation chamber is where the coagulated water is slowly mixed, causing the dirt to stick together and form clumps, which are then removed in the next stage.

What is the purpose of the Dissolved Air Flotation Tank (DAFT)?

The DAFT uses tiny bubbles to float clumps of dirt to the surface, where they are scraped off, leaving cleaner water underneath.

Why is sand and granulated carbon used in the water treatment process?

Sand and granulated carbon are used to filter out pesticides, bad tastes, and smells from the water, as the small holes in the carbon trap these impurities.

What role does chlorine and lime play in water treatment?

Chlorine and lime are added to the water to kill any remaining bacteria, ensuring the water is safe for drinking.

Why is it important to not waste water, according to the script?

Wasting water is problematic because it requires significant energy and resources to clean and transport it to our homes. It is essential to be mindful of water usage to conserve these resources.

What happens to the water once it's cleaned and ready for use?

Once cleaned and treated, the water is pumped into homes, where it is available for drinking, washing, and other household uses.

What happens to the waste we flush down the loo?

The script raises this as a question at the end, hinting that the next part of the water treatment process would address the disposal and treatment of waste flushed down toilets, though it doesn't provide a direct answer within the transcript.