A History of Purification
Water pollution is not a new problem. Since the early times of recorded history, people have created ways to remove debris from drinking water to make it look and taste better. Ancient Egyptian inscriptions describe water purification by boiling, exposing it to sunlight, charcoal filtration and letting it "settle" in an earthen jar.

As early as 400 BC, the Chinese discovered the purifying effect of boiling water. It wasn't until the mid-1800s that scientists suspected disease could be spread through impure water.

Today's Pollution
Today industrialization, urban development, deforestation and changes in agricultural practices have a major impact on the land. Fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides used on residential lawns and agricultural fields contribute to pollution. Other matters such as fecal wastes from pets, grease and oils from the road and carelessly discarded garbage also contribute to pollution. The three major sources of water pollution in the United States are:

1. Discharge from industries and wastewater treatment facilities
2. Urban runoff
3. Agricultural runoff

Southern Nevada's Water
Southern Nevada has a pristine water source in the Colorado River. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national drinking water standards and to implement source water protection to help ensure the quality of water. Local treatment facilities are on the cutting edge of technology, ensuring that our water meets or exceeds all state and federal standards.

While the Southern Nevada Water Authority and governments at all levels continually ensure the safety of our drinking water, every resident shares the responsibility to protect water supplies locally and throughout the world.

Try the water pollution science experiment.