Does river water purify itself?

Question

When flowing water runs through rapids, does it purify itself?

Answer 1

Only a little bit. The rapids mix in air with the water. The oxygen in the air then kills some germs, or neutralizes some of the toxins. But a lot of germs survive (and multiply). And some nasty bugs, like Giardia, are tough to kill with dissolved oxygen.

Oil and many other toxins aren't affected by oxygen hardy at all.

Answer 2

A river can purify itself of certain contaminants, but not all. It is dependent upon the characteristics of the specific contaminant.

Salts and minerals, for instance, would not be reduced in concentration simply due to the turbulent action of water flowing down a river. On the other hand, organic contaminants can be reduced in concentration due to natural microbial action in river water. This is typically limited by the availability of dissolved oxygen in the river water. If there is too much organics in the water, the dissolved oxygen concentration can drop to very low levels. If the dissolved oxygen falls too low, fish can die due to lack of oxygen.

Turbulence of water flowing through a river will help to replenish the dissolved oxygen levels. Also, turbulence also will allow some organic contaminants to move from the water to the air through volatilization.

When rivers are used as a source of water supply, great care is taken to filter and disinfect the water to ensure that bacteria and viruses are removed, as well as other contaminants. The level of treatment used for surface water is much more than the level of treatment used for groundwater sources. This is primarily due to the filtering action of the soil as water infiltrates into the ground to recharge groundwater aquifers.

Answer 3

it wouldnt in rapids cause the turbulant water would have sediment from the river bed in it a small brook with lots of rocks can be drinkable if you needed but outdoor water is never 100% sanitary so you might get the squirts afterwards just bring some chlorine drops and problem solved

Answer 4

Yes,provided there is no pollutents (like sewer of industries and big is added.River water when flowing through rocks,pebbles and coarse and fine sand bed of the river,all suspended impurities will be filtered off(as is dione in a water treatment plant).River flowing through mountains the phytochemicals of herbs kill the microbes and make it more pure.

Answer 5

Yes because it goes through rocks and different layers which the water goes through but the contaminates get stuck...we learned this in environmental science this week

Answer 6

Purification of water in liquid form ultimately depends on natural filtration, chemical absorption and adsorption by soil particles and organic matter, living organism uptake of nutrients, and living organism decomposition processes in soil and water environments.

Answer 7

i dont think so because the water would pick up and errode any soil