DailyDirt: Potent Potable Water

Water that's safe to drink is a necessity for civilization that most Americans take for granted. When drought or natural disasters cut off safe drinking supplies, that's when we suddenly realize how precious potable water really is. Water is almost everywhere on our little planet, but it's not always safe to drink -- and the supplies of safe drinking water may be at risk of contamination from a variety of industrial processes. Here are just a few more links on our drinking water supplies.

• Los Angeles has deployed millions of 'shade balls' to protect reservoir water from evaporating. These 4-in black plastic balls float on the water and block UV light -- and cost 36 cents each. LA is saving millions by using this method instead of more expensive tarps or other floating covers. [url]
• The crushed seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree were used in ancient Egypt to purify water, and scientists have figured out how the seeds work. Proteins from the seeds make bacteria clump together and die. Presumably, these proteins can be grown and used as a natural disinfecting agent for drinking water, but more research on its effectiveness will likely need to be done. [url]
• The EPA's drinking water standards are about 50 years old, so some folks are calling for some updates. Chemical spills and pharmaceutical content in drinking water sources are concerns that should be addressed at a national level, but it might take significant effort to create new water standards. [url]

After you've finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.

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