Water Treatment Units




Installation of a home water treatment system may be a feasible option for people with contaminated drinking water. However, such systems are usually considered a temporary solution due to periodic maintenance requirements, performance monitoring difficulties, and varying effectiveness with changes in the intensity and type of contamination. The only permanent solutions to water contamination problems are discontinuation of the source(s) of the contamination or finding a new drinking water source.

Different types of water therapy systems are available involving different treatment technologies. The list of treatment processes includes activated carbon filtration, ion exchanging, reverse osmosis, distillation, chemical oxidation, and UV radiation. No one aqua treatment removes all possible contaminants and the various treatment technologies differ widely in their effectiveness in removing different classes of contaminants. For example, while activated carbon filters are efficient in removing organic compounds, pesticides, and lead, distillation effectively removes metals and microorganisms. Therefore, an important first step for the homeowner before any system is purchased is to have the drinking water analyzed. The county health department or a private laboratory can provide this analysis and public health officials can interpret these results to help the homeowner determine which water treatment process is most appropriate.

No federal, state. or local regulations govern the manufacturing or use of home water treatment units. Many different brands are available in the marketplace. To ensure some level of quality and effectiveness, certification of treatment units is carried out by independent testing laboratories such as NSF International (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation) . Their insignia will be evident on the packaging or individuals can contact the NSF to find out if a particular product has been certified for the use intended. Also, the Water Quality Association (WQA), a trade association of manufacturers and distributors, offers voluntary validation standards and advertising guidelines to their members. Thus, the WQA seal of approval provides another indication of product quality.

Aquatic Therapy

The Standards and Steering Committees of the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Industry Certification define aquatic therapy and rehabilitation as:

"The use of water and specifically designed activity by qualified personnel to aid in the restoration, extension, maintenance and quality of function for persons with acute, transient, or chronic disabilities, syndromes or diseases."

Definition of Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of water by external applications, either for its pressure effect or as a means of applying physical energy to a tissue. The term often refers to the use of water in wound management, such as whirlpool baths, but can be used interchangeably with the term, "aquatic therapy."

Definition of Adapted Aquatics

Adapted aquatics are techniques that emphasize swimming skills modified or adapted to accommodate individual abilities. Usually used with people with disabilities, adapted aquatics focuses on skills including pool entry and exit and swimming skill development, and should also encompass community referral.

Indications for Aquatic Therapy
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