Drinking water is one of the world’s most valuable resources. Ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all is a key goal of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a mission strongly supported by the Kurita Group.
The availability and quality of drinking water vary significantly around the globe. Ensuring high-quality drinking water starts not just at the water treatment plant but also with the protection of watershed areas. Better protection of these areas reduces the effort needed to achieve proper drinking water quality during treatment.
After natural water is collected and treated, it is distributed through extensive supply networks to reach consumers. Every step must be carefully monitored to ensure the water remains safe and healthy when it reaches the consumer’s glass or kettle.
The Production Processes
Even water from well-protected natural sources often requires treatment to meet drinking water standards regarding mineral composition and hygiene. These standards must be met both at the treatment site and after the water travels through distribution networks to the consumers’ taps.
Kurita offers comprehensive solutions for state-of-the-art drinking water production, including AI-driven technologies to prevent water loss in distribution networks. For decades, Kurita has provided qualified products for every step of drinking water production, from flocculants that remove suspended solids to antiscalants that ensure the safe operation of membrane treatment plants.
Producing high-quality water at the treatment plant is just one aspect. The distribution networks, typically made of materials like plastics, metals, and concrete, must also be maintained. Preventing the corrosion of iron and other metals is crucial, as corrosion by-products can contaminate the water and cause leaks or pipe breaks, leading to water loss.
Best Practices in Drinking Water Treatment
Our Metaqua® product line reliably protects drinking water supply networks from corrosion. The Metaqua® program includes products that form a protective layer on the metal surfaces of pipes. Unique technologies like Kurita’s patented Integration Method and Thermally Activated Silicates technology provide effective corrosion protection at minimal dosage levels, representing best practices in drinking water treatment.
In addition to chemical solutions, Kurita has pioneered machine-learning applications in modern water production. Since 2020, Fracta Inc. and Kurita Water Industries have collaborated to assess the condition of water supply lines. Using artificial intelligence (AI), Fracta’s data scientists have developed machine learning algorithms to predict leaks or pipe breaks. This technology helps water suppliers minimize or avoid water losses, optimize repair and replacement budgets, and invest in future improvements.
Fracta, Metaqua®, and Siliphos represent Kurita’s state-of-the-art solutions for drinking water treatment.