Abstract:
A water treatment apparatus including a housing comprising multiple housing portions and a plurality of treatment sections disposed within the housing, each treatment section comprising at least one distinct particulate layer. The apparatus is designed so that no water pressure need be applied to force the water through the apparatus, as gravity pulls the water down through the filtering layers. Water may also be force fed through the treatment apparatus; when the water is force fed, the housing portions need not be vertically stacked, but may be configured in any suitable arrangement. The treatment sections are distributed through the various housing portions in logical groups to perform various kinds of filtering. The housing portions are detachable and sealably stackable in multiple configurations, thus passing water through more or fewer treatment layers, depending on the quality of the incoming water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/311,943, entitled “WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS”, filed Sep. 26, 1994, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus. more particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-stage water treatment apparatus. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-stage water treatment apparatus for producing potable water.  
           [0004]    2. Prior Art  
           [0005]    As disclosed in the above referred to co-pending application, a need exists for water treatment systems that remove organic, inorganic, radiological, and microbiological contaminants from water, thereby rendering the water suitable for human consumption. The co-pending application teaches a water treatment apparatus that removes these contaminants by passing the water through a housing comprising two chambers, each of which contains a plurality of layers of treatment materials; these treatment materials include silver impregnated activated carbon, activated carbon, iodine resin, and a mixed bed of cationic and anionic resins. While the water treatment apparatus of the co-pending application is efficacious, further experimentation has revealed that its usefulness may be improved by adding more and different layers of treatment material in different configurations, and by enabling continuous, as well as batch, filtration.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention provides a water treatment apparatus which removes a broad range of contaminants and which may be gravity fed or pressure fed. The water to be treated may be derived from any source, including ponds, lakes, condensation such as that from an air conditioner, etc.  
           [0007]    The apparatus hereof, generally, comprises:  
           [0008]    (a) a first housing portion comprising:  
           [0009]    (i) a top surface, the top surface having a water inlet formed therein;  
           [0010]    (ii) a cylindrical sidewall integrally formed with the top surface and depending therefrom;  
           [0011]    (iii) a bottom surface integral with the sidewall and extending therefrom, the bottom surface having a recess formed therein, the recess having a plurality of holes formed therein, the holes defining means for providing a long dwell time;  
           [0012]    (b) a second housing portion comprising: a cylindrical side wall having an upper edge and terminating at a housing outlet;  
           [0013]    (c) means for detachably connecting the first housing portion and the second housing portion such that the recess of the first housing portion is housed within the second housing portion;  
           [0014]    (d) at least one treatment section disposed within the first housing portion;  
           [0015]    (e) at least one treatment section disposed within the second housing portion;  
           [0016]    (f) at least one porous separator disposed in each housing portion, the at least one porous separator removing impurities from water and regulating water flow through each of the treatment sections; and  
           [0017]    wherein water flows into the water inlet, through each of the treatment sections in at least one of the housing portions, through the at least one porous separator, and exits at the housing outlet.  
           [0018]    The claimed invention presents a water treatment apparatus that removes organic, inorganic, radiological, and microbiological contaminants from water.  
           [0019]    In a first sediment hereof, in order to ensure complete treatment of the water fed into the system, the water treatment apparatus includes a plurality of housing portions, ranging from at least two up to about six housing portions, that are sealably, removable connected, the housing portions being separable depending on the quality of the incoming water. Disposed within each housing portion is at least one treatment section. In a two-housing portion array, preferably, a first housing portion includes a “Halogen Removal and pH Neutralization Section” and a “Microbiological Treatment Section,”and a second housing portion includes an “Iodine Removal Section ” and an “Organic, Inorganic, and Radiological Removal Section.” The first housing portion is separable from the second portion and, depending on the quality of the water to be treated, may be bypassed, thereby passing water through only the second housing portion, if there are few enough contaminants in water entering the system that the treatments of the first and second sections are not needed.  
           [0020]    In a six-housing portion array, preferably, a first housing portion includes a “Pretreatment Section”; a second housing portion includes a “Microbiological Treatment Section”; a third housing portion includes an “Iodine Dwell Section”; a fourth housing portion includes an “Iodine Removal Section”; a fifth housing portion includes a “pH Neutralization and Organic Removal Section”; and a sixth housing portion includes an “Inorganic and Radiological Removal Section.” The housing portions are all separable from each ether and, depending on the quality of the water to be treated, any may be bypassed. thereby passing water through only the remaining housing portions, if there are few enough contaminants in water entering the system that the treatments of various sections are not needed.  
           [0021]    The source of water may be a water supply tank which gravity feeds the apparatus hereof. Alternatively, a forcing means such as a pump or a faucet attachment with a flow regulator may be used to force water through the treatment sections. Water is fed into the forcing means by a connection to any source of water, including a condenser of an air conditioner, a vehicle radiator, a natural source such as a lake or pond, brackish water, etc. The forcing means forces water from the water source through the treatment housings, where treatment occurs as described hereinabove.  
           [0022]    In a second embodiment hereof, the housing portions are separate and distinct and are interconnected by fluid delivery conduits. In this embodiment, the water to be treated is forced through the system by forcing means, such as a pump, a faucet attachment with a slow regulator, or the like. As in the first embodiment, water is fed into the forcing means by a connection to any source of water, including a condenser of an air conditioner, a vehicle radiator, a natural source such as a lake or pond, brackish water, etc. The forcing means forces water from the water source through the treatment housings, where treatment occurs as described hereinabove.  
           [0023]    In each embodiment, water flows into the treatment housing through the housing inlet, passes through the water treatment media, the filtering media, and the water flow control media, eventually passing out of the housing via the housing outlet.  
           [0024]    The present invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts in which: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a water treatment apparatus in accord with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a side view of a second housing portion of the first embodiment of the water treatment apparatus ii ag hereof;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is an environmental view of the first embodiment of the water treatment apparatus hereof;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the water treatment apparatus taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first means for lengthening dwell time used in the practice hereof;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second means for lengthening dwell time used in the practice hereof;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a treatment housing of a water treatment apparatus in accord with the first embodiment of a water treatment apparatus;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the upper stacked housing portions of a water treatment apparatus in accord with the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lower stacked housing portions of a water treatment apparatus in accord with the present invention; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is an environmental view of a second embodiment of a water treatment apparatus in accord with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, and as disclosed and shown in the co-pending application, there is depicted therein a first embodiment of the present invention generally, depicted at  12 , which functions in conjunction with a water supply tank  14  and a water collection tank  16 .  
         [0036]    The water treatment apparatus  12  includes a generally cylindrical housing  18 . The housing, preferably, comprises a first generally cylindrical housing portion  20  and a second generally cylindrical housing portion  22 . Both housing portions are formed from water impermeable material, and are constructed as disclosed in the co-pending application. The housing portions  20 ,  22  are removably sealably interconnected, as disclosed in the co-pending application.  
         [0037]    Disposed within each of the housing portions  20 ,  22  is at least one and, preferably, a plurality of treatment sections, each treatment section comprising at least one discrete particulate layer. The treatment sections cooperate tc help rid water of impurities such as bacteria, heavy metals, chlorine, etc. At least one of the treatment sections in the second housing member defines means for removing organic, inorganic, and radiological contaminants. The specific constituents of the treatment sections, their functions, and their relative positioning within the housing IS will be discussed further.  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 3, the water supply tank  14  seats atop the top surface  24  of the housing  18  and the water collection tank seats below the housing  16 . These are attached and cooperate as disclosed in the co-pending application. Water flows from the water supply tank  14  through the water treatment apparatus  12  and is collected in the water collection tank  16 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 depicts the various distinct treatment sections within the housing  18  of the water treatment apparatus  12 , and the particulate layers that form the treatment sections. Each of the layers has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the housing, ensuring that water flows through each of the layers and does not leak in any space between the housing and the respective layer. The first housing portion  20  of the housing  18 , which serves as the top of the housing  18 , includes a topmost layer comprising a separator member, such as a plastic disk  80  having a multiplicity of holes  82  formed therethrough. The holes are evenly distributed on the disk and control the flow of water through the apparatus  12 . The disk  80  functions to disperse water flowing in through the housing inlet  30  and to reduce the flow rate of the water through the treatment apparatus  12 . The disk  80  is seated between two radially inwardly directed shoulders  87 ,  89  which hold the disk  80  in place. The disk  80  has a diameter substantially equal to that of the first housing portion  20 , ensuring that water flows through the plurality of holes  82  formed through the disk  8 C. It is vital to the function of the water treatment apparatus  12  that water flowing through each of the layers is dispersed and permeates throughout each layer. This helps to increase the life of the water treatment apparatus, generally, by causing water to flow throughout each layer, instead of forming channels within each layer, reducing the life of an individual layer and. thusly, the life of the water treatment apparatus.  
         [0040]    The plastic disk  80  is located a distance from the top surface  24  of the first housing member  20 . This provides a small reservoir area  84  within the first housing member for holding water received through the housing inlet  30  and helps prevent water from backing up into the water supply tank  14 .  
         [0041]    Disposed below the plastic disk  80  is a first treatment section which is, preferably, a “Halogen Removal and pH Neutralization Section.” The first treatment section has a first separator, preferably a first filter paper  85 , and includes layers one through three as described hereinafter. The first filter paper  85  filters out and traps large impurities in the water. Additionally, the first filter paper  85  serves to help distribute the water within the first housing member  20 , in the same manner as noted above. Any type of filter paper may be used herein and includes felt filter paper, nylon filter paper, and other filter paper known to the skilled artisan. All of the filter paper referred to herein may be one of these types of filter paper. Additionally, each piece of filter paper serves to slow the progress of water through the water treatment apparatus  12  and has a diameter substantially equal to that of the housing ensuring water does not leak around the edges of the filter paper. Some pieces of filter paper may be thicker or thinner, depending upon the flow rate required to achieve sufficient contact time between the water and the discrete layer disposed above the filter paper.  
         [0042]    Beneath the first filter paper  85  is a layer of silver impregnated, activated carbon (silver carbon)  86 . The silver carbon  86  primarily serves to remove chlorine from water passing therethrough. The silver blocks the growth of bacteria within the activated carbon layer  86 . If bacteria were to grow in the activated carbon layer  66 , the water treatment apparatus  12  would function inefficiently. Silver carbon is a well-known and commercially available product, such as that sold by Bestech, Inc.  
         [0043]    Beneath the silver carbon layer  86 , a second filter paper  90  is disposed which aids in distributing water flow and filters out any silver or carbon particulates which become entrained in the water. As shown, a layer of activated carbon  92  is disposed below the second filter paper  90 . This layer filters out any remaining chlorine in the water. The activated carbon layer  92  also removes any chloromethane that might be present, which is a source of unpleasant odor in water. Activated carbon is, also, a commercially available product, such as that sold by the Calgon Carbon Corporation. The carbon further serves to protect the silver carbon  96  from Redox Alloy in a later layer, as described hereinbelow. This protection is needed because Redox Alloy that comes in contact with silver carbon will strip silver from the silver carbon.  
         [0044]    Below the layer of activated carbon  92  is disposed a third filter paper  94 . The third filter paper  94  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the third filter paper  94  is a layer of Redox Alloy  96 . Redox Alloy is a well-known and commercially available product; one example is KDF, which is manufactured by KDF Fluid Treatment. The Redox Alloy will kill any microbiological contaminants in the water. The layer  96  of Redox Alloy completes the first treatment section.  
         [0045]    Disposed below the first treatment section, still within the first housing portion  20 , is a second treatment section, a “Microbiological Treatment Section.” The second treatment section starts with a fourth filter paper  98 , and includes layers four and five as described hereinbelow. The fourth filter paper  98  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the fourth filter paper  98  is a layer of iodine particles or resin  100 . The iodine particles or resin, which may be of the trivalent, pentavalent, or septavalent variety or a combination of these, serves to kill microbiological contaminants in the water, such as viruses and bacteria. Iodine particles or resin with an odd valence are used because the intramolecular bonds of such molecules are weaker than those of iodine molecules with an even valence, and the weaker bonds will allow the iodine to attack microorganisms more quickly. Odd-valence iodine is a well-known and commercially available product; one example is MCV resin, sold by Umpqua Research Company. A hybrid of odd-valence and even-valence iodine may also be used. Also, an optional second layer of iodine (not shown) may also be used.  
         [0046]    Below the layer of iodine particles or resin  100  is disposed a fifth filter paper  102 . The fifth filter paper  102  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the fifth filter paper  102  is disposed, as a fifth treatment layer, means for lengthening dwell time  103 . The means for lengthening dwell time  103  may comprise any suitable construction for holding the water for an extended period of time. For example, the means  103  may comprise an elongated tube  105 , as shown in FIG. 5, or a retention cup or tank l 06 , as shown in FIG. 6. The means for lengthening dwell time  103  may contain a layer of iodine particles or resin.  
         [0047]    If the means for lengthening dwell time  103  contains a layer of iodine particles or resin, the means  103  should be sufficiently large to allow a dwell time of about 1 to 10 minutes before the water passes from the means  103  to the next layer, depending on the iodine concentration in the water. Adjusted iodine concentrations of less than 0.9 ppm should not be used.  
         [0048]    If the means for lengthening dwell time  103  does not contain a layer of iodine particles or resin, the only iodine in the water is what is the water from the previous layer  100  brings with it. The means  103  should be sufficiently large to allow a dwell time of  8  to  10  minutes before the water passes from the means  103  to the next layer.  
         [0049]    As shown in FIG. 6, at least one probe  108  may be used to measure the iodine concentration in the means for lengthening dwell time  103 . A timer  109  in communication with the at least one probe  109  calculates the necessary dwell time by the formula “dwell time =60 minutes divided by ppm of iodine.”The means for lengthening dwell time  103  completes the second treatment section, and is the last treatment section in the first housing portion  20 . As discussed hereinabove, the first housing portion  20  may be removed, thereby passing water through only the second housing portion  22 , if there are few enough contaminants in water entering the system that the treatments in the first housing portion  20  are not needed.  
         [0050]    Disposed below the second treatment portion, within the second housing portion  22 , is a third treatment section, an “Iodine Removal Section.” The third treatment section starts with a sixth filter paper  108  and includes layers six through eight, as described hereinafter. The sixth filter paper  1 C serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the sixth filter paper  102  is disposed a layer  110  of anionic resin in the chloride form. Anionic resin in the chloride form is a well-known and commercially available product: one example is Iodosorb II, sold by Umpqua Research Company. Anionic chloride removes iodine and iodide from the water.  
         [0051]    Below the anionic resin  110  is disposed a seventh filter paper  112 . The seventh filter paper  112  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the seventh filter paper  112  is disposed a layer of silver carbon  114 . The silver carbon removes iodide from the water.  
         [0052]    Below the silver carbon  114  is disposed an eighth filter paper  116 . The eighth filter paper  116  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the eighth filter paper  116  is disposed a layer of activated carbon  118 . The activated carbon removes iodine from the water.  
         [0053]    The activated carbon  118  may have silver carbon admixed therewith. This is necessary if the water has high levels of microorganisms, to prevent microorganism growth from occurring on the activated carbon  118 .  
         [0054]    The layer of activated carbon  118  completes the third treatment section. Disposed below the third treatment section, still within the second housing portion  22 , is a fourth treatment section, an “Organic, Inorganic, and Radiological Removal Section.” The fourth treatment section starts with a ninth filter paper  120  and includes layers nine through fifteen, as described hereinafter. The ninth filter paper  120  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the ninth filter paper  120  is disposed a layer of activated carbon  122 . The activated carbon protects the anionic resin layer  110  and the silver carbon layer  114  from Redox Alloy in a later layer, as described hereinbelow. This protection is needed because Redox Alloy that comes in contact with the anionic resin layer  110  will strip chloride therefrom, and Redox Alloy that comes in contact with the silver carbon layer  114  will strip silver from the silver carbon. Alternately, the layer  122  may consist of a mixture of cationic resin in the hydrogen form and activated carbon. This latter mixture may also contain silver carbon,  
         [0055]    Below the activated carbon  122  is disposed a tenth filter paper  124 . The tenth filter paper  124  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the tenth filter paper  124  is disposed a layer  126  of Redox Alloy. The Redox Alloy removes inorganic contaminants from the water and neutralizes pH in the water. The pH neutralization is necessary for implementation of an ion exchange resin layer in a later step to work, as described hereinbelow. The Redox Alloy also kills any microbiological contaminants in the water, which may have been introduced by trace microbiological contaminants in the water growing on the layers of activated carbon  118  and  122 . Activated carbon may also be admixed with the Redox Alloy in this layer.  
         [0056]    Below the Redox Alloy  126  is disposed an eleventh filter paper  128 . The eleventh filter paper  128  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the eleventh filter paper  128  is disposed a layer of activated carbon  130 . The activated carbon protects the ion exchange resin in a later layer, as described hereinbelow, from the Redox Alloy  126 ; the activated carbon removes “glue taste,” which might have been introduced into the water by the Redox Alloy  126 , from the water; and the activated carbon removes organic contaminants from the water.  
         [0057]    Below the activated carbon  130  is disposed a twelfth filter paper  132 . The twelfth filter paper  132  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the twelfth filter paper  132  is disposed a layer of ion exchange resin  134 . The ion exchange resin  134  is a mixed bed resin of cationic and anionic resins. The mixed bed resin is a well-known and commercially available product; one example is Nm60-SG, sold by Sybron Chemicals. The ion exchange resin  134  removes inorganic and radiological contaminants from the water.  
         [0058]    If the water entering the system is hard, i.e. has high levels of Ca++, Mg++, etc., the mixed bed resin is mixed with activated carbon in the layer  134 . If the water entering the system is very hard, i.e. has very high levels of Ca++, Mg++, etc., then a water softener layer is substituted for the ion exchange layer  134 . Suitable water softeners are well-Known and commercially available; one example is that sold under the designation C-249, by Sybron Chemicals. If the water entering the system is extremely hard, i.e. has extremely high levels of Ca++, Mg++, etc., the water softener is mixed with activated carbon in the layer  134 . Water hardness is calculated by dividing the total dissolved solids (TDS) in ppm by 17.1; this calculation gives grains of hardness per gallon.  
         [0059]    Turning now to FIG. 7, if the water entering the system is very hard or extremely hard, and water softener with or without activated carbon is used as the layer  134  as described hereinabove, then below the layer  134  is disposed a thirteenth filter paper  136 . The thirteenth filter paper  136  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the thirteenth filter paper  136  is disposed a -ayer of activated carbon  136 . The activated carbon  138  protects the water softener in the layer  134  from Redox Alloy in a later layer, as described hereinbelow.  
         [0060]    Disposed below the activated carbon  138  is a fourteenth filter paper  140 . The fourteenth filter paper  140  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the fourteenth filter paper  140  is disposed a layer of Redox Alloy  142 . The Redox Alloy removes inorganic contaminants from the water and neutralizes pH in the water. The pH neutralization is necessary for the water leaving the system to be potable. The Redox Alloy also kills any microbiological contaminants in the water, which may have been introduced by trace microbiological contaminants in the water growing on the layer of activated carbon  138 .  
         [0061]    Below the Redox Alloy  142  is disposed a fifteenth filter paper  144 . The fifteenth filter paper  144  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the fifteenth filter paper  144  is disposed a layer of activated carbon  146 . The activated carbon removes “glue taste” which might have been introduced into the water by the Redox Alloy  126 , from the water.  
         [0062]    The layer of activated carbon  146 , or the ion exchange layer  134 , if the incoming water is not hard enough to necessitate the thirteenth through fifteenth particulate layers, completes the fourth treatment section. Disposed below the fourth treatment section, still within the second housing portion  22 , is a sixteenth filter paper  148 . The sixteenth filter paper  148  serves further to distribute water flow and to filter out any impurities that may have passed through the previous filter papers. Below the sixteenth filter paper  148 , water then flows from the water purification apparatus through the downwardly extending spout  56  into the water collection tank  16  through the aperture  74  in the top  72  of the water collection tank  16 . A user may then remove the water collection tank  16  from the water purification apparatus and utilize the water collection tank  16  as a pitcher for pouring water into an appropriate drinking apparatus such as a glass or a mug.  
         [0063]    It is to be appreciated that the construction hereof enables the “stacking ” of housing portions to tailor the filtering to be effected. Thus, and turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown this stacking of sections of treatment material, comprising more distinct particulate layers, disposed within the housing  18 . As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the housing  18  comprises six housing portions  201 ,  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  241 ,  251 . The housing portions are shaped as are the housing portions in the first embodiment, each having a cylindrical sidewall defining a hollow interior. The housing portions are removably sealably interconnected to one another as described hereinabove. Each housing portion houses one treatment section. The treatment materials in the distinct particulate layers making up the treatment sections are the same as the treatment materials in the embodiments described hereinabove, and their purposes are the same as those described hereinabove; therefore, in the interest of efficiency, only the composition of the various treatment sections and constituent particulate layers in the second embodiment, and not their purposes, will be discussed hereinbelow. The housing portions  201 ,  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  241 ,  251  are separable and stackable in prescribed order as indicated above, thus passing incoming water through more or fewer treatment sections as necessary depending on the quality of the incoming water. As in the two housing portion array described hereinabove, a layer of filter paper is, preferably, disposed between,every two adjacent layers of treatment material, though most of the filter papers may be dispensed within a less-preferred embodiment. At a minimum, there should be one layer of filter paper per section, as described hereinbelow.  
         [0064]    In a six-housing portion array, disposed below the plastic disk  80  in the first housing section  201  is a first treatment section, a “Pretreatment Section.” The first treatment section starts with a first filtering layer  200 , the first filtering Layer  200  containing filter paper  202 .  
         [0065]    Below the first layer  200  is a first treatment layer  204 , the first treatment layer  204  containing silver carbon  206 .  
         [0066]    Below the first treatment Layer  204  is a second treatment layer  208 , the second treatment layer  208  containing activated carbon  210 .  
         [0067]    Below the second treatment layer  208  is a third treatment layer  212 , the third treatment layer  212  containing a combination of silver carbon and activated carbon  214 .  
         [0068]    Below the third treatment layer  212  is a fourth treatment layer  216 , the fourth treatment layer  216  containing Redox Alloy  218 .  
         [0069]    Below the fourth treatment layer  216  is a fifth treatment layer  220 , the fifth treatment layer  220  containing a combination of Redox Alloy and activated carbon  222 . The fifth treatment layer completes the first treatment section.  
         [0070]    Below the first treatment section is a second treatment section, a “Microbiological Treatment Section.” The second treatment section is housed within the second housing portion  211 . The second treatment section starts with a sixth treatment layer  224 , the sixth treatment layer  224  containing iodine particles or resin  226 , the iodine particles or resin  226  being in the trivalent, pentavalent, or septavalent form or a combination of these. A hybrid of odd-valence and even-valence iodine may also be used. Also, an optional second layer of iodine (not shown) may also be used.  
         [0071]    Below the sixth treatment layer  224  is a second filtering layer  228 , the second filtering layer  228  containing filter paper  230 . The second filtering Layer completes the second treatment section.  
         [0072]    Below the second treatment section is a third treatment section, an “Iodine Dwell Section.” The third treatment section is housed within the third housing portion  221 . The third treatment section starts with a seventh treatment layer  232 , the seventh treatment layer  232  containing means for lengthening dwell time  234 , as described hereinabove and shown in FIGS.  5  or  6 .  
         [0073]    Below the seventh treatment layer  232  is a third filtering layer  236 , the third filtering layer  236  containing filter paper  239 . The third filtering layer completes the third treatment section.  
         [0074]    Below the third treatment section is a fourth treatment section, an “Iodine Removal Section.” The fourth treatment section is housed within the fourth housing portion  231 . The fourth treatment section starts with an eighth treatment layer  240 . the eighth treatment layer  240  containing anionic resin  242 .  
         [0075]    Below the eighth treatment layer  240  is a ninth treatment layer  244 . the ninth treatment layer  244  containing silver carbon  246 .  
         [0076]    Below the ninth treatment layer  244  is a tenth treatment layer  248 , the tenth treatment layer  246  containing activated carbon  250 .  
         [0077]    Below the tenth treatment layer  248  is an eleventh treatment layer  252 , the eleventh treatment layer  252  containing a combination of silver carbon and activated carbon  254 .  
         [0078]    Below the eleventh treatment layer  252  is a twelfth treatment layer  256 , the twelfth treatment layer  256  containing a combination of activated carbon and anionic resin  258 .  
         [0079]    Below the twelfth treatment layer  256  is a thirteenth treatment layer  260 , the thirteenth treatment layer  260  containing anionic resin followed by a combination of silver carbon and activated carbon  262 .  
         [0080]    Below the thirteenth treatment layer  260  is a fourth filtering layer  264 , the fourth filtering layer  264  containing filter paper  266 . The fourth filtering layer completes the fourth treatment section.  
         [0081]    Below the fourth treatment section is a fifth treatment section, a “pH Neutralization and Organic Removal Section.” The fifth treatment section is housed within the fifth housing portion  241 . The fifth treatment section starts with a fourteenth treatment layer  268 , the fourteenth treatment layer  268  containing Redox Alloy  270 . Alternately, the fifth treatment section may start with a layer of activated carbon (not shown) preceding the fourteenth treatment layer  268  containing Redox Alloy  270 . Also, activated carbon may be admixed with the Redox Alloy in this layer.  
         [0082]    Below the fourteenth treatment layer  268  is a fifteenth treatment Layer  272 , the fifteenth treatment layer  272  containing activated carbon  274 .  
         [0083]    Below the fifteenth treatment layer  272  is a sixteenth treatment layer  276 , the sixteenth treatment layer  276  containing silver carbon  278 .  
         [0084]    Below the sixteenth treatment layer  276  is a seventeenth treatment layer  280 , the seventeenth treatment layer  280  containing a combination of Redox Alloy and activated carbon  282 .  
         [0085]    Below the seventeenth treatment layer  280  is an eighteenth treatment layer  284 , the eighteenth treatment layer  284  containing a combination of silver carbon and activated carbon  286 .  
         [0086]    Below the eighteenth treatment layer  284  is a nineteenth treatment layer  288 , the nineteenth treatment layer  288  containing Redox Alloy followed by a combination of silver carbon and activated carbon  290 .  
         [0087]    Below the nineteenth treatment layer  288  is a fifth filtering layer  292 , the fifth filtering layer  292  containing filter paper  294 . The fifth filtering layer completes the fifth treatment section.  
         [0088]    Below the fifth treatment section is a sixth treatment section, an “Inorganic and Radiological Removal Section.” The sixth treatment section is housed within the sixth housing portion  251 . The sixth treatment section starts with a twentieth treatment layer  296 , the twentieth treatment layer  296  containing mixed bed resin  298 .  
         [0089]    Below the twentieth treatment layer  296  is a twenty-first treatment layer  300 , the twenty-first treatment layer  300  containing water softener  302 .  
         [0090]    Below the twenty-first treatment layer  300  is a twenty-second treatment layer  304 , the twenty-second treatment layer  304  containing Redox Alloy  306 .  
         [0091]    Below the twenty-second treatment layer  304  is a twenty-third treatment layer  308 , the twenty-third treatment layer  308  containing activated carbon  310 .  
         [0092]    Below the twenty-third treatment layer  308  is a twenty-fourth treatment layer  312 , the twenty-fourth treatment layer  312  containing a combination of mixed bed resin and activated carbon  314 .  
         [0093]    Below the twenty-fourth treatment layer  312  is a twenty-fifth layer  316 , the twenty-fifth treatment layer  316  containing a combination of Redox Alloy and activated carbon  318 .  
         [0094]    Below the twenty-fifth treatment layer  316  is a twenty-sixth treatment layer  320 , the twenty-sixth treatment layer  320  containing a combination of Redox Alloy and activated carbon followed by mixed bed resin  322 .  
         [0095]    Below the twenty-sixth treatment layer  320  is a twenty-seventh treatment layer  324 , the twenty-seventh treatment layer  324  containing a combination of water softener and activated carbon  326 .  
         [0096]    Below the twenty-seventh layer  324  is a twenty-eighth treatment layer  328 , the twenty-eighth treatment layer  328  containing a combination of Redox Alloy and activated carbon followed by water softener  330 .  
         [0097]    Below the twenty-eighth treatment layer  328  is a sixth filtering layer  332 , the sixth filtering layer  332  containing filter paper  334 . The sixth filtering layer completes the sixth treatment section.  
         [0098]    Below the sixth treatment section, water then flows from the water purification apparatus through the downwardly extending spout  56  into thier water collection. tank  16  through the aperture  74  in the top  72  of the water collection tank  16 . A user may then remove the water collection tank  16  frog the water purification apparatus and utilize the water collection tank  16  as a pitcher for pouring water into an appropriate drinking apparatus such as a glass or a mug.  
         [0099]    As noted hereinabove, the number of housing portions can be added or subtracted depending on the quality of the water to be treated.  
         [0100]    In a second embodiment hereof, and with reference to FIG. 10, a forcing means, such as a pump  400 , a faucet attachment with a flow regulator (not shown), or the like is deployed to force water through a treatment housing  405 . Water is fed into the forcing means from a collector  402  which collects water from any suitable source (not shown). Suitable sources include, for example, and as contemplated herein, a condenser of an air conditioner, a vehicle radiator, etc. In this manner, potable water may be obtained during, for instance, an automobile trip in which the automobile&#39;s air conditioner is used.  
         [0101]    The forcing means forces water from the water source (not shown) through the treatment housing  405 , where treatment occurs via separate treatment sections, each treatment section. comprising distinct particulate layers as described hereinabove. In this embodiment, as gravity is not used to feed water through the apparatus, the portions of the housing  405  need not be vertically stacked as in the first and second embodiments, but may be configured in any suitable way. Preferably, the housing  405  comprises a plurality of housing sections  406 ,  410 ,  414 ,  418  connected to each other via fluid delivery conduits or hoses  404 ,  408 ,  412 ,  416 , respectively, with treated water exiting the treatment housing  405  via an outlet hose or pipe  420 .  
         [0102]    Adding a forcing means to the first embodiment is also envisioned. This would allow the housing sections of the first embodiment to be connected in configurations other than vertical stacking.  
         [0103]    As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention.