This prompted the establishment of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade. To curb these issues would require implementing feasible measures for prevention and treatment. These should include sanitation and disinfection of drinking water. Physical methods Formation of mutagenic and carcinogenic agents in water and wastewater effluent treated with chlorine has prompted research to seek alternative disinfecting methods that would minimize environmental and public health impacts. The technology, based on nonchemical methods, is undergoing rapid development.
Some techniques are already available commercially.
Chemical methods Chemical methods depend mostly on selected chemicals with oxidizing and biocidal properties. Their practical applications range from removing undesirable constituents to disinfecting water supplies, wastewater treatment effluent, or industrial waters. The most commonly used chemicals include ozone, chlorine and some of its compounds, potassium permanganate, and hydrogen peroxide. Ozone has been used for water disinfection for about 80 years in France, Germany, and other European countries. Ozonation has become popular in North America partly because of its superiority over chlorination.