What process is commonly used to reduce heavy metals in drinking water?

The process commonly used to reduce heavy metals in drinking water is ion exchange. This method works by exchanging ions in the water with ions attached to a resin or other material, allowing for the selective removal of specific contaminants, such as heavy metals. In particular, ion exchange resins can attract and hold onto positively charged metal ions, effectively reducing their concentration in the water.

Ion exchange is especially effective for heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and copper, which can pose significant health risks if consumed in drinking water. The selective nature of this process means that it can specifically target harmful heavy metals while allowing other essential ions to pass through, ensuring water quality and safety.

While other processes like reverse osmosis and filtration can also play a role in treating drinking water, they function differently. Reverse osmosis uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove a wide range of contaminants, including some heavy metals, but may not be as selective as ion exchange. Filtration can remove particulates and some dissolved substances, but it is not specifically designed for heavy metal reduction. Chlorination is primarily a disinfection process and does not effectively reduce heavy metals.