A small coastal housing development in the UK needs 18 m³ of potable water each day. Engineers investigate two possible water sources.
| Water source | Dissolved salts in kg m⁻³ | Suspended insoluble particles | Harmful microbes | Maximum reliable supply in m³ per day | Estimated electrical energy needed in kWh m⁻³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River water | 0.20 | present | present | 22 | 0.10 |
| Sea water | 35.0 | not detected | present | 120 | 4.0 |
Compare the suitability of the two water sources and the processes needed to produce potable water from each.
Your answer should include a conclusion about which source should be used.
87 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 10.1 Using the Earth's resources and obtaining potable water, covering 10.1.1 Using the Earth's resources and sustainable development, 10.1.2 Potable water, 10.1.3 Waste water treatment, and 10.1.4 Alternative methods of extracting metals. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.