ABSTRACT
Growth of population centers would become limited only by the ability to mass transfer water or by water treatment economics. Water is a fundamental requirement for all living things on the earth. Prior to the evolution of man, the balance between the population of living flora and fauna and the environment was controlled by climate and changes in water supply. As the population of the earth grew and the early population centers became the ancient nuclei of modern cities, water supply was still a major factor limiting growth. A major change in the demographics of the population occurred when the water supplies were artificially supplemented by transporting water to population centers. Conventional water treatment processes were capable of converting only freshwater into potable water. Water treatment technology of a "conventional nature" was used beginning in the late 1800s to the present day with only minor changes in the processes.
