Science is Everywhere-3 The Science of Water

The story of how we source our water, the challenge to clean and why the next global wars may be over access to clean water. The River Liffey provides up to 30% of the country's drinking water and making it fit for human consumption is an expensive and laborious scientific process, yet just 1 percent of purified water is actually consumed by humans. Dr. Lara Dungan talks to scientist and hydrologist, Associate Professor Michael Bruen and explores the journey of the Liffey water from the city, where visual artist Fergal McCarthy swims regularly in it, to Leixslip water treatment plant where plant manager, John Keane describes the chemical process required to make that raw water fit to drink. Professor Alan Reilly, CEO of the Food Safety Authority tackles the thorny issue of why Ireland add fluoride to it’s drinking water while Dara Page at the Environmental Protection Agency, explains where we get our water from and why we're reliant on our rivers. Science is Everywhere is an Athena Media production for Newstalk 106-108fm made with the support of the BAI.