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Water purification , the process of removing unwanted compounds, organic and inorganic materials, and biological contaminants from water. The process also includes distillation (converting a liquid into a vapor to condense it back into liquid form) and deionization (removing ions by extracting dissolved salts). A primary purpose of water purification is to provide clean drinking water.   Water purification also addresses the need for clean and potable water for medical, pharmacological, chemical and industrial applications. Purification procedures reduce the concentration of contaminants such as suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses and fungi. The scale of water purification ranges from large (e.g., entire cities) to small (e.g., individual households).   Most communities rely on natural water bodies as a source of water purification and abstraction for daily use. Generally, these sources can be classified as groundwater or surface water and typically includ...