2000 years ago, the Maya successfully developed a water purification system.
In the ancient city of Tikal in Guatemala, the inhabitants used zeolite and quartz minerals within natural filters to purify drinking water. Zeolite was known for its ability to trap impurities and some harmful minerals, while quartz helped improve water quality before it reached the reservoirs.
Archaeological studies have shown that this system provided safer water for the population, an engineering feat achieved centuries before the advent of modern filtration systems.
This discovery is among the oldest known evidence of the use of specialized natural materials for drinking water treatment in human history. It is a remarkable testament to the ingenuity of the Maya engineers, demonstrating that innovation in protecting human health began thousands of years ago.
Source:
Scientific Reports "Molecular genetic and geochemical assays reveal severe contamination of drinking water reservoirs at the ancient Maya city of Tikal".
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