Treated and Untreated Lumber in Water (IMAGE) Georgia Institute of Technology Caption Treated and untreated pieces of lumber submerged in water. The lumber on the left has been treated using atomic layer deposition. It resists absorbing water even when submerged. On the right is untreated lumber shown for comparison. It readily soaks up water, causing a color change within seconds. Credit Allison Carter, Georgia Tech Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.