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Potable water, commonly known as drinking water, is obtained from surface and ground sources.
- Natural water undergoes testing for germs, bacteria, harmful compounds, viruses, and feces.
- Drinking untreated, raw water can result in gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
- It is usually (but not always) provided through taps, which is also referred to as tap water.
- In most developed nations, tap water fulfills drinking water quality requirements, even though just a small amount is ingested or used in food preparation.
- Potable water is accessible in practically every populated region on earth.
- However, it can be costly and the supply is not always sustainable.
- Spring water, hyporheic zones and aquifers (groundwater), rainfall harvesting, surface water (rivers, streams, glaciers), and desalinated saltwater are all common sources of drinking water.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Potable water, Natural resources, Distillation, Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, Surface water, Groundwater, Water fluoridation, UV-filtered water purifiers
What is Potable Water?
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Potable water is water that is thoroughly filtered and treated to remove any pollutants and harmful microorganisms.
- After the purification operations, this purified water is appropriate to consume.
- This water is sometimes also known as "drinking water," and is safe for both cooking and drinking.
- Water is purified in a variety of ways, including reverse osmosis and the use of UV-filtered water purifiers.
- Raw water is water that is not potable or suitable for consumption and comes mostly from sources such as groundwater, rivers, and lakes.
- Non-potable water may taste normal, just like potable water, but it can cause serious health concerns.
- People in developed nations have no idea where their water comes from.
- Access to drinking water is challenging in certain developing countries such as Africa.
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Methods to Make Potable Water
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Water purification is the removal of unwanted chemicals, biological pollutants, and suspended particles from water. There are several methods of converting ordinary water into palatable or drinking water.
Distillation
It is a water purification process that uses heat to gather clean water vapor.
- This method is efficient because water has a lower boiling point than other pollutants and disease-causing elements found in water.
- Water is heated up till it reaches its boiling point.
- It is then allowed to boil until it vaporizes.
- This vapor is cooled by passing into a condenser.
- When the vapor cools, it becomes liquid water that is clean and safe to drink.
- Other elements with a higher boiling point are left in the container as sediments.
Reverse Osmosis
Water is pushed through a screen with tiny pores (holes) and passed under high pressure.
- The holes allow water molecules to flow through, but most ions and compounds cannot.
- Reverse osmosis is inefficient because it needs high membranes and creates a large volume of wastewater.
Filtration
Solid particles are completely removed from the water using the filtration water treatment process.
- With a simple and quick process, this method removes both large and small compounds and harmful impurities that cause disease.
- This method purifies water and makes it safe for human consumption by using chemical and physical processes.
- In general, there are two types of filters available on the market.
- Some include carbon filters, which remove bacteria, and others, which use chemicals such as iodine to purify water.
- The main disadvantage of the filtration process is that filters are quite heavy, require regular replacement, and are highly expensive.
- People nowadays choose potable water filters.
Boiling
The boiling technique of water purification is the cheapest, safest, and simplest way to purify water. Although boiling kills harmful bacteria and viruses, it does not eliminate all heavy contaminants.
International Standards for Drinking Water
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The international drinking water standards that must be followed are as follows:
Fluoride
Fluoride deficiency causes tooth decay in humans.
- Water fluoridation is a method that ensures the regulated addition of soluble fluoride to the drinking water supply in order to increase its concentration to 1 ppm.
- However, excessive fluoride causes tooth mottling and bone defects, thus it is only added up to the safe limits.
Lead
Water supply pipes, plumbing fittings, and so on either contain or are made of lead.
- Excess lead has neurological effects.
- Long-term exposure can harm the health of pregnant women and newborns.
- It can potentially harm the liver, kidneys, and other organs.
- Therefore, the acceptable limit for lead concentration is just 50 ppb.
Sulphate
Sulphate is commonly used to reduce algae in public water supply pipelines.
- Mines also discharge them into the river.
- Some sulphates are extremely water-soluble.
- Therefore, they may still be present in the water after treatment.
- Although it is safe at low concentrations, if it exceeds 500 ppm in water, it can cause dehydration, diarrhea, some laxative effects, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Nitrate
Fertilizers contain nitrates. They can reach surface and groundwater from agricultural areas.
- The digestive system is harmed when the content of nitrates in water exceeds 50 ppm.
- It also causes methemoglobinemia, widely known as the "blue baby syndrome."
Other metals
Other metals, such as iron, copper, aluminum, and zinc, have permitted concentrations of 0.2 ppm, 3 ppm, 0.2 ppm, and 5 ppm, respectively.
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Things to Remember
- Potable water is defined as water that is suitable for drinking.
- Purification can be done naturally or artificially.
- Potable water is obtained from surface and ground sources.
- It is also known as drinking water.
- Water is purified in a variety of ways, including reverse osmosis and the use of UV-filtered water purifiers.
- Distillation is a water purification process that uses heat to gather clean water vapor.
- Solid particles are completely removed from the water using the filtration water treatment process.
- Water helps in the process of digestion and food absorption.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the best pH water to drink? (1 Mark)
Ans. On a scale of 0 to 14, the pH level of the water sources should be between 6.5 and 8.5. The perfect pH level for drinking water is a 7 in the center.
Ques. Is bottled water safer than potable water? (3 Marks)
Ans. It's normal to be cautious about becoming sick from drinking bottled water, considering the recent outbreak of Legionella. These individuals will either build a water purifying system (which is often costly) or simply consume bottled water. However, numerous studies have shown that consumers who take these steps are wasting their money.
Bottled water is an expensive thing to buy, and depending on where you live and the bottled water you buy, it may be dirtier than tap water. To be safe, make sure the water you buy is potable by checking that the supplier is a member of the IBWA (International Bottled Water Association), which ensures that they meet the strict safety guidelines for drinking water.
Ques. What is the difference between potable and clean water? (2 Marks)
Ans. Potable water is water that is suitable for human consumption. Because dissolved contaminants are nearly always present in potable water, it is not pure water. Water must have minimal amounts of dissolved salts and microorganisms to be considered drinkable.
Ques. What characteristics does potable water have? (3 Marks)
Ans. The first stage in ensuring healthy water is to ensure that it is clean, which involves removing any hazardous impurities. Fluoride, metals like lead, and microorganisms should not be present in water. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium are all minerals found naturally in water. Removing pollutants while maintaining essential minerals is the key to generating healthy water. Mineral content in drinking water is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and cancer death. The pH level of drinking water should be between 7 and 8.5. Alkaline water helps in the neutralization of stored acids and the elimination of contaminants.
Ques. How is potable water contaminated? (3 Marks)
Ans. Water systems are prone to contamination from a variety of sources. The following are the most common sources of contamination:
- Failure or interruption in wastewater treatment systems for example - nearby septic systems
- Sewer backups
- Manufacturing processes
- Land use practices such as concentrated animal feeding, livestock, pesticides, and fertilizers
- Naturally occurring chemicals and minerals (such as uranium, radon, and arsenic).
Ques. What role does potable water have in our health? (3 Marks)
Ans. Contaminated water can cause a variety of health concerns, including neurological abnormalities, reproductive problems, and gastrointestinal problems. Immunodeficient persons, the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and babies are all at a higher risk of contracting an illness after drinking contaminated water. High levels of lead, for example, can cause major health problems, especially in young children and pregnant women. As a result, there are federal laws in place that compel systems to lower specific toxins to below certain levels, to preserve the public's health.
Ques. Which method is used to purify water for chemical purposes? (1 Mark)
Ans. Distillation is a method for purifying water for chemical purposes. To remove impurities, sequential boiling, and condensation are used.
Ques. What is non-potable water? (2 Marks)
Ans. Raw water is water that is not potable or fit for drinking and comes primarily from sources such as groundwater, rivers, and lakes. Non-potable water can sometimes taste just like potable water, but it can cause serious health problems.
Ques. What is the most effective method for making potable water at home? (1 Mark)
Ans. Boiling is the simplest way to purify water. It neutralizes the great majority of viruses and bacteria in the supply, although it is unable to eliminate all heavy contaminants.
Ques. What is Direct Potable Reuse, and how does it work? (1 Mark)
Ans. Without the need for an environmental barrier, cleansed wastewater is immediately fed into the raw water supply supplying a water treatment plant in case of direct potable reuse.
Ques. What is Indirect Potable Reuse, and how does it work? (1 Mark)
Ans. Indirect potable reuse is releasing treated wastewater into a thorough environmental source, such as a reservoir or watershed, for a while before being collected for potable use.
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