Drinking water
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Drinking water is water that is intended to be drunk by humans. Water of sufficient quality to serve as drinking water is called potable water whether it is used as such or not. Although many fresh water sources are drinkable by humans, they can be a disease vector or cause long-term health problems if they do not meet certain water quality guidelines. Water that is not harmful for human beings is called safe water, water which is not is affected by water pollution.
As of the year 2006 (and pre-existing for at least three decades), there is a substantial shortfall in availability of potable water, primarily arising from overpopulation in lesser developed countries. As of the year 2000, 37 percent of the populations of lesser developed countries did not have access to safe drinking waterI.A. Shiklomanov, Appraisal and Assessment of World Water Resources, Water International 25(1): 11-32 (2000). Implications for disease propagation are significant. Most nations have water quality regulations for water sold as drinking water, although these are often not strictly enforced outside of the developed world. The World Health Organization sets international standards for drinking water. A broad classification of drinking water safety worldwide could be found in [Safe Water for International Travelers].
Virtually all water supply networks deliver a single quality of water, whether it is to be used for drinking, washing or landscape irrigation. In the United States, public drinking water is governed by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Among other provisions, it protects the right of employees to report potential violations. 42 U.S.C. 300j-9(i). Within 30 days of any retaliation, a whistleblower can file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
So far as bacterial contamination is concerned, the usual test is for a count of (mostly harmless) coliform bacteria. The presence of fecal coliforms (like Escherichia coli) serves as an indication of contamination by sewage.
Global availability
Due to the presence of overpopulation, which has been prevalent as early as 1975, adequate water resources do not exist to provide safe drinking water for all people. The issue of overpopulation is compounded by the realities of wealth distribution and regional differences in fresh water storage capacity. Africa has been the first region to suffer pronounced widespread inadequate potable water, but by around 2015, Asia will certainly own the distinction of greatest water shortfall, due to the expanding population of the continentI.A. Shiklomanov, Appraisal and Assessment of World Water Resources, Water International 25(1): 11-32 (2000).Nutrition
Water is an essential part of the diet of all mammals. Humans are able to survive for several weeks without food, but for only a few days without water. Since the body has no means of storing water, a constant supply is needed to replenish the fluid that is lost through normal physiological activities, such as expiration, sweating and urination.See also
- Bottled water
- Giardia lamblia
- Overpopulation
- Tap water
- Water fluoridation
- Water purification
- Water resources
References
External links
- [US Environmental Protection Agency Drinking water page]
- [American Water Works Association] for professionals in water production and distribution and other water fields.
- [Safe Water for International Travelers] gives a rating of water safety worldwide.
- [Tap Water Vs Bottled Water] - Interesting site providing facts about tap and bottled water.
- [E the Environmental Magazine piece on bottled water] (Oct 2003).
- [link] - Rights of environmental whistleblowers in US under Safe Drinking Water Act.
- [The Drinking Water Inspectorate] - The drinking water regulator in England and Wales.
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