What is Potable Water?
"Potable water" simply refers to the water that is safe to drink, and it is becoming increasingly scarce around the world.
Growing demand is putting a strain on freshwater resources around the world, and a seemingly endless list of contaminants can turn potable water into a health hazard or simply make it unappealing to look at.
Of the more than 2 billion people who do not have access to potable water at home, 844 million do not have even basic drinking water service, including 263 million who must travel 30 minutes each way to collect water. Approximately 159 million people drink untreated surface water. Unsafe drinking water is a major cause of diarrheal disease, which kills thousands of children under the age of five every year, mostly in developing countries. However, 90 countries are expected to fall short of achieving universal coverage by 2030.
How is “potable water” obtained?
Potable water, also known as drinking water, is obtained from surface and ground sources and is treated to levels that meet state and federal consumption standards.
Natural water is tested for microorganisms, bacteria, toxic chemicals, viruses, and faeces. Drinking untreated, raw water can result in gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
What causes water to be unfit for drinking?
World Health Organiza?tion (WHO) categorizes potable water contamination as organic, inorganic, radiological, and microbiological, and includes measures of taste, odour, and appearance acceptability.
1: Organic contaminants are carbon-based chemicals such as solvents and pesticides that enter the environment via agricultural runoff or industrial discharge. They are capable of causing a wide range of serious health issues, from cancer to endocrine function disruption.
2: Radon, cesium, plutonium, and uranium are all radiological threats. Radon is the leading environmental cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in many nations, as well as the leading environmental cause of cancer mortality overall.
3: Mineral acids, inorganic salts, metals, cyanides, and sulphates are examples of inorganic pollutants that persist in the environment. Heavy metals can cause neurological problems in humans, particularly in the unborn and children, and they can also bio-accumulate in certain foods. Cancer, skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive impairment can all be caused by arsenic. Algal blooms caused by nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can also introduce cyanotoxins into drinking water.
4: Waterborne pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites, are typically introduced to water through faeces and can cause illnesses ranging from mild gastroenteritis to potentially fatal diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever, cholera, and cryptosporidiosis. Millions are also infected with waterborne tropical diseases such as trachoma, the most common preventable cause of blindness.
Pharmaceuticals introduced through sewage and runoff from livestock operations are among the "emerging contaminants" or "contaminants of emerging environmental concern" that endanger drinking water.
Turbidity (a lack of clarity caused by suspended particles) can give water an unpleasant taste, smell, or appearance. The presence of turbid water determines whether it is harmful or simply unappealing. It is critical to carefully analyze source water before tailoring treatment to specific water conditions and standards for effective potable water treatment.
Potability Testing of Water
Sedimentation is the process by which particles in turbid water settle. Alum and other "sticky" additives known as polyelectrolytes aid in the settling process by flocculating, or binding particles together to form "flocs." In water treatment plants, flocculation and sedimentation with clarifiers are common.
Municipal water supplies now routinely pre-chlorinate to prevent algae and biological growth, or chlorinate at the end of the water treatment process. Chlorination is also used in conjunction with aeration to remove dissolved iron, and aeration effectively removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs). UV light and pH adjustment are two other disinfection methods.
Conclusion
Demand for fresh water is expected to rise by 55% between 2000 and 2050, according to NASA scientists, and freshwater resources are being depleted faster than they are replenished.
All over the world, the water table is dropping. There isn't an endless supply of water. Potable water is essential to human life, and we can expect it to be a growing concern in the near future.
How can Netsol Water help?
Netsol Water are the providers of water and wastewater treatment technologies in India and manufacture WTP, WWTP, STP, ETP and RO Plants, among other services. It has become our job to rescue the earth. The firm manufactures equipment’s and is dedicated to offering practical solutions that enable businesses to thrive. We are dedicated to delivering hands-on service, professional advice, and training to our valued clients. We have a solution to every environmental concern and its management.
Netsol Water is Greater Noida-based leading water & wastewater treatment plant manufacturer. We are industry's most demanding company based on client review and work quality. We are known as best commercial RO plant manufacturers, industrial RO plant manufacturer, sewage treatment plant manufacturer, Water Softener Plant Manufacturers and effluent treatment plant manufacturers. Apart from this 24x7 customer support is our USP. Call on +91-9650608473, or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com for any support, inquiry or product-purchase related query.
