Water Safety
Naveen Kumar
| 05-03-2024
· News team
Water is the essence of life, constituting the primary component of the human body and varying in proportion with age.
In terms of cellular water, newborns possess about 50%, while the elderly have around 35%. This underscores the vital role water plays at every stage of human life.
However, the increasing risks associated with consuming tap water have become more apparent, leaving us somewhat overwhelmed. To ensure we drink healthy water, it is crucial to comprehend what tap water is and understand the potential hazards it poses.

Tap Water:

Tap water is the result of water treatment plants purifying and disinfecting water to meet safety standards for daily living, production, and use. Sourced from rivers, lakes, and groundwater, water undergoes processes such as precipitation, disinfection, and filtration at water pumping stations before reaching end-users through distribution pumping stations.
But how is tap water disinfected? Chlorination is the predominant method, employed for over a century to prevent waterborne diseases. While effective and cost-efficient, chlorination produces some carcinogenic substances, posing health risks in the long run. Research suggests that ozone disinfection is a safer method, but it is costly, and the preservation time of ozonated water remains unclear.

Boiling Tap Water:

Some advocate boiling tap water for enhanced safety. However, studies reveal that chlorine-treated water, when boiled, can release harmful substances, including carcinogenic chloroform. The content of halogenated hydrocarbons, another harmful substance, significantly increases at higher temperatures. Boiling for three minutes can eliminate these risks, but the practicality of adhering to such standards in daily life remains challenging.
In daily life, adhering to these standards for tap water consumption is challenging due to numerous hidden risks. Therefore, the solution lies in filtered water.

Filtered Water:

Filtered water involves the use of filter media to remove suspended solids from water, producing clear and safe drinking water. The filtration principle entails the mechanical retention and adsorption of suspended solids in the upper filter layer. Over time, these solids form an additional membrane, known as "membrane filtration," which becomes integral to subsequent filtration.
Different filtration processes yield various types of water, such as drinking water, purified water, and distilled water. To ensure safer drinking water, the market offers numerous water purifiers. Choosing the right one involves assessing its purification effectiveness against tap water residues, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals.
While tap water serves as a primary water source, the associated risks necessitate alternative solutions like filtered water. Choosing suitable water purification methods becomes crucial in ensuring the provision of safe and healthy drinking water for all.