Water is a necessary source of moisture for humans. All vital processes in the body occur with the participation of this universal solvent. But not every water is suitable for daily consumption. In the framework of this article, we consider the essence of drinking water, its composition, quality control and other aspects of this issue.
What water is considered potable?
The definition of drinking water is a little vague in the wording. The thing is that its composition can vary significantly. In this case, the content of substances should not exceed permissible norms. Drinking water is intended for daily, safe and unlimited consumption by humans and other living things. The liquid should have a reduced content of salts and metal impurities. Otherwise, with prolonged consumption, such elements will begin to concentrate in the human body, leading to health problems.
If the water looks transparent and no impurities are visually observed, this does not mean that it is drinkable. It is possible that this liquid contains bacteria or viruses that are dangerous to human life. Therefore, you can not drink from an unfamiliar source. To identify the properties, it is necessary to conduct a chemical-biological analysis, which will give detailed information about the composition of the water and reveal its suitability for drinking.
The composition of drinking water
There is no ideal water composition strictly established by the regulation; there are only standards for the permissible amount of impurities in it. SanPiN and GOST establish criteria for the quality of water used in food. Regulatory documents include requirements for the following properties:
- smell;
- turbidity;
- taste;
- rigidity;
- oxidizability;
- alkalinity;
- radiological signs;
- virus and bacteriological signs.
Inorganic salts dissolved in water form a level of mineralization. The maximum allowable rate for this indicator is 1000 mg / l. Below are the main categories for determining water quality with maximum concentrations of substances in it:
- hardness - 7 mg / l;
- petroleum products - 0.1 mg / l;
- aluminum - 05 mg / l;
- iron - 0.3 mg / l;
- manganese - 0.1 mg / l;
- arsenic - 0.05 mg / l;
- copper - 1 mg / l;
- lead - 0.03 mg / l;
- mercury - 0.0005 mg / l;
- Nickel - 0.1 mg / L.
Water quality standards are described in detail in SanPiN. On the territory of the Russian Federation, strict control is over compliance with these rules and norms.
Quality control
Monitoring of drinking water of central water supply is carried out at special posts equipped with the necessary equipment for analysis. The fluid undergoes multi-stage cleaning by filters and is analyzed for the presence of impurities and the bacterial environment. Only after that it gets into the water supply pipe system.
If you have an individual source, then you will have to carry out quality control on your own. The fluid from a new source must be checked for compliance with the rules without fail. The requirements for drinking water are the same everywhere, regardless of the type of source. In the presence of an increased level of impurities, it is necessary to install filtering systems. After installing the filters, the analyzes are repeated.
The sample must be taken only with clean containers. It is better to use a clear glass bottle with dark glass. Pre-treat the container with boiled water.
Sources
For a city apartment, the main source of drinking water is the central water supply. At the station, they monitor the quality of the supplied liquid with the help of constant analyzes. Powerful multi-stage filters make it potable.
However, it is not always possible to drink tap water. It may happen that the liquid, when passing through the old pipeline, is saturated with rust and other impurities. This problem is especially relevant for the old parts of the city, in which there are houses built in the early 20th century. The inner surface of the pipes is corroded, and clean water when passing through the pipeline becomes unfit for drinking.
To provide water for suburban housing, wells or boreholes are used. Mining is carried out from the first or second aquifers. There are also deep holes, thanks to which it is possible to raise artesian water from the deep layers. If the source of drinking water is planned to be built independently, then it is necessary to study all the subtleties of this process. Even the location of a well or well in your area plays a big role. Before using a source of drinking water, it is necessary to collect a sample of the liquid and send it for analysis to the laboratory.
The consequences of using poor quality water for drinking
The norm of drinking water is a list of criteria regulated by state standards. In the presence of deviations from the norm, water ceases to have drinking status. Long-term use of foods with a high content of metals and salts leads to the accumulation of these elements in the organs and liver of a person. Over time, serious illnesses can develop and serious health problems can begin.
If there are viruses or bacteria in the water, one sip will be enough to start the first signs of malaise. Bacteria such as E. coli, Shigella, pseudomonads can cause the following symptoms:
- fever
- general malaise;
- intestinal upset;
- rash;
- headache;
- vomiting, etc.
To eliminate these symptoms, prolonged antibiotic treatment should be taken.
If you use tap water for drinking without additional purification and boiling, then over time, the risk of the following diseases increases:
- gastroenteritis;
- stones in the kidneys;
- hepatitis;
- crayfish;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- digestive system diseases.
The consumption of drinking water for humans is a necessity, therefore it is allowed to use it only in its pure form.
Chemical analysis
Water samples during the analysis pass a series of tests: solutes, suspended particles are determined, the bacterial environment is checked. Based on the results of the analyzes, the laboratory employee issues a verdict that determines the suitability of water for drinking or domestic purposes. In conclusion, the content of all elements is spelled out.
The study conducted qualitative and quantitative analyzes. Qualitative reveals the content of certain elements, quantitative - determines the proportion of these substances in the liquid. When assessing quality, the following types of studies are carried out:
- physicochemical;
- microbiological;
- radionuclide;
- chemical;
- organoleptic.
SES employees will not only provide a detailed composition of the water, but will also give recommendations for its purification and will assist in the selection of a treatment system.
Interesting Facts
Mineral bottled water, which is sold in stores, is good for your health. It contains an increased content of salts necessary for a person to have vital functions. It is recommended to drink it in limited quantities, otherwise the effect will be the opposite. Too high a concentration of minerals can lead to an imbalance.
The benefits of holy water and its positive effects on the human body are not fully understood. However, there is an increasing number of cases of healing people who were treated with holy water. Scientists believe that its strength lies in the structuring of H 2 O molecules. It is the correct arrangement of molecules that gives water useful properties.
Research is currently underway in the study of water memory. There is a hypothesis about the influence of the external environment on its properties. Scientists from different countries, conducting experiments, observed the susceptibility of liquids to various actions. Water stores information, clusters are formed - structured cells. Interacting with the human body, can carry positive or negative energy. It is for this reason that the holy water over which the prayer was read has miraculous properties.
Consumer Reviews
It is generally accepted that drinking water is a neutral liquid that has no taste or smell. However, some people complain of a taste of water that meets drinking standards. This is due to the presence of substances of organic and inorganic origin dissolved in the liquid, which determine what kind of drinking water will taste. The taste can be salty, sour, sweet, bitter. Drinking mineral water has a specific taste for the same reason.
You can get rid of the taste with the help of specialized filters that are installed indoors. The choice of filter depends on the type of impurities. The most commonly used multi-stage cleaning.
Fluid from a deeply buried artesian well is considered very clean and healthy. However, reviews of drinking water produced in this way are not always positive. Consumers note a specific taste that is characteristic of hard water. This is due to the high content of salts and metals.
Finally
It is difficult to overestimate the role of water in human life, and drinking water is just a natural necessity for life. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor the quality of fluid consumed. A healthy body, an attractive appearance and a fresh face are the result of not only proper nutrition, but also water balance. Adequate consumption of high-quality drinking water normalizes internal processes and cleanses the body of excess toxins.