Surely water is life. However, tap water for many seems to be not alive, but rather dead. Is it possible to drink tap water or can it lead to serious problems and how are things with tap water around the world?
What is the danger
Is the devil so terrible as he is painted? The primary danger lies in bacteria and viruses, which can be in poorly treated water, or in the event of stagnation in the pipes, they appear in stagnant. So, “dirty” tap water can cause intestinal infection, diphtheria, typhoid fever.
Another danger is the complete absence of trace elements or, conversely, their content is too high. In the first case, a deficiency may occur, for example, iodine, which is bad for the thyroid gland, or calcium, which is detrimental to bones and teeth. Oversupply can cause no less serious consequences. So, a large amount of cadmium in water leads to problems with joints, mercury and lead to damage to the central nervous system, and iron not only spoils electrical appliances and plumbing, but also badly affects health.
Is there any benefit?
In most cities of the world, especially in Russia, Europe, America, drinking water is taken from surface natural sources, that is, rivers or lakes. Naturally, it is very different in microelement composition from water from underground sources. So, it contains little calcium, fluorine, iodine and magnesium, and subsequent purification often removes that insignificant amount of minerals that was originally present. Therefore, the shortage of these trace elements is a common problem for residents of megacities. Naturally, it is difficult to talk about the benefits of such water, at least in Russia.
However, the alternative - bottled water - often does not help to cope with the deficit, since most products in stores are the same tap water, only once again purified and artificially enriched with useful elements. When buying bottled water, read the label and buy artesian water; you don’t need to purify and enrich it so much.
How to determine the quality of tap water?
Many people think that they can determine the quality of water organoleptically. However, this is only possible in extreme cases. So, everyone understands that clean water should be transparent and colorless. If you see that something muddy or with an admixture of color (brown or yellow) flows from the tap, you should definitely not drink such water. However, such water occurs only in places where it is practically not involved in its purification, or if there are a lot of impurities in it. In Russia, even in the smallest cities, this can be seen for a short time - after a shutdown, rusty water can sometimes flow , and it can be quickly drained. In other cases, impurities and pathogens, of course, cannot be distinguished with the naked eye.
You will also not taste it. However, it is quite understandable when there are too many impurities in the water, for example, in old houses with worn communications. You can taste the excess of iron, copper, nitrates, oil products, chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. Also, the taste of the liquid often changes in the summer, when the flowering water may smell damp (paradoxical as it sounds) or a swamp. If for some reason you don’t like water for taste, it’s better not to drink it, but to trust your body.
So, it’s very difficult to feel the impurities with your eyes, nose and mouth, what should you do to know for sure if you can drink tap water? The easiest way is to submit a sample for analysis to a special laboratory.
Since this method is good only in the place of your permanent residence, how to find out about the quality of water if you come on vacation or a business trip? First, find out in advance from tour operators whether it is possible to drink tap water in the country or city where you are going. If the trip is independent or business, then upon arrival, ask about it with local residents, for example, the hotel staff.
There are also special information sites, for example, the Is the water safe to drink project. On their website you can enter the name of the city and get information about the suitability of tap water. They receive the data from the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention and have a database of many cities around the world, including 28 Russian. More complete and up-to-date information on Russian cities can be found on the websites of Rospotrebnadzor and Vodokanal of the respective settlements, especially in large cities and regional centers.
Existing cleaning systems
The most common system used in Russia is cleaning with reagents, that is, chlorine. It kills all pathogenic bacteria and, in addition, prevents the development of new ones in the pipes themselves. Many out of habit are afraid of chlorine, but its content in water is strictly regulated, constantly monitored and cannot harm a person. In addition, chlorine is a volatile compound, and therefore you can draw water into a jug or kettle and let it stand for a little while to evaporate. In some places, innovative reagents, such as aluminum oxychloride, are also used. It has been successfully used in Novosibirsk since 1995.
In 2008, Russia began to apply a new method of purifying water with ultraviolet light. St. Petersburg became a pioneer in this. However, this method does not kill bacteria, which means it does not make water completely safe. Therefore, this method is used only in conjunction with chlorination.
In Europe, for example, in Finland, or in Canada, water is ozonized, that is, it is disinfected with ozone. This gas oxidizes the envelope of the virus, preventing it from sharing and joining the cells of the human body. However, this method does not help against bacteria.
Water quality and safety in Russia
Russian water treatment systems are quite modern and technically equipped to supply water of decent quality and certainly safe for life to the living quarters. At least we are assured of this. At the same time, large cities take water from nearby rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and, for example, during the flood period, fertilizers or sewage from the fields can get into them. And in the summer, the flowering period of water greatly affects its taste and smell. Therefore, its quality is inconsistent, but safety is always at the highest level, which means that pathogenic microorganisms cannot be obtained through water.
Also a big problem, mainly in small towns and old districts, is the deterioration of communications. Old pipelines, as well as fluid stagnation in some areas, contribute to the appearance of various unpleasant impurities in the water.
It also depends a lot on the natural features of water bodies. In the Neva, for example, the water is soft, so a liquid flows from the St. Petersburg crane, in which there are practically no trace elements useful to humans. And in Kalmykia, the water is salty to the taste due to the high salt content in local reservoirs and has a negative effect on the kidneys.
What is the situation in the large cities of Central Russia?
Let's start with the capital - is it possible to drink tap water in Moscow? Experts answer that it is possible. Every 24 hours, Mosgorvodokanal carries out inspections and abstractions, and in all areas of the city the liquid in the tap is bacteriologically safe, and the content of impurities is always within normal limits. However, Moscow water is too rich in iron, because of this, for example, rust remains on the plumbing. Excess iron is not good for health, however, it will not bring much harm, so do not hesitate if it is possible to drink tap water in Moscow. Experts answer - it is possible if there are no alternatives.
In St. Petersburg, water is taken from the Neva and purified in two stages. First, reagents, namely sodium hypochlorite, and then ultraviolet. The first stage kills bacteria, and the second - viruses, making water in the northern capital completely safe. So, local residents can not be afraid, wondering if it is possible to drink tap water in St. Petersburg. However, in many areas of the city it can be with a high iron content due to the fact that the water in the Neva is very soft and corrodes steel communications. Drinking it is not very dangerous, but it is better not to abuse it.
Despite the fact that the Vodokanal system strives to improve water quality, there are cities where it, on the contrary, is getting worse. For example, if earlier the locals answered yes to the question of whether it is possible to drink tap water in Sochi, in the affirmative, now they are trying to buy it in large bottles. It's all about changing the principle of purification - chlorine was replaced by other reagents that changed the taste of water and made it harder.
Regions
In the regions, it is the case that large cities can boast of good water, while small ones often experience problems. For example, the third largest city in Russia, Novosibirsk regularly falls into the list of 10 domestic cities with the best water. Therefore, Novosibirsk citizens can live in peace and have no doubt whether it is possible to drink tap water in Novosibirsk.
But in Elista, everything is very bad - the steppe region causes a shortage of water, its low quality and deterioration of communications. A little more fortunate to those who do not have large natural water intakes nearby, as, for example, in the Tula region - here the water in the tap is artesian.
Tap fluid in Europe
When traveling around Europe, you can relax, especially in large cities: water is completely safe for humans, at least official sources say so. However, while in Central, Northern and Southern parts of Europe, water is doing well in almost all countries, then in the East it is better not to drink it directly from the water supply system, especially in Albania, Moldova, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia. Also, the liquid that is not the most suitable for humans flows from the taps of the Bulgarians and Montenegrins.
Many tourists are puzzled by the question of whether it is possible to drink tap water in Cyprus. Local residents believe that it is possible, but there are problems with fresh moisture in this region, and water treatment plants have to desalinate sea water, which affects its quality. She can wash herself, but she should not drink.
As for Western Europe, as already noted, the water in it is potable, especially in large cities. So, do not doubt whether it is possible to drink tap water in Prague, Vienna or Berlin. It is no different from bottled. It is not too soft, but not hard, it does not deposit in the teapot or on the sink and is completely safe. To the question of whether it is possible to drink tap water in Amsterdam, the world community answers that it can be safely. Here they approach with cleaning with all responsibility. True, for example, French doctors, affirmatively answering the question of whether it is possible to drink tap water in Paris, make a small reservation - for infants it is better to boil it.
The safest water in Northern Europe, here you can pour and drink it in the sink of a public toilet, it is poured directly into a glass in a restaurant and given to babies. Doctors can even prescribe the patient to drink water from the tap more often, since it contains a good and necessary balance of salts and minerals.
America
The United States, of course, has the most advanced tap water treatment systems, and its quality throughout the country is at a decent level. There are exceptions, especially to small cities where there are many harmful impurities, such as lead or copper.
But, for example, in San Francisco, thanks to its unique natural sources, water is considered one of the cleanest and most useful in the country. At the same time, Americans have a slightly different problem with drinking water - they spend huge amounts of money on bottled water, which is often not only not better than tap water, but also more harmful because of plastic containers that release harmful substances and decompose for a long time.
Where to drink tap water is not worth it?
There are countries in the world where it is impossible not only to drink water, they do not even recommend brushing your teeth with it and typing in your mouth when taking a shower.
These are developing poor countries such as Afghanistan, India or Bangladesh, and most of the countries of Southeast Asia - Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, as well as a significant part of Africa - Ethiopia, Chad, Ghana and others.
In these countries, drink only bottled water and in a restaurant take only a closed bottle, as the waiter can cheat and pour liquid from the tap into an empty container.
How to make tap water cleaner?
If you are not sure whether it is possible to drink tap water or if you need to clean it, for example, while traveling, then stock up on activated carbon. It perfectly disinfects. Another recognized bactericidal agent is silver, put it in a vessel with water for a short while. But the best is boiling. It can be used both at home and in a hotel.
If you need to make home water more potable, try a filter to clean it up. Pitchers are quite suitable, but do not forget to regularly change the cartridge. Flowing and reverse osmosis systems are more effective and able to give you the desired quality of clean and healthy drinking water.