Fresh water is one of the world’s most vital resources; quality shilajit or mumie will never exist without pure, safe, and clean water. When our water supply is polluted, devastating effects on the environment and human health can occur. We rely on water as part of our everyday lives, as it is needed to produce the food that we eat, the energy that we use, and the products that we buy. Since water quality is directly related to life quality, it is important that we fully understand the factors that affect it, the importance of water testing, and the environmental impact of low-quality water.
Water Quality Basics
Water quality is defined as the measure of the suitability of water for certain users based on biological, chemical, and physical characteristics. To determine water quality, researchers must analyze and measure water characteristics like bacteria count, dissolved mineral content, and temperature. Scientists work to determine the levels of common constituents in the water, like calcium, bicarbonate, sodium, and chloride, which are not typically harmful to human health. However, when trace elements like arsenic, chromium, and selenium are found in water, steps may be necessary to improve water quality to prevent adverse effects.
Contaminants can access the water from manufacturing processes, agricultural practices, and sewer overflows. When pesticides, fertilizers, and naturally-occurring chemicals end up in the water, several health issues can result, including reproductive problems, neurological disorders, and gastrointestinal issues. The elderly, young children and pregnant women are especially at risk of becoming sick after drinking water that has been contaminated.
Guidelines and standards regarding water quality have been implemented to protect water for drinking, irrigation, recreation, or the maintenance of aquatic life. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established standards for drinking water quality to ensure that public water supplies are safe for human consumption. Other standards have been implemented to protect wildlife, including fish and animals that eat aquatic life, such as birds.
- Poor Water Quality Causes – A description of water quality issues and the source of the problems.
- Properties and Measurements of Water – Information from the USGS Water Science School.
- Water Quality Information – A helpful resource from the USGS regarding water quality and safety.
- Water Quality Properties – Information about surface and ground water quality, pollution, and contaminants.
- What is Water Quality? – The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary defines and describes water quality.
- World Water Quality Facts and Statistics (PDF) – Data compiled by Pacific Institute regarding water quality worldwide.
Safety for Public and Private Drinking Water Systems
In 1974, the U.S. Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law has worked to protect the public drinking water of the U.S. by allowing EPA the authority to set drinking water quality standards. The EPA also oversees the localities, states, and water suppliers responsible for implementing these standards. The law was later amended to protect drinking water and its sources, including lakes, rivers, springs, reservoirs, and groundwater wells.
People who get their drinking water from a municipal or public supply have greater protection than homeowners with a private supply because their water safety is governed by legal standards. Water supplies are also tested on a routine basis dictated by the population size. However, even people with public supplies may need to test their water if their household plumbing contains brass fittings or lead pipes, as the possibility exists for contaminants to enter their home’s water supply.
Homeowners with private drinking water systems such as a well or surface water impoundment serve as their water safety regulatory agency. These residents will be responsible for the quality of water that their family consumes. Periodic testing is recommended since the signs that drinking water is contaminated aren’t always obvious, as contaminated water may not smell, taste, or appear any differently than safe drinking water.
Water safety can be tested by a regional or local office of a state’s Department of Public Health or by a private laboratory. In the State of Illinois, for example, residents can take a sample of water in a sterile bottle before dropping it off at their local public health office. Upon request, the Illinois Department of Public Health can also collect the sample. Local engineering firms and water-treatment companies may also be able to test your water. Still, it is usually recommended that homeowners choose a private or public lab that doesn’t sell water-treatment products.
- Current Issues for Drinking Water – Information from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources about current drinking water issues.
- Drinking Water FAQs – Information about drinking water nutrition and safety from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Home Drinking Water Quality – The National Sanitation Foundation provides information about standards for water treatment systems.
- Is Your Well Water Safe? (PDF) – A publication from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
- Keeping U.S. Groundwater Safe – Information about what is currently being done to keep groundwater in the U.S. safe.
Testing Water Quality and Safety
Scientists perform a variety of tests in order to determine water safety. These tests measure a variety of important factors to determine the suitability of water for its intended function, whether that is for humans to drink, for agriculture, or animal habitat:
- Temperature: Scientists use water temperature to determine the types of animals that can survive in their habitat and to get a better understanding of water chemistry.
- Dissolved oxygen: This test tells researchers how much oxygen is available for aquatic organisms and fish to breathe.
- pH: Researchers determine pH to learn the concentration of hydrogen in water, as highly acidic water could be deadly to aquatic life.
- Nutrients: Scientists will measure phosphorus and nitrogen levels to determine whether they are appropriate for the growth of healthy aquatic life.
- Bacteria: Scientists may test for bacteria that can be found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, which are known as fecal coliforms. These bacteria could suggest animal waste or failing septic systems have affected a water source.
- Toxic substances: Toxic substances in water could harm plant and animal life, including oil, pesticides, or metals. Mercury that comes from mining and pollution is being found in fish, which can later be ingested by people if the fish are caught and eaten.
While direct sampling is important in testing water quality, it is not the only way scientists gain information. Satellite and aerial photographs and observations of the surrounding environment are also crucial in measuring water quality.
- Drinking Water Testing Methods – Analytical methods for testing the safety of drinking water.
- Home Water Testing (PDF) – Tips from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for when to have your home water tested.
- Measuring the Quality of Water – What scientists test for when examining water quality.
- Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (PDF) – Information about drinking water quality from the World Health Organization.
- Water Quality Monitoring – Information from the Southwest Florida Water Management District about how water quality is monitored.
Water Safety and Environmental Concerns
Dirty water is the world’s greatest health risk, and it threatens public health in the U.S. as well as the health of the environment. When water from melting snow and rain runs off roofs and streets and into the river, it picks up toxic chemicals, trash, dirt, and disease-carrying particles along the way. Many water resources also lack protections that make them vulnerable to pollution from activities like fracking, industrial plants, and factory farms. These issues can lead to plant and animal habitat degradation and the contamination of drinking water.
Recent studies of waters in the Midwest have shown that a wide variety of unregulated chemicals end up in rivers and lakes, including insecticides, pharmaceuticals, fire retardants, and fragrances. Many of these substances are known to interfere with the functioning of hormones in people and animals. Air pollution, agricultural runoff, and wastewater discharges are all sources of these chemicals in water, and additional safety precautions are needed to prevent further water contamination.
Reference
- NPR. “Farm Runoff and Water Quality.” Article on how crop runoff affects water quality and safety. Available at: npr.org.
- Utah State University Extension. “Pharmaceuticals and Water Quality.” Discussion of the effects of pharmaceuticals and supplements on water quality and proper drug disposal. Available at: usu.edu.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Polluted Urban Runoff.” Fact sheet on how polluted water from urban runoff affects water quality and safety (PDF). Available at: epa.gov.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “Protecting Clean Water.” Information about water pollution and its effects. Available at: nrdc.org.
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “Water Pollutants.” Information on water pollutants and environmental impacts. Available at: pca.state.mn.us.
- University of California Integrated Pest Management Program. “Water Quality and Pesticides.” Exploration of how pesticides affect water quality. Available at: ucdavis.edu.
