Water quality issues

If you’ve ever walked past a clear running stream while you were thirsty, you may have thought the water looked good enough to drink. Humans usually aren’t tempted by water that is cloudy or muddy looking, but even clear water may carry some hidden risks. For some people, getting clean drinking water is as easy as turning on the faucet. But globally, two million people lack access to safe drinking water.

It can be dangerous to drink contaminated water. The health impacts are caused by two main types of contaminants: germs and chemicals. 

Gross germs

Most germs that contaminate water come from poop. That’s right… Poop-related bacteria and viruses are often in our water. These germs include E. coli, norovirus, and salmonella. But if you think about it, it makes sense. Many animals don’t have a specific spot to go to the bathroom, like we do. So a variety of animals end up pooping in natural streams. 

In human water systems, these contaminants can get into the water supply from the sewer system, storms, or agriculture. Drinking water contaminated with these germs can make you sick.

Crummy chemicals

Chemicals also have a huge influence on our water quality. Pollution from industry can (and does) put chemicals into the water supply. 

High nitrate levels can be found in farming areas like the Midwestern United States, due to the use of fertilizers on crops. Certain pipes can also add harmful substances to water, like copper and lead. Arsenic and radon can also be found naturally in certain water supplies. Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer. 

Terrific treatment

The good news is that water can usually be treated to remove contaminants. In some cases, simply boiling or filtering water is enough. This is very important to do when you drink water from natural streams in the outdoors. In other cases, more complicated treatments are required. 

One major thing you can do is to make sure you drink filtered water when you can. Clean, safe drinking water is important to your health. It’s also important to keep this in mind, and to report any people or issues that might be polluting bodies of water near where you live.

Water recycling

Water treatment plants recycle water to provide clean, safe water for people to use. To make water safe, collected water goes through a special step-by-step cleaning process. The stations of a water treatment plant work together to remove dirt, germs, chemicals, and other waste from the water. Each station plays a unique role in cleaning the water and must be in the right order for the facility to work properly.

To explore how this process works, take a Virtual Trip to a Water Treatment Facility.

Then, put your knowledge to the test by playing the Water Treatment Facility Game.

Additional images via Wikimedia Commons and Adobe Stock. Kid with glass of water by Prostock-studio.