FACTS ABOUT WATER

• Why is water so very essential?
• Why only pure water?
• Is there any relation between water and dieting?
• What kinds of contaminants are found in drinking water?
• What causes water borne diseases?
• What are the ill effects of contaminants in drinking water?
• Who all need extra precaution from contaminated water?
• Are there any harmful effects of hard water?
• What is TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)?
• Which is more polluted - groundwater or surface water?
• What causes reddish or brown water?
• What causes blue-green stain in the kitchen sink?
• How do nitrates and pesticides get into the drinking water?
• What is the link between chlorine and cancer?
• How is drinking water treated?
• Are chemicals that are found naturally in drinking water harmless?
• Do hazardous wastes contaminate drinking water?
• Can water be tested at home?
• What is the major source of pollution of drinking water in the cities?
• Can one say that the drinking water is OK by just looking at it, tasting it, or smelling it?
• Is it OK for hikers and backpackers to drink water from remote streams?
• What can hikers and back packers do to treat stream water to make it safe to drink?
• Why does one need a water softener?
• What can one safely pour down the sink or into the toilet?
• How can one get rid of the white stuff in coffeepots, shower heads and glass shower doors?
• How does lead get into the drinking water?
• How long can one store drinking water?
• Is distilled water the 'perfect drinking water?
• Which is better, purified water or bottled water?
• How acute would be the water scarcity problem in the future?
• How harmful is the presence of Arsenic and Fluoride in water?
• What problems can one associate with the presence of Iron and Heavy Metals in water?
• How can one ensure pure and safe drinking water?
• Are candle filters and boiling effective?

Why is water so very essential?

Every part of the human body depends on adequate hydration. Skin becomes dry and cracked in the absence of enough water. Blood thickens when the body lacks water, thus making it difficult for the heart to pump and distribute blood to the rest of the body. Without water, kidneys would be unable to remove toxins, wastes and salts from the blood. Organs of the digestive system work harder than normal and become strained in case of inadequate hydration, which results in constipation and abdominal cramps. Similarly, the brain also needs adequate supply of water.

Since all the functions of the body require water to function properly, it is more so important to drink pure water otherwise the functioning of these vital parts would get affected. In fact, approximately 70% of the human body is water (Blood - 92%, Brain - 75% , Lungs - 86%, Kidney - 83%, Bones - 40%, Muscles - 75%, Heart - 75%, Liver - 86%). The only thing more important than pure water to the human body is oxygen. Average human body requires eight to ten glasses of water a day. Pure water is a human necessity.

Why only pure water?

No matter who you are, drinking pure water is important. But for some people like infants and expectant mothers, drinking significant amounts of water every day is a necessity. Dehydration in infants can be extremely dangerous. They lose more than four times the amount of normal fluid than adults when dehydrated. Children also come in a high-risk dehydration category, although they are not as vulnerable to dehydration as infants. During pregnancy, what's best for a pregnant woman is best for her baby, which includes drinking plenty of pure water. Like infants and children, expectant mothers are prone to dehydration. New mothers who breast-feed their babies also need to increase their daily water intake.

Is there any relation between water and dieting?

Simply drinking lot of pure water can be extremely helpful to dieters. An adequate amount of water in the body helps the body perform at its best, burning fat and calories. The adverse effect of not drinking enough water for dieters is that it can actually increase body fat. When the body gets dehydrated, it seeks water from other sources, including fat cells. If your fat cells contain less water, there is less mobilization of fat for energy. Without enough water, your kidneys will not function as efficiently thereby putting extra stress on the liver, which would be unable to metabolize as much fat as it should. This implies that, losing weight will become a difficult task if you're not drinking enough water.

What kinds of contaminants are found in drinking water?

Water is by far the best solvent. This is a big advantage but also a drawback, since almost any other substance can be dissolved in water. That is why water is so easily contaminated.

As water flows, it dissolves and absorbs the substances that it comes in contact. Besides pure water (water molecules) there are a great number of different substances and chemicals, which change and add different properties, characteristics and names to the water. Some contaminants come from erosion of natural rock formations. Other contaminants come from leaking sewage pipelines, factories discharge, agriculture run-off etc. Sources and types of contaminants can be many e.g. pesticides, herbicides, hospital waste, industrial effluents, waste land fills, heavy metals, microbes and other harmful organic and inorganic compounds. 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water.

What causes water borne diseases?

Apart from chemical pollutants the major culprits are Bacteria and Viruses which cause most of the commonly found water borne diseases.

Bacterial diseases: Gastro-enteritis, Typhoid, Cholera, Paratyphoid, Dysentery and Diarrhea.

Viral diseases: Polio, Dysentery, Gastro-enteritis, Diarrhea and Jaundice (Hepatitis)

What are the ill effects of contaminants in drinking water?

Regulatory agencies, WHO (World Health Organization), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency, USA) and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) have set standards for contaminants that may occur in drinking water and pose a risk to human health. These standards have been set to protect the health of everybody, including vulnerable groups like children and ailing people. Acute effects occur within hours or days of the time that a person consumes a contaminant. In drinking water, microbes, such as bacteria and viruses are the contaminants with the greatest chance of reaching levels high enough to cause acute health effects.

Chronic effects occur after people consume a contaminant at levels over safety standards for many years. The drinking water contaminants that can have chronic effects are chemicals such as disinfection by-products (THM's), solvents, pesticides and minerals (such as arsenic). These drinking water contaminants can result in chronic conditions like cancer, liver or kidney problems and reproductive dysfunctions. 80% of all diseases are waterborne.

Each day almost 10,000 children under the age of 5 in third world countries die as a result of these, contracted by use of impure water.

Who all need extra precaution from contaminated water?

Water hardness can be determined by how much soap is required to produce lather. It is caused by a variety of dissolved polyvalent metallic ions mainly Calcium and Magnesium cat-ions.

Hardness can be categorized as temporary (Carbonate) and permanent (non-carbonate) hardness.

Are there any harmful effects of hard water?

There is no convincing evidence to prove that water hardness causes adverse health effects in humans.

Hardness is responsible for the deposition of scales in water pipelines and appliances. Depending on the interaction of other factors, such as pH and alkalinity, water with hardness above approx. 150 mg/litre may cause scale deposition. In contrast, soft water, with hardness less than about 50 mg/litre, has a greater tendency to cause corrosion of pipes. WHO has not proposed any health based guideline for hardness.

What is TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)?

TDS is the term used to describe the inorganic salts and small amount of organic matter present in solution in water. The principle constituents are usually Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium cat-ions and Carbonate, Hydrogen Carbonate, Chloride, Sulfate and Nitrate anions. The presence of dissolved solids in water may affect its taste. TDS in water supplies originate from natural sources, sewage, urban and agricultural run-off and industrial waste water. The presence of high level of TDS in water may be objectionable owing to the resulting taste and to excessive scaling in water pipes, heaters, boilers and household appliances. Water with extremely low concentrations of TDS may also be unacceptable to consumers because of its flat, insipid taste; it is also often corrosive to water supply systems. WHO has not proposed any health-based guideline value for TDS.

Which is more polluted - groundwater or surface water?

It depends on the water source. Because surface water can be contaminated by municipal sewage, industrial discharges, transportation accidents, and rainfall runoff, it contains many pollutants, but not much of any one chemical. Groundwater, on the other hand, may contain pollutants such as arsenic, nitrates, radioactive materials, and high (compared to surface water) amounts of a few organic chemicals such as cleaning fluid. Therefore, both may be polluted in different ways. It should be noted that the degree of pollution may change rapidly in surface waters, while pollution levels change very slowly in groundwater.

What causes reddish or brown water?

There can be two reasons:

The drinking water pipes in the street or those leading to your home, or those in your home may be rusting, creating rusty-brown water. Also, your water tank might be rusting.

Iron, may be dissolved in your drinking water. When iron is dissolved in water, it is colourless, but when this iron combines with air as you take water from your faucet, the iron turns reddish brown.

What causes blue-green stain in the kitchen sink?

This stain comes from a chemical-copper. The copper is probably present in your home plumbing and is being dissolved into the drinking water. Check with your local hardware store for stain removal products.

How do nitrates and pesticides get into the drinking water?

Nitrates and pesticides come from fertilizers and pesticides that are used on farms and on home gardens and lawns. As rainwater passes down through the ground, it takes these chemicals with it and contaminates the groundwater. During the movement, microbes in the soil change the fertilizer into nitrates.

What is the link between chlorine and cancer?

Chlorine is added to drinking water to kill germs. While chlorine does provide this protection, it can also combine with naturally occurring harmless chemicals to form chemicals that may cause cancer. These are called "reaction products." e.g.: Trihalomethanes.

How is drinking water treated?

Most surface waters are first treated with chemicals that combine with dirt particles. The dirt is then filtered out of the water, making it clear. Then the water is disinfected. Occasionally, additional treatment is needed to solve special problems. Treatment, as described above, does not remove dissolved toxic chemicals.

A chemical disinfectant is added to the drinking water at the treatment plant. Chlorine is the most common disinfectant.

Are chemicals that are found naturally in drinking water harmless?

Not necessarily. Many chemicals that occur in nature are harmful, and they can dissolve in water. A few examples are arsenic radium, radon, and selenium. Also, some harmless natural chemicals combine with other chemicals to produce harmful chemicals ("reaction products").

Do hazardous wastes contaminate drinking water?

Yes, they may. As rainwater seeps down through a hazardous waste dump, it carries the chemicals with it to the groundwater. Some chemicals stick to the dirt particles and don't reach the groundwater very quickly. Other chemicals, like cleaning fluid or gasoline, move down through the ground very quickly. Leaking underground gasoline tanks at gas stations and the improper disposal of chemicals (for example, dumping old radiator fluid, metal degreasers, paint thinners, or paintbrush cleaners in the backyard) also contaminate groundwater.

Can water be tested at home?

Not in a meaningful way. Simple kits are available to test for some chemicals like chlorine and lead, but a thorough analysis is not possible.

What is the major source of pollution of drinking water in the cities?

The major source of pollution is rainwater that flows into street catch basins (called urban runoff). This runoff frequently carries untreated waste products that are on our street and yards directly into rivers, streams, and lakes (drinking water sources).

Can one say that the drinking water is OK by just looking at it, tasting it, or smelling it?

No. None of the harmful chemicals or harmful microbes that might be in drinking water can be seen, tasted, or smelt.

Is it OK for hikers and backpackers to drink water from remote streams?

No. These streams often contain Giardia, a microbe that cause an illness called Giardiasis. Giardiasis is characterized by severe diarrhea that can last several weeks. In addition, disease causing bacteria (Giardia is not a bacteria) from wildlife might also be present in remote streams.

Chemical pollution is not a problem in remote streams, because a person generally would not drink enough water to cause sickness.

What can hikers and back packers do to treat stream water to make it safe to drink?

Any water that looks good enough to drink can be made microbiologically safe by boiling. Vigorous boiling for 20 minutes will kill bacteria, viruses, and protozoan cysts (pathogens).

Water purification tablets, available at drugstores and camping supply outlets, can be put into a glass of clear water. They take about 5 minutes to dissolve and release a disinfectant .These tablets will not protect against Giardia (the primary concern in most areas) or parasitic worms.

Portable water filters available in the market can provide effective treatment.

Why does one need a water softener?

First find out how hard your water is. If it is more than 125 milligrams per liter (sometimes called 125 parts per million or 7.5 grains per gallon), then you might consider a water softener. The higher the hardness number, the more a water softener will help. The water softener replaces the harmless hardness minerals with sodium or potassium.

What can one safely pour down the sink or into the toilet?

If your home is on a sewage system, the following can safely be poured down a drain, followed by flush water:
- Disinfectant
- Expired medicine
- Rust remover
- Hair relaxer
- Water-based glue
- Drain cleaner
- Aluminum cleaner
- Window cleaner
- Photographic chemicals All other liquid home products should be disposed of in a landfill or by a hazardous waste contractor.

How can one get rid of the white stuff in coffeepots, shower heads and glass shower doors?

Minerals dissolved in water tend to settle out when water is heated or evaporates. These minerals are white and accumulate in coffeepots and on shower heads and glass shower doors. To remove these minerals, fill the coffeepot with vinegar and let it sit overnight, or soak the shower head overnight in a plastic bowl filled with vinegar. Slowly addition of one tablespoon of muriatic acid to one quart of vinegar will help, but this in not necessary. Be careful not to spill this mixture. When you are done, carefully discard the contents of the plastic bowl down a drain, and flush the container and sink drain with plenty of water. Rinse the coffeepot or shower head thoroughly after treatment and before use. White spots on glass shower doors are difficult to remove with vinegar because the spots dissolve very slowly. A better idea is to prevent the spots from forming by wiping the glass door with a damp sponge or towel after each shower.

How does lead get into the drinking water?

Not all drinking water contains lead. Where lead is present in pipes and soldered connections, the lead dissolves into the water while water is not moving, generally overnight or other times when the water supply is not used for several hours at a time. The first water that comes from the faucet after long periods of no use will have lead in it.

How long can one store drinking water?

Drinking water that is thoroughly disinfected can be stored indefinitely in capped plastic or glass containers that will not be rusted by the water. Because the taste will become "flat" after extended storage, periodic replacement is recommended.

Is distilled water the 'perfect drinking water?

No, for the following reasons: - It is too expensive
- It is devoid of several minerals that are in regular drinking water, minerals that some think are beneficial to health.
- It has a taste many describe as "flat" and unappealing.
- There is no guarantee that it is free from germs.
- If the distilled water is made from water containing contaminants like cleaning fluid, the distilled water will also contain these contaminants.
- Distilled water is handy around the home, however, for use in steam irons and car batteries.

Which is better, purified water or bottled water?

Bottled water is "purified & packaged drinking water". The machines used by the manufacturers are mostly the same as that of point-of-use treatment devices, though of a much larger scale. The TDS of the bottled water varies with the brand and is generally kept at the most acceptable and likeable level. Basic aim is to provide you with 100% safe water with no hassles and involvement. Bottled water is not purified at point-of-use (i.e. your home or office). Therefore, there can be a chance of recontamination if stringent quality control measures are not followed. With proliferation of brands and local manufacturers, chances of spurious and inferior water being made available to you are high. Moreover, there is always the hassle of collecting and replacing the bottle on a daily basis. Also, in the long run this could prove to be quite expensive. Compared to this is your reliable water purifier, which purifies the water right at the point-of-use in your home or office, leaving behind any scope of spurious / re-contaminated water and giving you absolutely pure, safe and hassle free water.

Water related diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In 2001, infectious diseases accounted for an estimated 26% of deaths worldwide. Most of these are caused by 'classical' water related pathogens, such as typhoid and cholera but newly recognized pathogens and new strains of established pathogens are being discovered that present important additional challenges to both Water Treatment and public health sector. Between 1972 & 1999, 35 new agents of disease were discovered and many more have re-emerged after long periods of inactivity.

In 2001, a WHO review identified 1415 species of infectious organisms pathogenic to humans. This implies that existing water treatment technologies need to be continuously verified, upgraded and incorporated with fail-safe mechanisms.

How acute would be the water scarcity problem in the future?

It is now widely recognized that in the next two decades the world will be heading for a water crisis of unusual dimensions. Population explosion combined with increase in per capita consumption of water has created tremendous pressure on water resources.

It is projected that India and China housing more than 1 billion people, would face absolute scarcity of water by 2025.

Rural water supply in India is possibly the largest of its kind in the world, involving substantial investment of more than Rs. 35,000 crore.

All these factors have already generated enhanced demand for potable water. Highly pollution and shortage of surface water has shifted the focus to ground water. Bulk of the water supply in our country is ground water based (more than 85%). Hardness, salinity and brackishness are associated with ground water making it unpalatable. Apart from salinity and hardness there are problems of contamination with heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides etc. Necessity to treat ground water and making it "Potable & Palatable" is the need of the hour.

How harmful is the presence of Arsenic and Fluoride in water?

People directly affected and at risk incase of fluoride & arsenic in India is estimated at 25.1 & 71.3 m respectively. Fluoride poses a serious health hazard affecting 25 million people spread over more than 200 districts in 17 states. Its effect is severe among young and old. Skeletal and dental fluorosis at advanced stage is irreversible. The population at risk is estimated to be around 66 million. In the capital, Delhi, over 30% of the area is contaminated with fluoride.

Arsenic contamination in ground water exceeding the permissible limit of 0.05 ppm in West Bengal has been a major health hazard affecting a substantial population in 4000 habitations in 67 blocks of 8 districts.

Population at risk is estimated at 5.3 million. While population showing arsenic skin related manifestations is estimated to be 2 lakh. the government has outlaid a total of Rs. 347.67 crore for control of arsenic contamination. Similarly, number of people at risk due to Arsenic in Bangladesh is 35–77 million. Arsenic contamination in Bangladesh is considered to be of a bigger proportion than Chernobyl Nuclear disaster of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Arsenic pollution in Bangladesh is regarded as "biggest mass poisoning in the history of mankind."

What problems can one associate with the presence of Iron and Heavy Metals in water?

Excess iron is also an inherent water quality problem in ground water and is prevalent mostly in hilly regions and in the North Eastern part of our country. Excess iron in drinking water beyond the permissible limit of 0.3 ppm causes digestive disorders. A total of 138,670 habitations spread across 16 states in the country are found to be affected with iron contamination.

CGWA report warns, "Ground water in most of Delhi contains harmful heavy metals such as lead, chromium and cadmium". Heavy metals do not dissolve in blood; instead they get deposited in the bones, teeth and soft tissues including those of brain. Over 100 micrograms of lead in the blood can irreversibly damage a child's growth. It can also decrease his/her IQ. In adults, it causes miscarriages and irritability. Children are more susceptible to lead poisoning.

AIIMS results show unacceptably high lead levels in the blood samples, over 20 units in 41% of the children surveyed and over 10 units in the rest.

How can one ensure pure and safe drinking water?

There are several excellent products from Usha Brita that purify water through one of several technologies: - 3 stage purification by micron Sediment filter, a bed of iodinated resin followed by a mixed bed of silverized Activated Carbon & ion exchange resin - Waterguard (Worldwide patented technology). - 3 stage purification by micron Sediment filter, column of silverized Activated Carbon followed by treatment with ultraviolet radiation - Waterguard Ultra & Waterguard Ultraplus. - 4 stage purification by micron Sediment filter, 2 columns of silverized Activated Carbon followed by treatment with ultraviolet radiation - Waterguard Digital & Waterguard Electronic. - 5 stage purification by micron Sediment filter, column of silverized Activated Carbon, silverized carbon block followed by RO Membrane filter element - and silverized Post carbon block : RO – Fontana, RO – Aquarius, RO - Optima and RO – Undersink.

Are candle filters and boiling effective?

Ordinary ceramic filters are ineffective in destroying bacteria and viruses. On the contrary these filters become breeding ground for bacteria. Boiling water is preventive measure that is effective for microbial reduction but ineffective in reducing chemical contaminants. Moreover, it is time consuming and costly in the long run.