Sources of Water

Sources of water
Amongst most of the water, 97% is found in oceans and seas. The remaining, about 3% is found in
rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, etc. Air also contains water.
Here are six sources of drinkable water:
1. Well water. Dig a hole and use a pump to retrieve water. This will usually need
to go through an extensive filtration or decontamination process either
natually or chemically
2. Snow melt. Melting snow in great ammounts can yield clean drinking water
especially once boiled
3. Lake/river water: very murky these days but lakes and rivers provide much
water to wild animals and id cleaned and filtered properly it could become
clean enough to drink for hunans.
4. Salt water from oceans. Ocean water can effectivley be processed for
consumption through the desalinization process removing excess salt. Without
this process the water becomes counter-active and actually dehydrates you.
5. Rain water. water from up above in the clouds, this water is very pure. Until it
hits something. However if it is stored properly it may yield clean drinking
water.
Conservation of Water
Conservation of water means a careful and economical use of water. We should
conserve water as it is a precious natural resource. Conservation of water can happen
in the following
1. Use of efficient watering systems such as drip irrigation and sprinklers to reduce
water consumption by plants and help in conservation of water.
2. Building Dams and hydropower projects which help in checking flood and
regulating the supply of water to agriculture.
3. Treatment of industrial and domestic wastewater in sewage plants before its
disposal in water bodies help in conservation of water. It reduces the water
pollution.
4. Rainwater harvesting: Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of
rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater can be
collected from rivers or roofs, and in many places. The traditional method of rain water
harvesting is the most effective and simple way to conserve the water. It means utilization of rain
water for the domestic as well as agricultural purposes. There are three technical methods of rain
water harvesting such as Catchment, Conveyance and storage.
5. Household applications
 Avoid leakage of water from the taps
 Check the leakage of water in the toilets
 check the hidden water leaks
 Use minimum amount of water to bath
MPURITIES IN WATER
dirty or unsafe water consists of elements called Total Suspended Solids (TSS) that are not
designed to dissolve. These solids include dust, sand, clay and rust. They remain suspended in
water and cause it to become muddy or cloudy and hence impure the water.
TYPES OF IMPURITIES IN WATER
There are several types of impurities in water drinking systems and reserves.
1. BIOLOGICAL IMPURITIES IN WATER
Biological impurities in water are caused by the presence of living organisms. These
include algae, protozoa, pathogens, bacteria, viruses, microbes, and parasites along
with their cysts (eggs) in contaminated water. The latter are simply called germs,
microorganisms that can reproduce at alarming rates. Contaminated water is also one
of the main causes of gastroenteritis for people of all ages across the United States.
2. COLLOIDAL IMPURITIES IN WATER

Colloidal impurities in water include organic waste products and amino acids. This
problem occurs due to contact with suspended matter and elements like sand, rocks
and organic matter flowing in rivers, streams and lakes that renders water undrinkable
or non-pure.
3. Pesticides:
Pesticides are particularly used to kill the germs present in the lake water. If the amount
of pesticide used is more then, the water becomes very impure for the drinking purpose.
So, the water coming from lakes or tanker has the possibilities of more impurities
4. Oil:
If the source of water is near any of the oil refinery company or any oil extraction place,
then the water may have some quantity of oil impurities. The oil is lighter in weight gets
easily floated above the water surface and can be easily detected. However, a large
quantity of oil in water can make it more impure.
5. Dissolved impurities
Natural water may contain inorganic salts, gases and dissolved organic matter.
WHO Guidelines for drinking water

WHO produces international norms on water quality and human health in the form of guidelines that
are used as the basis for regulation and standard setting world-wide.
The Guidelines for drinking-water quality (GDWQ) promote the protection of public health by
advocating for the development of locally relevant standards and regulations (health based targets),
adoption of preventive risk management approaches covering catchment to consumer (Water Safety
Plans) and independent surveillance to ensure that Water Safety Plans are being implemented and
effective and that national standards are being met.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline for Drinking-water Quality (GDWQ) include the
following recommended limits on naturally occurring constituents that may have direct adverse
health impact
 Arsenic 10μg/l
 Barium 10μg/l
 Boron 2400μg/l
 Chromium 50μg/l
 Fluoride 1500μg/l
 Selenium 40μg/l
 Uranium 30μg/l
Organic species:
 Benzene 10μg/l
 Carbon tetrachloride 4μg/l
 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1000μg/l
 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 300μg/l
 1,2-Dichloroethane 30μg/l
 1,2-Dichloroethene 50μg/l
 Dichloromethane 20μg/l
 Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate 8 μg/l
 1,4-Dioxane 50μg/l
 Edetic acid 600μg/l
 Ethylbenzene 300 μg/l
 Hexachlorobutadiene 0.6 μg/l
 Nitrilotriacetic acid 200μg/l
 Pentachlorophenol 9μg/l
 Styrene 20μg/l
 Tetrachloroethene 40μg/l
 Toluene 700μg/l
 Trichloroethene 20μg/l
 Xylene 500μg/l
Standards for drinking water (Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Standard For Safe Drinking Water

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has specified drinking water quality standards in India to provide
safe drinking water to the people. It is pertinent that drinking water sources be tested at regular
intervals and ensure that water is meeting the prescribed standards or not, if not, then, the extent of
contamination/unacceptability and follow up required.
According to BIS 1500-2012 the acceptable limit of bacteria and other major contamination are as
follows:

Sources of Water

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Sources of water

Here are six sources of drinkable water:

TYPES OF IMPURITIES IN WATER

2. COLLOIDAL IMPURITIES IN WATER

WHO Guidelines for drinking water

Standards for drinking water (Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

Standard For Safe Drinking Water

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