When we talk about safe drinking water, we refer to water that is suitable for human consumption, free from contaminants that could pose health risks. This type of water must meet certain quality standards set by health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the EPA in the United States, or NOM-127-SSA1-2021 in Mexico.
What Are the Characteristics of Safe Drinking Water?
Safe drinking water must be colorless, odorless, tasteless, and free from microorganisms, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and organic waste. The main characteristics of potable water are classified into three categories:
Physical: color, odor, taste, and turbidity
Chemical: presence of nitrates, lead, arsenic, fluoride, etc.
Microbiological: bacteria like Escherichia coli or Salmonella, viruses, and protozoa
Why Is Water Treatment Important?
In many regions, the water supplied to homes or industries may contain invisible water contaminants. That’s why water treatment systems are essential to remove impurities and ensure the water is safe. Common technologies include:
Filtration
UV disinfection
Chlorination
Reverse osmosis
Activated carbon
These methods help meet potability standards and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, hepatitis A, or cholera.
How Can You Tell If the Water You Drink Is Safe?
The only reliable way is through a laboratory water analysis, which measures parameters like pH, turbidity, TDS (total dissolved solids), and coliform bacteria. If the water has an unusual taste, bad smell, or visible particles, it may not be safe to drink.
Conclusion
Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental right and a basic condition for health. Having proper treatment systems, regular testing, and reliable technologies is key to ensuring clean water at home, in industry, and in any setting involving human consumption.
American Water Solutions, LLC., is a family business based in Texas. We manufacture reverse osmosis water treatment systems for every application from domestic to industrial.
