Clean water: A source of healthy life

Just because your water looks clean doesn’t mean it is clean. Our normal tap water can be polluted with organisms and harmful chemicals that make it unfit for drinking.

Discharge for untreated waste, dumping of industrial effluent, and run off from agricultural fields constantly pollute drinking water.

Generally water treatment plants are not always effective enough at removing contamination and can harm public health.

Polluted water causes problem to health and causes water borne diseases.

Some organisms and contaminants of concern are;

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that lives in the intestines of infected animals. It can get into drinking water when heavy rains wash animal waste into reservoirs, and it is extremely resistant to disinfection with chlorine.

The symptoms of infection include stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Giardia

Giardia is another parasite that usually infects humans through drinking water. It also lives in the intestinal tract of animals and is resistant to chlorine disinfection.

Giardia causes abdominal cramping and diarrhea. It can cause chronic illness in persons with compromised immune systems.

Lead

Lead leaks into drinking water from old pipes, or can be found in water as a result of mining operations.

It can cause low blood count, mouth ulcers, constipation, and abdominal pain.

In children it can cause delays in physical and mental development.

Precautions

Purify water by the traditional method of filtering and boiling or by modern methods of water purification.

Filtering is the removal of all ‘visual’ particles and matter from the water. While, Purification is the removal of all ‘invisible’ bacteria, germs and other harmful elements from the water.

• Boil water to prevent water borne diseases. Boil water for 20 minutes after attaining the boiling temperature.

• Make sure the reservoir at home is well covered and cleaned at regular intervals.

• Wash your hands with clean water and soap before eating, or holding edible objects.

• Wash fruits before peeling.

• Freshly cooked food is always safer than raw food.

• Use purified water for normal cooking as boiling removes germs but not the chemical pollutants.