Water is called the “universal solvent” as it is capable of dissolving more substances than any other liquid. Water plays a vital role in keeping us healthy and alive. For instance, one of the major functions of our kidneys is to remove waste and toxins from our bodies. Water, being a great solvent, helps in removing those impurities in the form of urine.
As water is a great solvent, it is not available in nature in a completely pure state. It will at least have some chemicals dissolved in it even though the water bodies are isolated from any sources of contamination. It is because gases, minerals, soil or rock in nature can get dissolved in water, making it impure. Water gets its characteristic taste due to the presence of these dissolved materials. Water, in its purest form, is generally odourless and tasteless.
Impurities in Water
When harmful chemicals or impurities get dissolved in water, it gets contaminated. The minerals dissolved in the water can cause hardness, colour, contamination, and radioactivity in the water. The groundwater dissolves most of the minerals that it penetrates through. So, it is usually harder than surface water. The presence of iron and manganese will be more in groundwater.
However, groundwater is not exposed to air pollution or contamination due to wastewater discharge. Human activities such as improper use of pesticides or fertilizers and dumping industrial and household waste into the water bodies can contaminate groundwater and surface water.
The most common water contaminants are microorganisms, viruses, protozoans, bacteria, organics, bacteria, dissolved solids, and radionuclides. Radiological elements are more found in groundwater than in surface water. Protozoans are generally found in water bodies such as rivers, lakes and streams that receive wastewater from sewage treatment plants or through animal faeces.
Health Problems Due to the Impurities in Water
The organic and inorganic chemicals that get dissolved in water can change the characteristics of water and can also make it contaminated. These impurities in the water can cause many health issues, some of which can even be life-threatening.
The presence of viruses in water can cause infection and other diseases. The viruses that are carried by water include hepatitis and poliovirus. A person infected with protozoa may show symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, dehydration, and headaches. Harmful bacteria in water can cause typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, and gastroenteritis. The presence of some bacteria can also affect the taste and odour of the water.
The organic materials in the water can affect water’s taste, odour and colour. It can also cause serious health problems such as cancer. The total dissolved solids (TDS) also affect the quality of water. Some dissolved solids that may harm health if present in high amounts is barium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver. The maximum limit of dissolved solids in drinking water can be 500 ppm.
Other Characteristics of Water
Water can become hard due to the presence of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Hard water can cause scaling or mineral build-up on pipes and plumbing fixtures, eventually damaging them. Hard water can also harm skin and hair and reduce the lathering of soaps and detergents. Hence it is not good for bathing or washing purposes. Water softeners can be used to reduce the hardness of the water.
pH is another measure to understand the quality of water. The impurities in water affect the pH level of water. It is measured on a scale ranging from 0 to 14. Water with a low pH value is acidic, and water with a high pH value is alkaline. The safe range of pH for drinking water is 6.5 to 8.5.
The presence of impurities in the water can also affect the colour and odour of the water. It can be due to the presence of organic and inorganic substances. So, it is important to test for the quality of water if there is a change in the water’s taste, odour or colour. QNET India has come up with a solution to avail safe drinking water that is soft, free of impurities and healthy.
HomePure Complete Water Filtration System
The HomePure Complete Water Filtration System, available from QNET India, includes a HomePure Nova water filtration system, HomePure Prefilter 1-MC and HomePure NovaSoft. HomePure NovaSoft makes the water soft. HomePure Prefilter 1-MC can remove sediments as small as a micron. And HomePure Nova water filtration system offers safe and nourishing Pi Water. So, the three devices together offer a complete water filtration system that provides safe and healthy Pi water.
