Controversy between Safe and Pure Drinking Water - Essay Example

Lecturer Controversy between Safe and Pure Drinking Water Adequate supply of safe drinking water is an essential requirement for a healthy life; however, people have increasing concern with the safety of drinking water. Improvements in analytical methods aid detect infections at low concentrations in water, showing contamination in once considered pure water sources. This makes it difficult to have pure water; nevertheless, people can always have safe drinking water. Health impacts of some of the contaminants in drinking water are not clear; however, the availability of contaminants does not always mean that they will harm an individual’s health. The basis for determining safe drinking water is the national or international guideline, with the significant one being the WHO guideline for quality of drinking water. Drinking water can be obtained from two basic sources, which include surface water like reservoirs and rivers, and groundwater. Water has natural contaminants, especially inorganic contaminants from geological strata upon which water flows, and different microorganisms and chemical pollution. Generally, ground water is less susceptible to pollution compared to surface waters that are prone to various sources of fabricated contaminants. Moreover, in case there are no improved water management, the unhealthy residues of substances used in its treatment can lead to pollution, giving rise to presence of deposits in water pipes. In addition, contamination of drinking water can occur during the distribution of water arising from materials like iron, which corrodes and releases iron oxides into the supply system. Diffusion process taking place in plastic pipes may result in contamination of drinking water; for example, split oil in the surrounding area may result in water problems concerning its taste and smell. Drinking water treatment applied in public water supply includes a series of treatments that vary in accordance with the requirements of supply and nature and susceptibility of the source. Water treatments comprises of systems that coagulate, flocculate, filter and oxidise drinking water. The common oxidative disinfectant is chlorine and it provides effective and robust protection against pathogens. Standards upon which the safety of drinking water is gauged are revised regularly and supported by detailed documents that describe the various aspects of safety (Larason). Pathogen contamination of drinking water causes diarrhoea disease and is a significant characteristic of the drinking water quality. This problem is a result of water contamination by faecal substance, particularly human faecal substance comprising of pathogenic organisms. Many regions in developing countries, pathogens remain a significant cause disease. Therefore, breaking the faecal-oral cycle is crucial by preventing the entry of faecal matter into water sources and treating drinking water in order to kill pathogens. Nevertheless, such approach needs to function alongside hygiene practices like hand washing, which helps reduce the chances of person-to-person infection. Detecting and enumerating pathogens in water is not appropriate in many circumstances because of the difficulties and resources necessary; therefore, only two kinds of pathogen are used as indicators for faecal contamination. There is the assumption that once the indicators are detected, pathogens like viruses could be presents; thus, the appropriate action is necessary. Nevertheless, the time taken in analysing the sample means that if there is contamination then, the contaminated water will get to the consumers and probably it will be consumed by the time the analysis results are obtained. Moreover, the small volume of water sample implies that monitoring is not adequate for ensuring safe drinking water (Workshop on Emerging Drinking Water Contaminants, National Research Council 202). The most serious contaminants of water are chemicals that occur naturally and they are found in groundwater. Waterborne contaminants bring about disease in several regions of the world particularly Bengal and Bangladesh, which leads to human cancer after exposure to contaminated drinking water. In addition, the contaminant results in skin, bladder, lung and probably liver cancer and has severe consequences like peripheral vascular disease; nevertheless, local factors are essential like nutritional status. Waterborne fluorine is a leading cause of morbidity in various parts of the world like Africa, Far East and the Indian Sub-continent; high intake of fluorine gives rise to dental fluorosis and higher intake results in skeletal fluorosis, a phenomenon that arises from increased bone density that can lead to fractures and skeletal deformity. Drinking water in seleniferous areas contributes to increased intake of selenium resulting in loss of hair, weak nail, skin lesions and changes in peripheral nerves. Furthermore, uranium is commonly found in groundwater associated with granite rocks and is known to be a kidney toxin associated with fractional calcium excretion; however, it is being studied in order to assess its exposure through drinking water. Moreover, agriculture is a major source of chemical contaminants, with the ain contaminants being nitrate, which results in blue-baby syndrome in infants under the age of three months. There has been fear of pesticides in consumption water; however, there is diminutive indication that this leads to illness, with the exception of circumstances where the spill involves high concentrations (Cocke). A matter of apprehension is the run-off nutrients to surface water and the sewage releases that result in substantial growth of bacteria. There are different toxins produced by these organisms and is possible that not every toxins produced by the organisms have never been identified to date. In circumstances of inadequate water management, there is the possibility of discovering unhealthy concentrations present in the consumption water (Fawell and Nieuwenhuijsen 205). Furthermore, industry and human dwelling are sources of potential water contaminants, the common ones being heavy metals and solvents, which are often found in groundwater and hydrocarbons that result from petroleum oils. There is no proof signifying that such pollutants arise at concentrations adequate to bring about health issues; however, some result in drinking water having a severe odour. Drinking water treatments aim at removing microorganisms and in many cases, chemical contaminants in water. However, the process can result in formation of other contaminants from reactions of chemical oxidants with natural organic matter. This necessitates a balance between the benefits of chemical oxidants in eliminating the microorganisms and the potential risks that result from the by-products. Water treatment takes many forms with each treatment method having its advantages and disadvantages; nevertheless, each method forms by-products. Various factors determine the type and quantity of by-products formed in each method. However, drinking water is not sterile and bacteria can be found within the distribution channel and at the tap even though, most of the organisms are not harmful, but some opportunist pathogens may multiply in the distribution under suitable conditions. Currently there is dispute as to whether such organisms result in any waterborne or gastrointestinal disease; however, paeruginosa is known to infect immune-compromised patients and weak patients in hospitals. Various organisms emerge as possible waterborne microorganisms and some are identified as harmful pathogens that lead to noticeable waterborne infections. The most important protective measures to these infections are those that extract particles such as purification, sedimentation and coagulation; nevertheless, water is not the only source of infection since it is possible that some infections can be spread from person-to-person through contact with faecal matter resulting from infected animals (Admin). Some organisms are susceptible to chlorine and others are large making it possible to remove them by particle removal process. Although common waterborne diseases that date back to the 19th century are not prevalent in developed nations, maintaining vigilance is crucial since these diseases are evident in different parts of the world. Thus, microbial contamination of safe drinking water is a continuous threat. In conclusion, the quality of drinking water and the linked health risks vary across the world, with some regions showing increased levels of fluorine, arsenic or contamination of drinking water by microorganisms. In addition, there are differences in contamination levels locally because of industrial and agricultural activities, and the difference in health risks is a result of the different priorities for handling and provision of safe drinking water. Works Cited Fawell John and Nieuwenhuijsen J Mark. Contaminants in drinking water Environmental pollution and health. Br Med Bull (2003) 68 (1): 199-208 Admin. Pure Water Distillers -the Truth Behind the Controversy. WaterUse.org. 2011. Web. 8 April 2013. Larason, Thomas. UV ray of hope for safer drinking water. Phys.Org. 2012. Web. 8 April 2013. Cocke, Sophie. “Pesticide Contamination Of Drinking Water Worries State Health Officials”. Civil Beat. 2013. Web. 8 April 2013. http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/03/11/18548-pesticide-contamination-of-drinking-water-worries-state-health-officials/ Workshop on Emerging Drinking Water Contaminants, National Research Council. Identifying Future Drinking Water Contaminants. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press. 1999. Print. Read More