Most North Americans take clean, safe drinking water for granted since the Environmental Protection Agency enforces a strict water standard. Water supplies which have become contaminated are a real issue in foreign countries where the environmental laws are lax.
It may not seem like such an important issue to you but it would be if you lived in one of those countries. Thankfully, in the US, elaborate steps are taken to ensure that tap water is safe to drink.
You have to know how source water receives its fresh input of water. When it rains the water soaks into the ground or goes into lakes, rivers or streams. It is during this process that it can pick up much of it’s contaminates, which are the byproducts of industrial waste, human waste and even pesticides from farms. It is difficult to swallow, literally, that your water supplies may be infused with excrement.
The simple fact is that many areas, especially in third world countries and regions stricken by poverty, do not enforce a drinking water standard. Even in our own country there are problems when sewer pipelines break and seepage into the water supply system occurs. Contaminated water is not safe water to drink, that much is obvious.
There are solutions though if you suspect that your water is contaminated. You must either use water purification tablets, or boil the water. Do not expect boiled water to taste the same as fresh, clear water. It definitely is an acquired taste.
No water is completely safe but you do run less of a risk for contaminated water here in the United States. Water supplies are our most precious resource and we absolutely must do our part to ensure that they remain safe from pollutants.
You can do your part by staying informed and staying active in environmental protection. Should you travel to another country you can always buy bottled water. When at home, do your part by keeping landfill waste to a minimum and try drinking from the tap.
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