Drinking Water is that water which is safe to drink and for food preparation. it is also known as potable water. Well, water is essential for life and we cannot live without water, but the requirement of amount of Drinking Water is variable.

How much water one should drink?

It depends on physical activity, age, health issues and environment conditions. Water makes up about 60% of weight in men and 55% of weight in women. Infants are about 70% to 80% water while the elderly are around 45%.

On an average

• Men: at approx. 3.7 litres (including other drinks)
• Women: at approx. 2.7 litres (including other drinks)

Advantages of Drinking Water

Water provides plenty of advantages to our body. Our bodies are around 60% of water. We should consume recomended amount of water per day to reap its benefits. Some advantages are:

• Water increases brain power and provides energy.
• Drinking Water relieves fatigue.
• Helps in digestion
• Helps in loosing weight.
• Flushes out toxins.
• It treats many diseases, such as headaches and migraine.
• Helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturizes it and reduces the signs of aging.
• It boosts immunity system.
• Drinking more water helps in relieving constipation.
• Helps to treat kidney stones.

Drinking Water Contamination

With the passage of time and advent of technology, Water is contaminated to great extent. I would like to share the knowledge regarding these contaminents so that you can take conscious decision in regard to water that you should be using for drinking and for food preparation.

Which regions are most affected?

Water pollution occurs the most especially in Johannesburg, South Africa, Agiers, Algeria, Harare, Zimbabwe, Mexico city, New Delhi, Las Vegas, Bogota Colombia, Dhaka, Jakarta, Kabul, Manila, Afghanistan, Philippines. Water near agricultural areas may contain harmful contaminants from pesticide or fertilizer application. Water near industrial areas have similar problems.

Risks associated with drinking contaminated water

Contaminated water work like slow poison and thus may take years for problem to get highlighted. It may increase risk of cancer, impair eyes, liver, kidney and other body functions.

Types of Contaminents

The water we drink may contain natural or man-made contaminants.  Drinking Water sources also may contain a variety of contaminants that includes microorganisms, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and disinfection byproducts. Common contaminants are: Aluminium, Ammonia, Arsenic, Barium, Lead, Silver, Uranium, Radium, Copper, Chromium etc.

• Arsenic in Drinking Water:

  The arsenic is found naturally in the rocks in the earth’s crust. The water which contains arsenic can affect health very badly. Symptoms of high levels of arsenic in body includes stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or attacks on nerves system also. It can also affects our skin. Long-term usage of low amounts of arsenic in Drinking Water can increase the risk of certain cancers such as: Skin, Liver, Kidney, Bladder, Lungs.

• Fluoride in Drinking Water:

  Fluoride is a reduced form of the chemical element fluorine. Fluoride is necessary for dental health. It is often added to the public water supplies in order to reduce the problem of tooth decay. But, fluoride itself may be dangerous at high levels. Excessive fluoride causes a disease named ‘Fluorosis‘ which mostly effects children under 8 years during tooth development. It leaves white streaks or dots on the enamel of a tooth. Fluoride can also become concentrated in bone stimulating bone cell growth and weakening the skeleton. So, we should take the proper amount of fluoride in water, not more than that. In 2011, the WHO suggested the recomended level of fluoride from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/l (milligrams per liter). In a research, it has found that India is one of the most fluorosis affected countries with large number of people suffering. This is because a large number of Indians rely on ground water for drinking purposes and water at many places is rich in fluoride. Currently about 372 million people receive artificially fluoridated water including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ireland, Malaysia, U.S., Vietnam, Sweden, Mexico, China, Sri Lanka, Finland, Zimbabwe and more. People of U.S. are drinking fluoridated water more than the rest of the world combined. According to a research, RO water can remove many typical impurities from water, but it also remove fluoride from water which can cause tooth problems.

• Lead in Drinking Water:

  Lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health. It can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or contains low mineral content. It can harm children, infants and fetuses more than adults. Problems it can lead to damaging their nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells. In adults it can impart kidney problems, reproductive problems, can increase blood pressure problem and incidence of hypertension. If you are unsure about the acidity and mineral content in the water you are drinking, get it checked for labortary.

Bottled Water

Since the last decade, bottled water market is growing very fast. Bottled water is the packaged Drinking Water which is safe, purified and free from contamination. It comes in plastic bottles and glass bottles and easily available in nearby retail stores and supermarkets. While these bottles are handy and easy to carry still they have some side effects too. Use of plastic bottles at regular basis has some harmful effects, owing to presence of chemicals such as biphenyl A(b p a) can cause neurological diseases and behavioral problems among children. BPA is an endocrine disruptor means it interferes with your hormonal functions. so look for that bottles that say “bpa free” on the label to minimize the side effects. In this water, there is a lack of fluoride which can increase tooth decay and gum diseases especially in children. So, try not to use bottled water at daily basis.

Drinking Water in USA

While the Quality of Drinking Water in USA is good. There is nearly one-in-four chance that the tap water is unsafe to drink. Tap water in USA has hard water. The U.S. public water systems provide drinkable tap water and most of them add chlorine to sterilize the water but to ensure this sterilization, you have to boil the water. According to the latest research, Tap water in USA is safe from health point as well because it is regulated by U. S. EPA.

Water is a basic need of everyone for live and we should be aware of what we are drinking as the form of water.