POTABLE WATER Meaning and
Definition
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Potable water refers to water that is suitable for consumption by humans without posing any significant risks to their health. It is safe to be used for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene. This type of water meets specific quality standards set by regulatory authorities to ensure its safety for human consumption.
Potable water must be free from any harmful contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemical pollutants, and toxins. It should also be clear, odorless, and tasteless. To meet these criteria, treatment processes are often employed to purify the water from its natural sources, which may include rivers, lakes, groundwater, or even desalinated seawater.
Common methods of potable water treatment include filtration, disinfection, and chemical treatments like chlorination. Filtration removes solid particles and sediments, while disinfection kills or inactivates microbes and pathogens present in the water. Chlorination is a widely used method for disinfecting and eliminating harmful bacteria and viruses. Other technologies, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and reverse osmosis, can also be used to treat water.
Access to potable water is essential for maintaining good health and preventing waterborne diseases. Inadequate access to potable water can lead to widespread illnesses and even death. Therefore, governments and international organizations work towards providing clean and safe drinking water to populations around the world, recognizing it as a fundamental human right.
Common Misspellings for POTABLE WATER
- ootable water
- lotable water
- 0otable water
- pitable water
- pktable water
- pltable water
- pptable water
- p0table water
- p9table water
- porable water
- pofable water
- pogable water
- poyable water
- po6able water
- po5able water
- potzble water
- potsble water
- potwble water
- potqble water
- potavle water
Etymology of POTABLE WATER
The word "potable" originated from the Late Latin word "potabilis", which means "drinkable" or "fit to drink". It, in turn, derived from the Latin word "potare", meaning "to drink". The term "water" comes from the Old English word "wæter" or "wæțer", which is related to the Old Norse word "vatn" and the Gothic word "wato". Ultimately, "potable water" means water that is safe and suitable for drinking.
