Get to know the characteristics of clean water according to WHO that is safe to use

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We all know that water is one of the essential needs in human life worldwide. Not only humans, but water also dramatically determines the life of various creatures on earth, such as animals, plants, etc.

As humans, of course, you need water to overcome various existing needs. As time goes by, the water demand increases. One category of water that is very important for humans is clean water.

However, a lot of waste generated from various human activities in modern times like this decreases water quality, so not all water can be included in the clean water category. Well, this article will explain the characteristics of clean water that is safe for consumption by humans.

A. Definition of Clean Water

In general, clean water can be understood as one type of natural resource in the form of water that has good quality and can be used by humans in daily life, such as drinking, eating, and sanitation.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization WHO, an international health organization, states that clean water is water humans can use to meet domestic needs, from consumption, drinking water, and food preparation.

Based on these two opinions, clean water can be defined as water that can and is suitable for use by humans to support various daily activities, such as drinking water, consumption, to sanitation. This ultimately results in an opinion that not all types can be used in everyday life.

Water that has been contaminated by pollution or a hazardous substance should not be consumed or used by humans. The reason is that water that contains harmful substances can provide harm and will be very dangerous to the human body. Moreover, research says that humans who do not consume water for more than three days can result in death threats.

In addition to consumption, humans also need clean water for cooking, washing clothes, bathing, and so on. Therefore, as creatures that need water, humans should maintain water quality so that it remains clean and suitable for use. One of the efforts you can make to participate in preserving water quality is to conserve nature and maintain a healthy environment.

 

B. Characteristics of Clean Water

As explained in the definition of clean water, clean water is water that meets health requirements. In this section, we will learn about the characteristics of clean water that is fit for human consumption and use.

Well, here are seven characteristics of clean water that you need to pay attention to when identifying water, including:

1. Colorless

The first characteristic of water that can be considered clean is that it has no color. One of the signs of decent and safe water for consumption and daily needs is that it looks clear. Suppose water has a cloudy color such as yellow, orange, or brown. In that case, it can be ascertained that the water contains harmful substances, so it does not deserve to be included in the clean water category.

One characteristic that needs to be known about clean water, of course, is its stable level of clarity. You can try pouring some water into a container. Furthermore, to see the clarity of the water, you can wait for the changes in the water. If the water still has a transparent color, then the water can be said to be clean water. However, if you see sediment or there is color attached to the bottom of the container, then the water can be said to be unclean.

2. Has no taste

The second characteristic of clean water is that it has no taste. Suppose the water in your home has a salty or metallic taste when you drink it. So it can be ascertained that the water is not worthy of being said as clean water. The flavor in the water could be due to the impact of rust on the pipes or the iron in the drains. These drains can release metals such as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and lead.

However, in some types of water that have been studied, water that has a solid metallic taste can also be caused by low pH or acidity levels. Therefore, before consuming or using clean water, you can identify the water first so that it does not interfere with the health of the body.

3. Has no smell

The third characteristic of water that can be considered clean is when the water has no odor. Almost the same as the taste, smell, or aroma that emerges from the water is a sign of bacteria or decay of organic matter. In the end, this makes the indicator of water to meet sanitation needs relatively low.

If you find water that has an abnormal smell, it's a good idea to give special treatment to the water first when you want to use it. One example of water that has a scent is water in a swimming pool. Swimming pools usually have a high chlorine content in their water, which can cause kidney problems or even increase cancer risk.

In addition to the water in the swimming pool, some water that smells like rotten eggs or sewage is also not allowed to meet daily needs. The reason is that water with an odor like this indicates excessive hydrogen sulfide gas content. If this hydrogen sulfide gas has turned into sulfate, then if it is exposed to a bacterium, it can cause potential dehydration to diarrhea.

Meanwhile, water that has a fishy smell could be due to the high barium content. Barium itself is a chemical substance that naturally appears in water due to the drilling process or manufacturing waste.

For consumption needs, clean water that is fit for drinking is water that has a typical aroma and does not have an unpleasant odor. Water that already has an unusual and unpleasant smell can be due to having been mixed with bacteria or also Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas, but it contains poison and is very risky to burn.

4. Doesn't Feel Sticky After Use

The fourth characteristic of water that can meet the indicators of clean water is that it does not feel sticky after use. In addition to knowing the hands of clean water based on color, taste, and smell, you can identify water based on its texture in this section.

The texture of water unsuitable for use is usually different from the texture of clean water. The surface can be caused by the influence of the content of certain substances, such as aluminum, magnesium, manganese, to tin. These dirty water marks will leave marks that can be seen directly on the faucet, sink, or glass.

When using water that contains some of these substances, your hands can feel sticky after using it to wash your hands with soap. You can also feel the difference when using this type of water to wash clothes using detergent. Hands will feel sticky and uncomfortable.

5. Has a Neutral pH

The fifth characteristic of clean water is that it has a water pH not far from the neutral limit. This characteristic is one of the chemical requirements commonly used to measure water. In mineral water, the level or content of pH in water can be used as a benchmark for water properties, ranging from alkaline, acidic, or standard.

Chemically, the acid and base scale ranges from 1 to 14. Water can be said to be clean and suitable for use when the water has a neutral pH of up to 7. Meanwhile, some parties also argue that water with a pH level of around 6.5 to 8.5 is still safe to use.

One tool that you can use to determine the pH of water is a pH meter. You can provide this tool because it can be beneficial when it is found that there are abnormalities in the water at home.

6. Does not contain bacteria

The sixth characteristic of clean water is the absence of bacteria or microorganisms that can harm human health. One of the bacteria that needs to be avoided is Escherichia Coli bacteria, or it can be abbreviated as E. Coli. E. Coli itself can live in the intestines of living things, including humans.

If you drink water that still contains E. Coli bacteria, it may cause mild diarrhea. This is due to disturbances in the human digestive system, especially the intestines. In addition to E. Coli bacteria, many bacteria can enter the body unconsciously.

Therefore, to avoid entering bacteria that harm the body, you can treat water for consumption by cooking it first. This method is believed to be one of the best ways to get rid of bacteria in water.

If cooking is not enough, you can manually check the water in your house. You can bring a sample of the water you have at home to check the content.

7. Contains No Dust, Sand, Soil, or Other Sediments

The seventh characteristic of water that can be considered clean is when the water does not contain dust, sand, soil, or other sediment types. As stated above, one of the physical requirements for clean water is that it is not cloudy and not dirty. The discovery of dust, sand, or soil may result in a blockage in the channel or water source.

Water blocked in the channel or water source can be said to be water unsuitable for consumption or use in daily life. To overcome this, you can do a drain cleaning at home. In addition, you can also install a particular filter device or commonly called a filter, to separate water from dust, sand, soil, and various other types of sediment.

 

C. Benefits of Clean Water

After knowing the various characteristics of clean water, in this section, we will learn about its benefits of clean water. Some of the benefits of clean water that need to be considered are as follows:

1. Can Meet the Fluids in the Body

The human body has a water content of about 50% to 80%. This makes humans need water. When the water content in the human body becomes low or more negligible, it can have several impacts on human organ activity, such as decreased concentrations which make it susceptible to disease. Therefore, when you are sick, the most effective medicine is to meet the body's water content needs.

2. Helping Daily Activities

Furthermore, clean water's benefits for humans are assisting daily activities, such as washing, cooking, and sanitation. The need for clean water is critical considering that if the water used for daily activities is not clean, it will be hazardous to get a disease. In addition, unclean water does not provide maximum clean.

3. Agricultural Irrigation

The next benefit of clean water for humans is for agricultural irrigation needs. Pure water can be said as water that has good quality and quality. Without metals or other sediments, water will greatly support success in agriculture. Dirty water and full of harmful substances, of course, will significantly interfere with soil fertility. Like humans, plants also cannot thrive in infertile soil.

4. Protecting the Environmental Ecosystem

The last benefit of clean water is to protect the environmental ecosystem. As stated above, water is a life source for all creatures on earth. By continuously supporting nature conservation efforts and maintaining ecological health, inevitably, clean water will still meet the needs of humans, animals, and plants.

 

D. Clean Water Source

After discussing various things about clean water, starting from the meaning, characteristics, and benefits, we will learn about clean water sources in this section. Sources of clean water are available in various places on earth. The following are some sources of clean water that you need to know, including:

1. Space Water

Space water is water that comes from the sublimation of clouds or water vapor. One example of space water is snow. Snow is water, so when the snow melts, it can be a water source. However, of course, it needs to be processed first so that the water from the snow can become clean water.

2. Rainwater

Like space water, rainwater is also formed from natural processes. Rainwater can be used as drinking water. However, rainwater does not contain sufficient calcium as drinking water, so it is necessary to add calcium to it first.

3. Surface Water

Surface water can be understood as any water on the earth's surface. Some examples of surface water, namely river water, lake water, and seawater. You need to choose a clean water source for those who want to use this water. This is because there are several places that naturally or result from humans becoming contaminated and have a cloudy color.

4. Groundwater

Groundwater is water that comes from the ground. Groundwater is located in two soil layers: deep and shallow. Deep groundwater is usually an impermeable layer of soil. Meanwhile, shallow groundwater is groundwater around the ground surface, which is pretty influenced by the rain cycle.

5. Springs

Meanwhile, groundwater that occurs naturally is known as springs. This water comes from water sources such as in the mountains. This water can be drunk directly, but to be safer, identification must still be carried out to ensure its safety.