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Drinking Water Quality
Surface waters and aquifers can be contaminated by various chemicals, microbes, and radionuclides. Disinfection of drinking water has dramatically reduced the prevalence of waterborne diseases (such as typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis) in the United States. Other processes may also be used to treat drinking water depending on the characteristics of and contaminants in the source water.

Common sources of drinking water contaminants include:

Industry and agriculture. Organic solvents, petroleum products, and heavy metals from disposal sites or storage facilities can migrate into aquifers. Pesticides and fertilizers can be carried into lakes and streams by rainfall runoff or snowmelt, or can percolate into aquifers.
Human and animal waste. Human wastes from sewage and septic systems can carry harmful microbes into drinking water sources, as can wastes from animal feedlots and wildlife. Major contaminants include Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and E. coli.
Treatment and distribution. While treatment can remove many contaminants, it can also leave behind byproducts (such as trihalomethanes) that may themselves be harmful. Water can also become contaminated after it enters the distribution system, from a breach in the piping system or from corrosion of plumbing materials made from lead or copper.
Natural sources. Some ground water is unsuitable for drinking because the local underground conditions include high levels of certain contaminants. For example, as ground water travels through rock and soil, it can pick up naturally occurring arsenic, other heavy metals, or radionuclides.
Effects on Human Health
If drinking water contains unsafe levels of contaminants, it can cause health effects, such as gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system or reproductive effects, and chronic diseases such as cancer. Factors that can influence whether a contaminant will lead to health effects include the type of contaminant, its concentration in the water, individual susceptibility, the amount of water consumed, and the duration of exposure.

Health effects of chemical exposure. Chemical exposure through drinking water can lead to a variety of short- and long-term health effects. Exposure to high doses of chemicals can lead to skin discoloration or more severe problems such as nervous system or organ damage and developmental or reproductive effects. Exposure to lower doses over long periods of time can lead to chronic, longer-term conditions such as cancer. The effects of some drinking water contaminants are not yet well understood.
Health effects of consuming water with disease-causing microbes. Most life-threatening waterborne diseases caused by microbes (such as typhoid fever or cholera) are rare in the United States today. The more common illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites can result in stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and kidney failure. Infectious diseases such as hepatitis can also occur. Hepatitis may be severe in people with weakened immune systems (e.g., infants and the elderly) and sometimes fatal in people with severely compromised immune systems (e.g., cancer and AIDS patients).

Answer 1

Drinking water quality is an important topic as it directly impacts our health. Surface waters and aquifers can be contaminated by various chemicals, microbes, and radionuclides. However, disinfection processes have significantly reduced waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis in the United States.

Common sources of drinking water contaminants include:

1. Industry and agriculture: Chemicals like organic solvents, petroleum products, and heavy metals can migrate into aquifers from disposal sites or storage facilities. Pesticides and fertilizers can also contaminate lakes, streams, and aquifers through rainfall runoff or percolation.

2. Human and animal waste: Harmful microbes from human waste (sewage and septic systems) and animal waste (feedlots and wildlife) can enter drinking water sources. Major contaminants include Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and E. coli.

3. Treatment and distribution: While treatment can remove many contaminants, it can also generate harmful byproducts such as trihalomethanes. Additionally, water can become contaminated after entering the distribution system due to breaches in the piping system or corrosion of plumbing materials made from lead or copper.

4. Natural sources: Some groundwater may be unsuitable for drinking due to high levels of naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, other heavy metals, or radionuclides picked up as water travels through rock and soil.

If drinking water contains unsafe levels of contaminants, it can have various health effects, including gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system or reproductive effects, and chronic diseases like cancer. The type and concentration of the contaminant, individual susceptibility, amount of water consumed, and duration of exposure can influence the health effects.

1. Health effects of chemical exposure: Exposure to high doses of chemicals can lead to severe problems like organ damage, while long-term exposure to lower doses can result in chronic conditions like cancer. However, the effects of some drinking water contaminants are not yet well understood.

2. Health effects of consuming water with disease-causing microbes: Life-threatening waterborne diseases caused by microbes are rare in the United States, but viruses, bacteria, and parasites can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and kidney failure. Infectious diseases like hepatitis can also occur, with potentially severe consequences for individuals with weakened or compromised immune systems.

In conclusion, understanding the sources of drinking water contaminants and their potential health effects is crucial for ensuring safe and clean drinking water for all.