By: Layan Elchaar and Hannah Sobh

Drinking Water Risks

Water Standards:
Oddizi: http://www.oddizzi.com/schools/samplecontent/rivers/

Firstly, drinking waters needs to be wholesome. When tap water is tainted and isnt wholesome, around 1.1 million people get sick each year. In addition, the presence of certain impurities in drinking water can cause serious health issues, including neurological disorders and reproductive problems. Often water regulations set legal limits on the levels of certain contaminants in drinking water. This limit reflects both the level that protects human health and a level that can be reached using adequate and available technology. Where does it come from? Drinking water can come from surface water or ground water. Surface water comes from streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Ground water is water found below the ground, in pores and spaces within rocks, and in underground aquifers. It is obtained by drilling wells and pumping it to the surface. Because there is no such thing as a perfect system, drinking water can be contaminated with chemicals. Unfortunately some chemicals can be hazardous to a humans health. Sewer overflows, manufacturing processes, local land use practices, and malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems are sources of contamination. The chemical, nitrate can get into water through an excess of fertilizer use, it can cause cyanosis, a decrease in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Lead, is a toxic substance that can enter the water supply as it leaches from copper pipelines. It can cause delays in normal physical and mental development in young children.

Impure Water Indications/Bottled vs. Tap: Sometimes there are ways to notice impure water. It may be that water smells and tastes awful. A rotten egg odor can be caused by hydrogen sulfide in the soil near a well. A sour, salty, bitter or metallic taste can result from high levels of totally dissolved solids in water. Never ignore an awful smell or taste, because it may indicate that toxic chemicals or mold bacteria are present. Dont be fooled, despite what water adds and labels claim, impure or bad water can also be found in bottled water, not just tap. Bottled water can contain phthalates, a chemical that can leach from plastic. It can also contain mold, microbes, benzene, and trihalomethanes, which can cause several types of cancer. Arsenic can also be found, and it is a poison that harms nerves, the heart, blood vessels, and skin. Extensive Studies prove that there is no guarantee that bottled water is any cleaner than tap. Not only can it be hazardous to ones health, but also it is harmful to the environment. Sometimes bottles arent even recycled; as a result they continue to exist, filling up landfills and the sea. If a public water supply is contaminated, or a flood or natural disaster has occurred, bottled water should be used.

Qui z

CSGLOBE: http://csglobe.com/theeffects-of-water-on-the-body/

Environmental Science: http://tparks.blogspot.com/2012/04/tap-water-vsbottled-water.html

By: Layan Elchaar and Hannah Sobh

Questions:

1. Approximately how many people get sick each year from drinking contaminated tap water? 2. How may drinking water get contaminated? 3. How can one identify contaminated water? 4. Which is healthier: tap or bottled water? (In well developed countries) 5. Where does drinking water come from?
Read More At:

Work Cited: CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/drinking-water-faq.html Lenntech: http://www.lenntech.com/applications/drinking/faq/drinking-water-faq.htm CSGLOBE: http://csglobe.com/the-effects-of-water-on-the-body/ Halton Region: http://www.halton.ca/cms/One.aspx?pageId=15092 ScottCounty:http://www.co.scott.mn.us/ParksLibraryEnv/water/Pages/PossibleHealthEff ectsDrinkingContaminatedWater.aspx