All you need to know about the tap water you are drinking

Drinking water, also known as portable water, is water that is safe to drink or to use for food preparation. The amount of drinking water required varies. It depends on physical activity, age, health issues, and environmental conditions. - Science & Wellness Organization, SWO

Why water is so important?

Our human body consists 70% to 80% of water. And majority of our weight is made up by water.

But, is our tap water is safe enough for us to consume?

Tap water is treated with a large number of chemicals in order to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. In addition, it may contain other undesirable contaminants like toxic metal salts, hormones and pesticides, or it may become contaminated by chemicals or microbes within pipes (e.g. lead, bacteria, protozoa).

There are several ways in which tap water can get contaminated while being piped to your home. Water tested in different parts of Malaysia was found to have different contaminants that can be dangerous to health when consumed.

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country with a population of over 28 million. Malaysia receives most of its water supply from surface water and some from groundwater. - KATS, Malaysia

Some of these harmful substances in tap water include:

• Heavy metals: Heavy metals can get into the water from the pipe itself or the ground through cracks in the pipe. While newer pipes are made of PVC, the old pipes were made of iron, which, after a while, can leach into the water making it unsafe for drinking.

• Rust: With repeated use, iron can rust, and the rust can enter the water. Rust changes the color of the water, making it brownish and it also adds a bad smell and taste. Rust-contaminated water is unfit for drinking.

• Germs: It is not possible to be completely free of bacteria, but when water is left stagnant, the amount of bacteria in the water multiplies and can cause diseases. Bacteria can also enter tap water through sewage water contamination.

How contaminants can get into our water supply?

• The water that comes from rain and collects in lakes and ponds first goes through a water treatment plant before being piped to Malaysian homes.

• At the water treatment plants, water is treated on several levels which helps to remove contaminants like bacteria and other disease-causing elements, heavy metals, chemical fertilizers, and so on.

The water that leaves the treatment plants is of good quality and should be safe for drinking, BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. Why?

This is because the water in your faucet may pick up contaminants on its journey to the tap. Before the water is piped to homes for household uses like drinking, cooking, bathing, and so on, the water is treated. Water treatment helps to remove impurities like heavy metals and disease-causing bacteria from the water. While your water may leave the treatment plant without contaminants, but it collects them from gas leaks, animal waste, sewage waste, and runoff along the way.

References:

• SWO Today | Our Drinking Water http://swo.today/our-drinking-water/