Environmental scienceLesson 1 of 1 in the course Water pollution and treatment

Drinking Water: Access, Quality, Health, and Treatment

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces potable water, explains why dependable water supplies matter, and examines how water reaches homes and communities.

Drinking water, also called potable water, is water safe for ingestion. People may drink it directly or consume it indirectly when preparing food. For most terrestrial animals, including humans, drinkable water is fresh water from surface sources or underground sources that does not cause immediate poisoning or significant short-term harm.

All flashcards

What is potable water?
Water safe for ingestion, either directly or through food preparation.
What does total water intake include?
Water from both beverages and food.
How does the WHO describe safe drinking water?
Water that poses no significant health risk over a lifetime of consumption.
What is turbidity?
Cloudiness caused by particles suspended in water.
What is a safely managed drinking-water service?
A service with water available when needed, on premises, and free from contamination.

Quiz questions

  1. Which set of factors can influence how much water a person needs?Answer: Physical activity, age, health, and environmental conditions.
  2. What can the presence of fecal coliforms such as E. coli indicate in drinking water?Answer: Possible contamination by fecal material and associated pathogens.
  3. What does WASH refer to in public-health discussions of water safety?Answer: Water, sanitation, and hygiene.
  4. How can chlorine compounds form disinfection by-products in treated water?Answer: They can react with substances already present in the water.
  5. Which conditions are used to describe safely managed drinking-water services?Answer: Water is available when needed, on premises, and free from contamination.

Based on the Wikipedia article Drinking water, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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