Types of Potable Water, each with its own definition.
- Water fit for human consumption is called drinking water or potable water.
- Water that
is not potable can be made potable by distillation (heating it until it
becomes water vapor, and then capturing the vapor without any of the
impurities it leaves behind), or by other methods (chemical or heat
treatment that kills bacteria).
- Sometimes
the term safe water is applied to potable water of a lower quality
threshold (i.e., it is used effectively for nutrition in humans that
have weak access to water cleaning processes, and does more good than
harm).
- Water that
is not fit for drinking but is not harmful for humans when used for
swimming or bathing is called by various names other than potable or
drinking water, and is sometimes called safe water, or "safe for
bathing".
- Chlorine is
a skin and mucous membrane irritant that is used to make water safe for
bathing or drinking. Its use is highly technical and is usually
monitored by government regulations (typically 1 part per million (ppm)
for drinking water, and 1-2 ppm of chlorine not yet reacted with
impurities for bathing water).
- Drinking
water is obtained from an approved source. It has been filtered (e.g.
with activated carbon or particulate) and has been treated with ozone
or an equivalent disinfection process. Usually, spring waters with
Total Dissolved Solids between 50 mg/liter and 500 mg/liter are
commonly known as Drinking Waters.
Natural Water
Water
obtained from an underground spring or well. It may not come from a
municipal or public water source. It is not blended with other water
and no dissolved solids have been added or removed. Disinfection and
filtration may be used.
Spring Water
The FDA
regulates Spring Water as follows: Spring Water must be derived from an
underground formation, from which water flows naturally to the surface
of the earth. No particular physical/chemical properties are required
other than those normally applied for drinking water.
Mineral Water
Mineral
water has a long association with medicinal benefits--and it can
provide minerals that people need--but there are no scientific studies
establishing that routinely consuming mineral water improves your
health. The FDA, in fact, forbids mineral waters in the United States
from making any health claims.
The FDA regulates Mineral Water
as follows: Mineral Water is Spring Water that contains at least 250
mg/liter (or 250 parts per million) of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
This property must be verified through a lab test whereby a liter of
water, evaporated at 180 degrees C, should leave a residue of minerals
and salts. Up to 249 mg/liter it is classified as
'Spring
Water'. From 250 to 500 mg/liter, it is considered 'Low Mineral
Content' or Light Mineral Water and, above 500 mg/liter, normal or High
Mineral Content.
Usually, only waters above 1000 mg/l are
called 'Mineral - High Mineral Content'. Note: this contrasts to the
European definition, where all Natural Spring Waters with a TDS of 0 to
500 mg/liter are considered Mineral with Low Mineral Content (or just
mineral waters).
Well Water
Water that is bottled from a hole drilled, bored or otherwise constructed in the ground which taps the water of an aquifier.
Purified Water
Purified
water is bottled water that has been purified by means of distillation,
deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes.
• Distillation: The water is heated until it vaporizes. After condensing it is free of any dissolved minerals.
• Deionization: Water is passed through resins which remove most of the dissolved minerals.
• Reverse Osmosis: High pressure forces the water through membranes which remove about 90% of dissolved solubles.
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