Safe water is water that will not harm you if you come in contact with it. The most common use of this term applies to drinking water, but it could also apply to water used for cleaning, swimming, or other uses. Safe water includes treated surface water, as well as untreated but uncontaminated water from sources such as natural springs and sanitary wells. To be safe, the water must have sufficiently low concentrations of harmful contaminants to avoid sickening people who use it. The list of harmful contaminants includes disease-causing microbes such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoans; cancer-causing chemicals such as many pesticides, organic solvents, petroleum products, and some metals and metalloids; nitrates and nutrients, endocrine-disrupting compounds, strong acids, strong bases, radionuclides, and any other acutely toxic substance. Defining safe water becomes a matter of risk assessment. Without safe water, people cannot lead healthy, productive lives.

Access to safe water and sanitation

---

As a country’s economy becomes stronger (as its GNP per capita or PPP rise) a larger percentage of its people tend to have access to safe water and sanitation. Access to safe water is measured by the number of people who have a reasonable means of getting an adequate amount of water that is safe for drinking, washing, and essential household activities, expressed as a percentage of the total population. It reflects the health of a country’s people and the country’s capacity to collect, clean, and distribute water to consumers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than one billion people in low and middle-income countries lack access to safe water for drinking, personal hygiene and domestic use. These numbers represent more than 20 percent of the world’s people. In addition, close to 2 billion people did not have access to adequate sanitation facilities.

Safe water in the U.S.

---

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was originally passed by Congress in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 and requires many actions to protect drinking water and its sources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells. (SDWA does not regulate private wells which serve fewer than 25 individuals.) SDWA authorizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to set national health-based standards for drinking water to protect against both naturally-occurring and man-made contaminants that may be found in drinking water. US EPA, states, and water systems then work together to make sure that these standards are met.

Safe water worldwide

---

While the occurrence of waterborne diseases in developed countries is generally low due to a generally good system of water treatment, distribution and monitoring, waterborne diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in in low- and middle-income countries, frequently called developing countries. For example, an estimated 900 million people suffer (and approximately 2 million die) from water-related diarrhoeal illnesses each year. At least 10 percent of the total burden of human diseases in many developing countries can be attributed to diarrhea and infestations by intestinal worms. Under no circumstances is it advisable to drink unsafe water, use it for oral hygiene or use ice made from unsafe water in drinks. However, you should not become hysterical about avoiding all water whilst traveling abroad. Is not the same Santiago (Chile), where water is as safe as the water of any developed country's city, than Freetown (Sierra Leone), where could be very dangerous to drink tap water, if you can get it. Just get the best information you can about how safe water is where you are going. Sites as Safe Water for International Travelers provide it.

See also

---

• Atmospheric water generator (Pure drinking water from air)
• Water purification
• Tap water
• Drinking water
• Water quality

External links

---

• Arsenic and contaninant free drinking water
• US Environmental Protection Agency Drinking water page
• American Water Works Association for professionals in water production and distribution and other water fields.
• Safe Water for International Travelers gives a rating of water safety worldwide.
• World Health Organization
• Center for Diseases Control U.S. Safe Water System
• Bottled Water vs Tap Water - Tap or Bottled: which is better? This site contains facts about tap and bottled water and compares them.
• Drinking water