Drinking water suitable for consumption must meet several criteria, such as colorless, odorless, and does not contain harmful substances. This criterion is important for you to know in order to avoid health problems due to consumption of drinking water that is not feasible.
Consuming drinking water every day is important to maintain a healthy body condition. Drinking water is useful for preventing dehydration, helping the digestive system, protecting body tissues, and maintaining healthy bones and joints.
However, you still need to pay attention to the quality of the water you drink in order to avoid various diseases caused by consuming water that is not suitable for drinking, ranging from diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, to cancer.
Criteria for Adequate Drinking Water
The criteria for drinking water that are healthy and fit for consumption may vary from country to country. However, according to WHO and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, drinking water suitable for consumption must meet the following criteria:
1. Has no smell, color and taste
These drinking water criteria can be judged easily by the human senses. Water that is safe and suitable for consumption is water that is colorless, odorless, and has no taste or taste.
You need to avoid drinking water that looks cloudy or cloudy, smells bad, or tastes weird, as this could indicate that the drinking water has been contaminated with germs, bacteria, or harmful chemicals, which can cause illness.
2. Not in high temperature
Temperature is one of the important parameters in determining whether drinking water is suitable for consumption or not. This is because drinking water sources exposed to high temperatures can trigger the growth of microorganisms and make drinking water polluted.
Examples are some types of bacteria coliform which can grow and develop when drinking water is at 37°C. Meanwhile, the number of bacteria E. Coli may increase in water at 44.2°C.
3. Does not contain harmful microorganisms
The next criteria for drinking water suitable for consumption is that it does not contain microorganisms that are harmful to body health, such as: E. Coli and Salmonella, which can cause diarrhea.
Although it is difficult to see it directly, you can avoid drinking water that contains microorganisms by keeping drinking water sources away from toilets and landfills and avoiding sunlight.
In addition, if you consume bottled water, make sure the drinking water has a distribution permit from BPOM, is still well sealed, the packaging is not damaged, and is stored in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight.
4. Does not contain harmful chemicals
In addition to microorganisms, drinking water must also not contain chemicals that are harmful to the body, such as arsenic, ammonia, benzene, lead, and mercury.
Consumption of drinking water containing hazardous chemicals can increase the risk of cancer, kidney damage, disorders of the reproductive system, and impaired mental and physical development.
The presence of harmful chemicals in drinking water can be seen at a glance from the smell and taste. Drinking water that contains harmful chemicals, such as heavy metals, usually has a strong odor and tastes like metal.
5. Has a pH between 6.5–8.5
Although the pH of drinking water does not have a direct impact on body health, pH is one of the important parameters in determining the quality of drinking water.
Water with a pH that is too low is usually more easily contaminated with pollutants that are harmful to health. In addition, this type of water can also cause corrosion or rust in drinking water channels which will later make the water contaminated and unfit for consumption.
Meanwhile, alkaline water or alkaline water with a pH of 8 or 9 usually does not have a bad impact on health. However, consuming water with a pH that is too high is at risk of causing alkalosis. This condition is usually accompanied by symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The criteria for drinking water that are suitable for consumption above can help you avoid diseases caused by drinking water that has been contaminated. Thus, the health of your body and that of your family is maintained. In order to maintain the cleanliness and quality of drinking water, you can also use a water filter.
In addition to drinking water that is suitable for consumption, you are also advised to live a healthy lifestyle, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and not smoking to increase endurance and prevent attacks from various diseases.
If you experience certain symptoms after consuming drinking water, such as nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and diarrhea, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.