Water Quality

814 Words2 Pages

Water is the most abundant and vital substance on our planet. Every living thing needs water in order to survive It is a necessity, especially when dealing with society. Every household needs water, whether for laundry, cooking, plants, personal hygiene, or even drinking, whatever the reason, it is vital that the water we use remains in good quality and is not contaminated.

According to dictionary.com, contaminated water is a term used to describe hazardous materials of any kind that are polluting a source of water. Contaminated water sources affect all qualities of life from heath care to limitations of commercial water use. In order to maintain and regulate the quality of water, the government enforces a series of laws and regulations. There are hundreds of regulations regarding the use and treatment of commercial water sources. For instance, to maintain water qualities, a set of standards have been articulated in order to ensure well-being of water sources. Water quality standards are state or tribal requirements that define the water quality goals of a lake, stream, or other body of water by designating the beneficial uses and setting criteria to protect those uses. These water quality standards serve as the foundation for the water-quality based approach to pollution control. A water quality standard consists of three basic elements:
1. Designated Uses
States designate bodies of water for specific uses based on the goals and expectations for their waters. Typical designated uses are for Protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife.
2. Water Quality Criteria
Set to protect the designated use and based only on data and scientific judgments about pollutant concentrations and their effects. They also describe ...

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... be the only practical option. Drilling a new well, developing a surface water supply, or purchasing water from an existing water system are all options that are carefully evaluated by geologists, engineers, and other professionals to insure that the new supply will be protected.
The last tactic is the treatment of water. Water treatment to remove contaminants is a well-recognized approach to solving a water quality problem. Water treatment is most often used to disinfect water supplies to eliminate a bacteria problem and to correct nuisances, such as water that is hard or contains iron and/or hydrogen sulfide. All water treatment equipment requires maintenance to ensure proper operation.
Each treatment approach has its advantages and limitations. The objective is to select a treatment system that provides the advantages you want with limitations you can live with.

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