Drinking water, also called potable water is water that is clean enough and fit for drinking.
Properties of potable water
- Odourless: Potable water has no smell.
- Tasteless: Potable water has no taste.
- Colourless: Potable water has no colour.
Sources of potable water
- Springs
- Chlorinated pipe borne water
- Deep wells with concrete or cemented walls and concrete cover with pump
Sources of impure water
- Rivers
- Streams
- Lakes
- Seas
- Oceans
- Rain
- Shallow wells (wells using buckets)
Care and protection of water
- Deep wells should be dug uphill and far away from latrines. The wall should be lined with bricks down to the non-porous layer of the earth to prevent contamination from surface water
- Impure water should always be boiled at a temperature of at least 100 degrees Celsius to kill germs
- Water filters should be used to filter water for drinking
- Clean or potable water should be kept in closed clean containers
