Ten Tips to Maintain Water Quality

Water is important to our daily lives. As we know, the water quality has been worsening these days. Here are ten tips to maintain water quality at home : 

❄ Clean faucets and aerators regularly

❄ Clean and disinfect sinks and drains regularly

❄ Keep drains clear and unclogged

❄ Use cold water for drinking and preparing food

❄ Replace old plumbing and install certified “lead free” fixtures

❄ Flush cold water taps after household plumbing work or when the water hasn’t been used for several days

❄ Drain and flush your hot water heater annually

❄ Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the water heater, filters, treatment devices, softeners   and any other products attached to the water system

❄ Do not connect hoses or other devices intended for non-drinking purposes to household drinking water faucets

❄ Keep hazardous chemicals and unsanitary materials away from drinking water faucets

Properties of Water

Water (H
2O) is a polar inorganic compound that is at room temperature a tasteless and temperature a tasteless and odorless liquid, nearly colorless with a hint of blue. It is an important solvent for polar molecules in chemistry; it is known as the "universal solvent" for its ability to dissolve many substances.^[8] It is commonly found in its solid, liquid, and gas forms in nature.

Water has hydrogen bonding and is strongly polar. This polarity allows it to separate ions in salts and strongly bond to other polar substances such as alcohols and acids, thus dissolving them. Its hydrogen bonding causes its many unique properties, such as having a solid form less dense than its liquid form, a relatively high boiling point of 100 °C for its molar mass, and a high heat capacity.

Water is amphoteric, meaning it is both an acid and a base—it produces H+ and OH− ions by self ionization. This regulates the concentrations of H+ and OH− ions in water.

Because water is a very good solvent, water is rarely pure and some of its properties vary from those of the pure substance. However, there are also many compounds that are essentially, if not completely, insoluble in water, such as fats, oils and other nonpolar substances.

Various Types of Water Pollution

There are many types of water pollution because water comes from many sources. Here are a few types of water pollution:

1. Nutrients Pollution
Some wastewater, fertilizers and sewage contain high levels of nutrients. If they end up in water bodies, they encourage algae and weed growth in the water. This will make the water undrinkable, and even clog filters. Too much algae will also use up all the oxygen in the water, and other water organisms in the water will die out of oxygen starvation.

2. Surface water pollution
Surface water includes natural water found on the earth's surface, like rivers, lakes, lagoons and oceans. Hazardous substances coming into contact with this surface water, dissolving or mixing physically with the water can be called surface water pollution.

3. Oxygen Depleting
Water bodies have micro-organisms. These include aerobic and anaerobic organisms. When too much biodegradable matter (things that easily decay) end up in water, it encourages more microorganism growth, and they use up more oxygen in the water. If oxygen is depleted, aerobic organisms die, and anaerobic organisms grow more to produce harmful toxins such as ammonia and sulfides.

4. Ground water pollution
When humans apply pesticides and chemicals to soils, they are washed deep into the ground by rainwater. This gets to underground water, causing pollution underground.
This means when we dig wells and bore holes to get water from underground, it needs to be checked for ground water pollution.

5. Microbiological
In many communities in the world, people drink untreated water (straight from a river or stream). Sometimes there is natural pollution caused by microorganisms like viruses, bacteria and protozoa. This natural pollution can cause fishes and other water life to die. They can also cause serious illness to humans who drink from such waters.

6. Suspended Matter
Some pollutants (substances, particles and chemicals) do not easily dissolve in water. This kind of material is called particulate matter. Some suspended pollutants later settle under the water body. This can harm and even kill aquatic organisms that live at the bottom of water bodies.

7. Chemical Water Pollution
Many industries and farmers work with chemicals that end up in water. This is common with Point-source Pollution. These include chemicals that are used to control weeds, insects and pests. Metals and solvents from industries can pollute water bodies. These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may slow their development, make them infertile and kill them.

8. Oil Spillage
Oil spills usually have only a localized effect on wildlife but can spread for miles. The oil can cause the death to many fish and get stuck to the feathers of seabirds causing them to lose their ability to fly. 

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