Drinking water standards
Introduction
Potable water or water suitable for human and animal consumption is called water that can be consumed without causing health problems when drinking or preparing food.[1][2].
Access to drinking water varies by country and region. There are still communities that do not have access to safe sources of drinking water.[3] The preservation and improvement of water quality are global priorities and are part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.[4].
The causes of non-drinking water are:
Globally, by 2015, 89% of people had access to water from a source suitable for drinking, called an improved water source.[5] In sub-Saharan Africa, access to drinking water ranged from 40% to 80% of the population. Nearly 4.2 billion people worldwide had access to running water, while another 2.4 billion had access to public wells or taps.[5] According to UNICEF and UNESCO reports, Finland has the best quality of drinking water in the world.[6][7][8][9].
Around 1 to 2 billion people lack safe drinking water.[10] Water can carry disease vectors – more people die from unsafe water than from war, said then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2010.[11] Developing countries are the most affected by lack of water, flooding and water quality. Up to 80% of diseases in developing countries are a direct result of lack of water and sanitation.[12] Drinking water can be drunk for up to 6 months if kept in a sealed, cool and dry place.[13].
Water quality
The quality of the water is determined by the final use that it will have and are established in standardization norms of each country and region. There are international standards such as ISO 24150 that establish standards for the evaluation and improvement of service activities related to drinking water.[14].
European Union.
In the European Union, regulation 98/83/EU establishes standards for drinking water, with maximum and minimum values for the content of pathogenic germs, microbes, minerals and ions such as chlorides, nitrates, nitrites, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, arsenic, among others. The pH of drinking water should be between 6.5 and 9.5. Tap water passes five more controls than bottled mineral waters.
USA.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (US Environmental Protection Agency) (EPA) sets standards for tap and public water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).[15] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water as a food product under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).[16] There is evidence that in the United States United States federal drinking water regulations do not ensure safe water, as some of the regulations have not been updated with the most recent science.[17].