: : LEARN ABOUT WATER / PROBLEM : :

Water is arguably the second most important element for survival, next to oxygen. Without water life is not possible. Rapid population growth, increasing development and water demand have chronically led to short supply of clean water resources.

The Earth's surface is 71% water but most of it is seawater. Seawater contains 3% to 4% dissolved solids and we all know it is too salty to drink. In fact drinking water should be no more than 0.05% solids so it is 70 times too high in solids. About 2.5% of the Earth's water is freshwater (i.e. not sea water) and about 1.5% is under polar ice caps, continental ice sheets and glacier which leaves only 0.5% for potential drinking purposes. There are only two sources of fresh water, i.e. surface water and ground water.

In 1961, the average domestic consumption, for all household purposes - not just drinking - was 90 litres per person per day. Today it is 140 litres and it continues to rise. This is only individual consumption for personal care, laundry, toilet, dishes, garden, drinking and cooking.

But, only less than 5% or 7 litres are used for drinking (2-3 litres) and cooking purposes. So, although it all has to be treated to drinking water quality standards, only 2% of the domestic supply is really needs to meet those requirements - the rest is used for personal care, laundry, toilets, washing, gardening etc. And that doesn't include water supplied to industry and agriculture - which is about as much again. So, in effect, only 1% of the water supplied by the municipal water treatment plant needs to be suitable for drinking but it all has to be supplied to that standard.

The World Health Organization has laid down two standards for public water quality. One is regarded as an essential minimum standard and the other a desirable standard. Many water supplies worldwide fail to reach either standard.