Clean water is the main source of life for living things. Not only humans, there are also animals, plants, and others. Over time, clean water becomes difficult to find. The causes are very diverse, such as water that has been polluted by waste, small water catchment areas, large amounts of illegal logging, and so on.
If the water is polluted, it can have a negative impact on health and the environment. Whereas water is a source for drinking, irrigation, bathing, washing clothes, cooking, and other things that must be available. In this article, the discussion on clean water will be explained in more depth which includes:
- What is meant by clean water?
- The Importance of Clean Water
- How to Maintain Clean Water Quality in Residential Environments
- Clean Water Saving Tips
Come on, see more in this explanation.
1. What Is Clean Water?
Clean water and sanitation are mutually sustainable. Clean water can be obtained through good sanitation. According to 2017 WHO report quoted from Wikipedia, safe drinking water is water that does not cause significant health problems while consuming it. This includes the different sensitivities that may occur at each stage of life.
The same source said that the parameters of clean water for consumption are divided into three categories, namely physical, chemical and microbiological. For physical and chemical parameters, including heavy metals, organic compounds, total suspended density (TSS), and turbidity. Then, chemical parameters tend to pose a chronic risk to health through the nitrate/nitrite and arsenic components. Physically affects the taste of drinking water and its color.
The last parameter is microbiology. Clean water contaminated by pathogenic microbes becomes difficult to remove. Several types such as coliform bacteria, E.coli, specific species of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoa parasites. This type needs to be watched out for because it has a health risk whose impact can quickly affect health. This is also supported by data from world vision which states that more than 750 children under the age of 5 die from diarrhea every day caused by contaminated water, poor hygiene, and poor sanitation.
So, the requirement for clean water can be seen through the three parameters that have been mentioned. If clean water is contaminated by one of these parameters, the water is said to be polluted and a solution must be addressed immediately. If not addressed immediately, it can have a negative impact on health and other living things sooner or later.
2. The Importance of Clean Water
In Indonesia, the quality of clean water is still quite concerning. UNICEF conducted a drinking water survey in 2017 in Yogyakarta, finding that 89% of water sources and 67% of household drinking water were contaminated with fecal bacteria. In addition, only 7% of wastewater in Indonesia has been treated. Looking at these data, more than half of the water consumed is contaminated.
Therefore, proper sanitation management is a top priority to improve community health, nutrition, and productivity. From there clean water is very important for humans. Did you know that clean water has many good benefits? Here are some of the benefits.
- Common health problems can be overcome by drinking lots of water.
- Prevents dehydration, which causes fatigue.
- Water carries the nutrients needed by the body.
- Water is a source of meeting the needs of life, such as rice field irrigation, animal life, plant nutrition, and others.
- The use of clean water can prevent various diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera, and so on.
- Washing hands with soap and clean water can prevent the spread of viruses carried by hands.
- People’s productivity can increase by living a healthier life. You do this through the consumption of clean water in the environment.
- Water is a major factor in determining a person’s quality of life and future possibilities.
To be able to get clean water, it must be supported by good and appropriate sanitation. For example, keeping toilets clean and managing household waste disposal. In addition, it needs to be supported by community assistance around the dwelling.
3. How to Maintain Clean Water Quality in Residential Environments
Maintaining the quality of clean water in the environment is a shared responsibility. Some areas have turbid water quality, so they have several options to use their own water filter or tap water. For areas that have clean water quality, of course, it must be maintained as well as possible. Below, some ways to maintain the quality of clean water that can be applied.
a) Pay attention to road construction materials in the environment
When it rains, water that crosses hard materials, such as concrete or asphalt, will enter the construction, canals with whatever is carried along the road. That way, pollution arises in your environment that contaminates the soil. The solution could be to dig a shallow ditch or ditch along the border and add plants or gravel to accommodate the scattered trash on the road before it flows too far.
b) Toilets or Bathrooms Must Be Clean
Never throw non-biodegradable products down the toilet. Because the dirt can later contaminate the sea and water. This is because the product is not decomposed by the waste treatment process.
In addition, keep the bathroom clean, from the water reservoir to your toilet. The bathroom as a place for sewage is a source of disease. Therefore, do not let the bathroom dirty.
c) Improve Sanitation Facilities
Sanitation is so very important influence. Therefore, it is better to provide toilets and toilets that have direct drainage to the sewers according to the Rotary Service Blog. Dirt that has entered the ditch will flow in the direction of ditch disposal. If sanitation and sewage can be managed properly, the environment will be clean and healthy.
d) Use a Water Filter
A water filter is one way to filter groundwater before it is distributed to households. There is filtration through a water pump and filtration through a water tap. It is better if the water pump has a filter that can filter directly from the ground. That way, your home will be cleaner and healthier. Water consumption can be felt by all family members.
4. Clean Water-Saving Tips
Do you already have a clean water supply at home? So, don’t waste it. Wasteful use of water has an impact on the increase in monthly electricity in your home. Because the pump works more often to drain the water. Don’t worry, there are several ways you can save clean water at home. Quoted from Volusia, here are some tips.
- Taking a shower uses 5-10 gallons of water per minute. So, turn off the shower when you’re not rinsing it to save use
- Periodically check for water leaks in toilets, faucets, pipes, etc. This water leak often occurs and is not realized. This is because even a small leak if left unchecked, can waste a lot of clean water.
- Clean the bathroom while you’re in the shower. Using water only once makes water use more efficient.
- When washing your hands, don’t let the water always run. You can use it when you are going to rinse your hands.
- Turn off the water faucet when not in use. For example, when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, and so on.
So, are you familiar with the clean water concept described above? By maintaining the quality of water and saving its use, of course, it can have a good impact on the environment. Keep in mind the quality of clean water determines a better quality of life. A healthy and clean lifestyle must be done for yourself and the environment.
