Guidelines for drinking water quality are used ProVen+ Reviewby every municipality in this country as the basis for establishing a continuing supply of potable water for all citizens. The general public trusts the judgment of these guidelines, but needs to be made aware of the fact that just following a set of rules concerning the quality of drinking water is not enough to insure its safety.
The best way to make sure that our water supply is clean, safe, and reliable is to understand where the water comes from. From its beginnings in nature until it reaches the consumer, you must understand water's characteristics, the ways it could become contaminated, and the type of treatment it needs in order to become safe to drink. Collecting and studying water data is one of the ways this is accomplished.
Drinking water quality standards serve as guidelines, which make it possible for the water to be studied at various points in its journey and analyzed to be certain it is safe to drink. These guidelines are based on scientific reasoning, and give a good indication of the health affects some people might suffer if they were to consume contaminated water. Water that meets these standards is considered safe to drink, although children, the elderly, and the immune-compromised may have special needs, and need a higher quality of drinking water.