What kinds of contaminants are found in drinking water?
Water is by far the best solvent. This is a big advantage but also a drawback, since almost any other substance can be dissolved in water. That is why water is so easily contaminated. As water flows, it dissolves and absorbs the substances that it comes in contact. Besides pure water (water molecules) there are a great number of different substances and chemicals, which change and add different properties, characteristics and names to the water. Some contaminants come from erosion of natural rock formations. Other contaminants come from leaking sewage pipelines, factories discharge, agriculture run-off etc. Sources and types of contaminants can be many e.g. pesticides, herbicides, hospital waste, industrial effluents, waste land fills, heavy metals, microbes and other harmful organic and inorganic compounds. 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water.
