Water is Important for living life. It is the most fundamental part of health, agriculture and well-being Even after having a very large amount on the earth almost 71% of the earth contains water. Still, access to safe and clean drinking water has always been a challenge for many communities across the world. In 2022 according to research by the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 200 crore people across the globe are struggling to have safe and clear water for drinking services, which is a serious global concern.
In India, the situation is more intense. Due to the poor water quality leading to the spread of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, Typhoid and polio, Health Challenges like this not only have an impact on an individual's health, safety and well-being but also the economy, these water-borne diseases costing around 4,980 crore INR yearly in India.
So, it's very important to understand water quality parameters which can help you decide that water is safe & clear to drink. In this blog, we will provide you with a comprehensive easy-to-understand guide to these water quality parameters, so that individuals like you and communities will learn and be aware of safe drinking health factors. We will also be discussing one of the most reliable and cost-effective measures from which one in use is a non electric water purifier for improving your water quality, and providing safe drinking water while keeping the minerals intact, specialised for areas with limited access to electricity.
Understanding The Types of Water Quality Parameters
Since most of the time, we find a clear glass of water that is safe to drink, you must be asking how we can test the quality of the water. However, this is not always the case; there may be many invisible harmful bacteria present in it, that could be harmful to your health. Therefore, when evaluating water, experts don’t rely on a single test but we have made it easier for you to understand water quality standards. There are 3 parameters that we have categorized that are Physical, biological and chemical.
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Physical Parameters:
The First level of the water quality measure indicator must be a physical overview of water quality that can be measured by viewing it and observing:
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Turbidity (Cloudiness in Water): This parameter showcases how visually clear the water is. If water has High turbidity it means it indicates the high presence of suspended solids which may give the water a cloudy colour, which can carry harmful microorganisms that can be dangerous to health. Non electric water purifiers can clean such water, but when turbidity is too high, even purifiers may struggle to work properly.
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Temperature (Hot or Cold Water): You may not think this matters, but it does. Warm water holds less oxygen and can help germs grow faster. It can also cause a bad smell or strange taste. If your tap water is always warm, it might be a sign that there’s a problem with your pipes or water storage.
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Colour (Changes in Water Colour): Clean water has no colour; it’s Transparent. If you see brown, yellow, or greenish water, it could mean something is wrong. Rust from old pipes, algae, or dirty water from outside might be getting into your supply.
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Taste and Odour (How Water Tastes and Smells): Water should taste fresh and clean. But sometimes, it has a metallic taste or a bad smell like damp earth. This can happen because of extra minerals, chemicals like chlorine, or dirt in the water.
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Solids (TDS – Total Dissolved Solids): Some things dissolve in water that we can’t see. Is called TDS. A mixture of a little bit of salt and minerals like Ca & Mg can be good for health. When TDS is balanced, a non-electric purifier is a good choice as it keeps the minerals while making the water safe to drink.
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Electrical Conductivity(Saltiness in Water): Measuring this will tell you how well water conducts electricity, which depends on the number of dissolved salts & minerals. High conductivity often means excess salts, which can affect the taste and may signal that the water needs treatment to make it safer for drinking.
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Chemical Parameters
Clear Water should be free from all the harmful chemicals. The below chemical parameters will help you to measure your water's chemical properties to decide its safe for drinking or not.
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pH (Acidity or Alkaline Nature): pH is the first thing to check when you check the chemical properties of water. A PH of water is calculated on a scale of 0 -14. If your water has a PH between 0 - 6 is acidic and from 8-14 it means water is basic. Ideally, the PH of safe water for drinking should always be 7.
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Chlorine: Chlorine is added to water to kill germs. It is often used in municipal water supplies. While a small amount is safe, too much chlorine can cause skin irritation and a bleach-like taste.
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Hardness (Minerals in Water): Hard water has extra minerals like calcium and magnesium. You may notice white stains on taps or soap not forming bubbles easily. Hard water leads to Hair Fall and skin damage. So, treating hard water is compulsory.
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Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Oxygen is also present in water. It is important for fish and plants, but also shows that water is fresh. Low oxygen levels may mean pollution.
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Biological Parameters
Sometimes, dangerous things in the water are too small to see. These are microorganisms, and they can make us very sick. That’s why biological water quality parameters check for living organisms in water.
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Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): BOD measures how much oxygen is needed to break down waste in water. If BOD is high, it usually means the water is dirty and has a lot of waste or pollution.
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Bacteria: Bacteria are tiny germs that live in dirty water. Some are harmless, but others like E. coli can cause diarrhoea, stomach infections, or cholera. Drinking water from lakes, rivers, or unsafe taps may carry bacteria if it is not treated properly.
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Algae: Algae are small plants that grow in water. They are often seen in ponds, tanks, or stagnant water. Algae make water green and can produce toxins that are dangerous to health. They also cause a bad smell and poor taste.
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Viruses: Viruses are even smaller than bacteria. They cause diseases like hepatitis A, which affects the liver. Water that looks clear can still have viruses if it has been polluted with human or animal waste.
Also Read: How to Prevent Waterborne Diseases like Cholera
What Are the Major Effects of Poor Water Quality on Human Health
Water is supposed to keep living alive and healthy but unsafe water can do the opposite and harm lives. Everyone knows that in most of India, especially in rural areas people depend on wells, rivers and other natural resources of water which may not be that safe. Many drinks directly carry hazardous pathogens that lead to diseases like Diarrhoea, cholera etc. Here we will understand the effect of poor water quality on human health.
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Diarrhoea and Stomach Infections: A child drinks water from a hand pump on a hot day. Hours later, he complains of stomach pain and starts running to the toilet. This is how diarrhoea often starts. It is one of the most common illnesses caused by dirty water, leading to loose motions, dehydration, and weakness.
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Cholera: In most cases, cholera happens because of dangerous bacteria - Cholera is a disease that causes diarrhoea and dangerous water loss from the body. This disease mainly catches people during monsoon season when rainwater gets mixed with drinking water.
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Fluorosis (Teeth & Bones Problems): In some parts of India, especially villages, groundwater contains high levels of fluoride. Drinking this for years can cause yellow or brown stains on teeth and lead to joint pain and weak bones.
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Typhoid Fever: Typhoid, another quiet threat, spreads through contaminated drinking water. It causes high temperature, weakness, and stomach aches, making even basic everyday tasks difficult.
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Hepatitis A: Viruses in polluted water can lead to Hepatitis A, which affects the liver. People with this illness often feel tired, have yellow skin (jaundice), and lose their appetite.
Also Read: Water Filtration in Industrial Applications
How to Keep Your Drinking Water Safe The Best Methods
Unsafe and unclear water causes so many diseases and to protect yourself from those diseases to happen to you. We are sharing some trusted ways to keep your drinking water safe:
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Filtration – Removing Dirt and Germs: Filtration is the first step in cleaning water. It removes sand, dust, and bacteria that might be floating in the water. For homes in rural areas or places with power cuts, a non-electric water purifier is a reliable option. This kind of water purification system works without electricity, removes dirt and provides fresh organic water to keep their natural mineral intact.
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Disinfection: This process is the old way of making water safe to drink because clear water seems crystal clean but can have lots of bacteria and germs. Disinfection can be done by
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Boil water for at least 1 minute.
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Adding chlorine drops (as advised by experts).
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Using a UV purifier (needs electricity).
But for homes without regular power, a non-electric water purifier with germ filtration can still provide protection.
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Softening – Treating Hard Water: Have you noticed white marks on taps or kettles? That is hard water, which has extra minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard water is not harmful to health, but it can damage pipes and appliances. Water softeners remove these minerals, making the water gentle on the skin, clothes, and machines.
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Reverse Osmosis (RO) – Advanced Water Purification: Some water contains salt, heavy metals, or high TDS levels. This is common in borewells or salty water areas.
Also Read: 5 Benefits of Using a Home Water Purifier for Safe Drinking Water
Let’s Summarise
Water is life only if you drink clear and safe water. It's very important to understand the water quality parameters like physical, chemical and biological levels which helps deeply when water is clear and when it's not. Effects of poor water quality on human wealth are stomach infections, diarrhoea, and long-term illnesses. Families, mainly living in rural areas, face these risks because water sources are not always safe. But we have also understood that using the right method of treating water methods like filtration, boiling, or disinfection, will make water safe & clear to drink,
However, not every home has a good supply of electricity. That is why a non electric water purifier is the safest and most reliable choice. It removes dirt, bacteria, and other impurities, ensuring safe drinking water every day.
After all, safe water is not just a need—it’s every family’s right.
