HOW SAFE IS
THE WATER YOU DRINK?
It is a natural occurring compound that is ubiquitous in
nature. Nothing is as refreshing as taking a bottle of chilled water after a
hectic day. You may be to conversant with water thereby neglecting it’s
components. As big as it may appear, it can be isolated into molecules. Each
molecule is simply made of two elements: Hydrogen
and Oxygen in the ratio of 1:2
respectively. By weight, it consists of 11.1888%
Hydrogen and 88.812% Oxygen, if and only if it is pure.
WHY THE
CRUSADE FOR PURE WATER?
Human life has been under threat since the existence of man
on earth. Majority of the threat comes from what we consume. Majority of what
we consume is water or water-related either in carbonated drinks, caffeinated
drinks, or any drink at all.
To this effect, a lot of organisations like WHO, UNICEF, Governmental and Non Governmental Agencies have come
up with some standards to ensure that the water we take in is fit for the body.
You may say “I get my water from the public supply system
hence I’m covered”. Yes are covered but not totally covered. Why? Although the
water from the public supply is usually treated with Chlorine or other
disinfectants (Fluorine in rare cases), yet as it travels along the
distribution channels (systems), it corrodes the pipe (if it is made of Iron or
Lead) in which it flows through. At some points, the pipes may burst or have
some leakages hence carrying along some contaminants that usually dissolve in
it. But still it may still appear colourless. It will be disastrous consuming
such water as Lead and Iron tend to accumulate with time in the body causing
Lead poisoning or Iron poisoning as the case may be. This will in turn lead to
heart failures and other health challenges which if not treated medically will
lead to untimely death. However nowadays, PVC
pipes are fast replacing the easily corrodible Iron and Lead pipes and it
is a cheaper technology than the former.
Water by nature, apart from being ubiquitous, is a universal
solvent. This makes it possible for it to dissolve as many water-soluble salts,
ions or molecules that comes its way as possible. That is why in same places,
the water is hard (does not easily form lather with soap), while in others it
is soft. Water becomes hard when it dissolves some Calcium or Magnesium
compounds especially in limestone regions. The degree of the concentration
of these compounds determines the hardness of this water which in turn determines
it’s economic value. Water that is too hard cannot be used for any useful
household purpose because it is ‘sticky’ when felt in-between fingers. It
wastes lather. It has no economic value.
Naturally, it is available on the surface and sub-surface. It
follows a cycle called ‘THE WATER CYCLE’ which is mainly controlled and co-ordinated by
the forces of Precipitation and Evaporation. However, the surface water is usually not in sufficient quantity for domestic use,
let alone industrial unless in places where we have perennial water bodies like
streams, lakes, rivers and oceans. Then they can be readily harnessed. But they
pose a great danger unless treated adequately.
It is the quest for ample
water that made man to begin probing the earth in search of it and it dates
back as far the primitive era. But the methods of earth probing and borehole
drilling has been greatly modernised.
The problem is that the
technology and the processes appears simple (yet it is not), the quacks have
gained access into the market with the attendant borehole failures scattered
all over the place especially in Nigeria. The government seems to be doing
little to curb this menace. The earlier professionals are allowed to take their
rightful place, the better – so as to prevent unnecessary but avoidable investment
loss.
Geologist, Geophysicists and
Geoscientists have the right knowledge of the terrains and they are in a better
place to provide the necessary framework for probing the earth, exploration and
exploitation of the vast mineral resources.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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