| Brief Guide to Water |
| Water |
| Something like 70% of the earth's surface is covered with water. It is one of the most abundant substances on this planet and it is essential for all forms of life. Our bodies are largely water and it helps us to eliminate toxins from the body. If we lose more than 1 or 2% of the body's water then we soon begin to notice the effects of dehydration, such as thirst, tiredness, loss of stamina and poor concentration. Dehydration is something which faces marathon runners, people undertaking strenuous work in warm conditions, or those who live or work in very dry and hot environments. |
| Ingestion |
| We can take water into our bodies in many different guises, such as tea, coffee, soft drinks or indeed alcoholic ones (though be warned - alcohol can leave you dehydrated). There is some evidence that the body rehydrates quicker when offered a drink which contains some sugar and minerals than water (this fact is used in ORT - Oral rehydration therapy). Such drinks are often marketed as isotonic sports drinks on the basis that they help replace the sugar used up in exercise and also the minerals lost through sweating. You can, of course, take your water as water! |
| Water Supply |
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We are fortunate in the UK and across Europe to have clean, drinkable water readily available to us - from the tap! (sometimes referred to as portable water). In many parts of the world, people struggle each day to find enough water that is clean and not riddled with disease causing microbes! The delivery of tap water requires a complex infrastructure of pipes, pumps, and water treatment works.
For information about the supply of water in the UK, visit one of the water company websites, such as Southern Water Anglian Water Ofwat, the Water Regulators If you want to save some money on your water bill (other utility like gas etc), consider visiting some of the links at the bottom of the page. |
| Other uses |
| Water that is used for drinking is also used for other domestic purposes (washing machines, toilets etc). Water treatment often involves chlorination to ensure the water is microbe free. There has been the suggestion that water should be flouridated in order to reduce dental decay. However, this has been viewed as a form of mass medication and resisted. |
| Cost |
| The cost of tap water compared to that of bottled water is small, but many people are prepared to pay for bottled water. This can be for a variety of reasons; some do not like the taste or smell of tap water (due to the chemicals used in water treatment works), others see bottled water as more natural and / or healthier when compared to tap water. |
| Bottled water |
| Do we need to buy bottled water? Well, the drinking water from our taps is perfectly adequate to replenish our fluid loss,and is treated to bring it up to the standards set out in the Water Supply Regulations. There are no clear cut health benefits to drinking bottled water rather than tap water, so basically it is a matter of personal taste and cost. There are two basic types of bottled water: spring water; and bottled water. |
| Spring water |
| This has to be collected at the spring or source, where it rises out of the ground. It must be bottled at the source. UK sources of spring water have to meet certain standards (of hygiene), but undergo treatment so that they meet criteria that are set with respect to pollution etc. |
| Mineral water |
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This is water that emerges from under the ground and then flows over rocks before it is collected; this results in a 'unique' content of various minerals (depending on the geology of the area). Unlike spring water, it is not treated except to remove grit and dirt.
Different types of spring and mineral waters will therefore have differing amounts of minerals depending on their source. Information about the mineral content of different types of bottled water should be on the bottle's label as should information about where the water came from. For information on one or two popular mineral waters, see
Buxton Water Highland Spring |
| Comments, copyright and linking |
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