We know that all life is dependent on water and that water exists in nature in many forms - clouds, rain, snow, ice, and fog; however, strictly speaking, chemically pure water
does not exist for any appreciable length of time in nature. Even while falling as rain, water small amounts of gases, ions, dust, and particulate matter from the atmosphere. Then, as it flows over or through the surface layers of the
earth, it dissolves and carries with it some of almost everything it touches, including that which is dumped into it by man.These added substances may be arbitrarily classified as biological, chemical (both
inorganic and organic), physical, and radiological impurities. They include industrial and commercial solvents, metal and acid salts, sediments, pesticides, herbicides, plant nutrients, radioactive materials, road salts, decaying animal and
vegetable matter, and living microorganisms, such as algae, bacteria, and viruses. These impurities may give water a bad taste, color, odor, or cloudy appearance (turbidity), and cause hardness, corrosiveness, staining, or frothing.
They may damage growing plants and transmit disease. Many of these impurities are removed or rendered harmless, however, in municipal drinking water treatment plants. Pure water means different things to
different people. Homeowners are primarily concerned with domestic water problems related to color, odor, taste, and safety to family and health, as well as the cost of soap, detergents, "softening" or other
treatments required for improving the water quality. Visit The State of New Jersey Water Supply Administration for more
info. |