Sustainable development

• All humans rely on safe drinking water.
• Salt can be removed from sea water to make it safe to drink.
• Waste water must be treated before being released into the environment.
• Potable water is water that is safe for humans to drink.
• Potable water is not pure water because it almost always contains dissolved impurities.
• For water to be potable, it must have sufficiently low levels of dissolved salts.
• Microbes in water can cause illnesses.
• The methods used to make water potable depend on where you live.
• In the UK, rain provides enough fresh water to meet the needs of the population.
• During the summer months in some areas of the UK, water reserves run low and people are encouraged to conserve tap water by the use of hosepipe bans.
• Rainwater collects in rivers, lakes and in rocks underground.
• This water contains low levels of dissolved substances.
• Most potable water in the UK is produced from naturally occurring fresh water by passing the water through filter beds to remove insoluble particles.
• The methods used for sterilisation include chlorine, ozone and ultraviolet light.