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Pure/impure, potable/wholesome, polluted/contaminated

Short answer

Pure water contains only H2O and is not found naturally; impure water contains dissolved, suspended or colloidal impurities. Potable water is safe to drink but may have taste/colour problems; wholesome water is also pleasant and has minerals within limits. Polluted water is degraded by waste and may not harm health; contaminated water contains disease-causing organisms or toxic chemicals and is always dangerous.

Differentiate between (a) pure and impure water, (b) potable and wholesome water and (c) polluted and contaminated water.

(a) Pure and impure water

Pure waterImpure water
Only H2O molecules, no other substanceContains dissolved, suspended or colloidal impurities
Not found naturally; distilled water is the nearestAll natural water (rain, river, well)
Tasteless (flat) and lacks essential minerals, so not ideal for regular drinkingMay be harmful or harmless

(b) Potable and wholesome water

Potable waterWholesome water
Safe to drink and not harmful to healthSafe, and also agreeable and suitable for all uses
May have colour, odour or taste problemsFree from colour, odour, taste and turbidity
Mineral content may exceed the desirable limitsMinerals within permissible limits
Mainly health safetyHealth safety plus acceptability

(c) Polluted and contaminated water

Polluted waterContaminated water
Unfit due to wastes (sewage, industrial waste)Contains harmful germs, toxic chemicals or radioactive matter
Pollution is a general degradation of qualityContamination is a health-related impurity
Not always dangerous to healthAlways dangerous to health
Example: water with oil or detergentsExample: water with E. coli or arsenic

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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