- 2071 Shrawan · 4 marks
Potable, wholesome, polluted, contaminated water
Short answer
Potable water is safe to drink but may have unpleasant taste/colour; wholesome water is also clear, odourless, palatable, with minerals within limits. Polluted water is degraded by waste and may not harm health; contaminated water contains pathogens or harmful chemicals and is always dangerous. Wholesome water must be pathogen-free, clear, palatable, pH 6.5-8.5, minerals within limits, non-corrosive.
Differentiate potable and wholesome water, and polluted and contaminated water. Write down the requirements of wholesome water in brief.
| Basis | Potable water | Wholesome water |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Safe to drink; causes no immediate harm | Safe, and also pleasant and suitable for all domestic uses |
| Taste, colour, odour | May be unpleasant | Colourless, odourless, palatable |
| Minerals | May contain objectionable salts | Within acceptable limits |
| Example | Safe but hard or slightly salty well water | Treated water meeting the standards |
| Basis | Polluted water | Contaminated water |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Contains waste, organic or industrial matter that makes it unfit for use | Contains disease-causing organisms or harmful chemicals |
| Effect | Aesthetic and ecological damage; may or may not harm health | Directly dangerous to health |
| Example | Water with sewage discharge or oil | Water with cholera bacteria or arsenic |
Pollution is the wider term; contamination mostly refers to a health hazard.
Requirements of wholesome water
- Free from pathogens and toxic substances.
- Clear, colourless, odourless and pleasant in taste.
- Contains minerals within permitted limits (hardness, iron, chloride, TDS, etc.).
- pH about 6.5 to 8.5.
- Not corrosive and not scale-forming.
- Available in adequate quantity and at a suitable temperature.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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