Clean, safe drinking water is one of the foundations of good health. Without it, waterborne diseases spread quickly, and the people who suffer most are usually children, older people and anyone already unwell. Yet the quality of the water that comes out of the tap varies enormously from one country to another.
This article looks at drinking water quality around the world and what it means for households and workplaces.
How drinking water quality is compared
One widely used comparison comes from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), produced by researchers at Yale University. Among many environmental measures, the EPI gives each country a score for unsafe drinking water, based on the burden of illness and early death linked to it.
On this scale, a score of 100 means a country is among those with the lowest health burden from unsafe water, and a score of 0 means it is among those with the highest.
The top and the bottom of the table
The highest scores go to countries that have invested heavily, over many decades, in water treatment, distribution and sanitation. Several European countries, such as Finland, sit at the top of the index with a score of 100. In those countries, tap water is generally considered safe to drink.
At the other end of the scale are many countries in Africa, where access to safe water remains a serious challenge and the health burden from unsafe water is highest. The gap shows how much infrastructure, resources and long-term investment matter.
India is still a long way from the top of the table. Access to safe drinking water has been improving, but there is much more to do, and in many places tap water still needs treating before it is safe to drink.
Keeping drinking water safe at home
Until safe tap water reaches everyone, households can protect themselves:
- Treat water before drinking. Boiling, or a well-maintained filter or purifier, makes water safer.
- Store it safely. Keep treated water in clean, covered containers and use a ladle or tap rather than dipping cups or hands in.
- Clean storage tanks regularly, and keep their lids secure.
- Take extra care in the monsoon, when flooding and damaged pipes make contamination more likely.
- Maintain your purifier. Change filters and service units as the maker recommends.
Clear does not always mean safe
It is tempting to judge water by how it looks. Cloudy water, an unusual colour or a strange smell are all warning signs, but water that looks perfectly clear can still carry germs that cause illness. That is why treatment and regular testing matter more than appearance.
If someone develops diarrhoea, vomiting or fever after drinking water from an uncertain source, they should drink plenty of safe fluids and see a doctor, especially in the case of young children and older people, who can become dehydrated quickly. If several people fall ill after drinking from the same supply, stop using it and report it.
Safe water at work
Employers have a duty to provide safe drinking water for their workers, and poor water can cause illness that spreads through a whole site. Good practice includes:
- Testing water quality regularly, especially from borewells, tankers and storage tanks.
- Cleaning and inspecting tanks, coolers and dispensers on a fixed schedule.
- Labelling taps that carry water not fit for drinking.
- Placing drinking points close to where people work, particularly in hot conditions and for outdoor crews.
- Keeping drinking water away from chemicals, toilets and drains.
Working together for safer water
Safe drinking water depends on everyone: governments investing in treatment and sanitation, organisations looking after the water they provide, and individuals handling water carefully at home. Raising awareness is a small but important part of that effort.
How Eduforce can help
Our Water Monitoring service, part of our environmental management services, covers water quality monitoring, sampling and analysis. Our Industrial Hygiene training deals with the biological, chemical and physical exposures that affect health at work.
To discuss water monitoring or training, write to info@eduforce.in or message us on WhatsApp at 8779291591.
This article is for general awareness and does not replace professional water testing or medical advice.
Related training
Need help developing workplace safety capability?
Talk to Eduforce about training, consultancy and safety solutions.
Eduforce Team
EHS Training & Safety Solutions
Practical safety guidance from the Eduforce trainers and consultants — written from the training centre, the classroom and the site.
More about Eduforce
