Water and Sanitation

Large-scale environmental changes will cast an increasingly long shadow over the health of future populations, unless we effectively communicate these health (and concurrent non-health) risks, and enable that evidence to help society shape a sustainable way of living.

Kofi Annan, Former United Nations Secretary-General

Water is the elixir of life.

Main constituent of body fluids
Carries nutrients to the tissues of the body as blood and lymph
Helps in clearing waste from the body, via urine formation and sweat

Water makes up 50-60% of the body weight in adults, and more in children who therefore have a tendency to get dehydrated faster than adults.

Safe drinking water

Provision of safe drinking water and wastewater sanitation go hand in hand. Understandably, the issues include not only access to sufficient water but also the quality of water available. These factors impact economic development, in many parts of the world, mostly in developing countries.

The quality of water required depends on the intended use for the water i.e. drinking, washing, agricultural, commercial or recreational.

Diseases from unclean water

waterborne pathogens (cholera, typhoid etc that arise due to contamination of drinking water by these organisms);
water-privation diseases (heminthic, skin and eye infections due to lack of sufficient water for personal hygiene),
water-based diseases (schistosomiasis where water forms the habitat for a part of the life cycle of the organism),
water-related diseases (malaria, dengue, yellow fever, all caused by different species of mosquitoes which breed in water).

Sources of water pollution that make water unfit for drinking

Household sewage
Fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural use that make their way to water bodies
Industrial wastes like chemicals and effluents
Inadequate facilities for treatment of discharged wastewater

Pure for sure?

There are several ways to ensure that the water you and your family drink is pure and does not put you at risk of developing any health conditions. Check with your local government authority or Resident Welfare Association for:

Water treatment plants
Small scale equipment installed in the household (filter candles, UV filters and RO systems)
Simple kits are available for checking quality of water for the presence of harmful organisms, minerals and chemicals. Please write to us for more information.

Drink to good health

Daily requirements vary depending on environmental temperature, humidity, and daily activity. In countries like India, 8-10 glasses of water are usually sufficient. However, if the person does strenuous physical activity or is pregnant/breastfeeding, the requirements will be more. Generally, 1 litre of extra water should be added above the usual intake for every hour of strenuous physical exercise. Drinks like tea can also contribute to the fluid intake but also cause loss of water especially when taken in large amounts, so too much consumption should be avoided. Tea can also decrease the intake of some essential nutrients (like iron) when taken with food so should be avoided with meals.