We lack confidence in the tap water. Therefore, instead of just putting a glass under the open tap, we spend a lot of money on bottled water. Meanwhile, we can drink water straight from the tap without fear.

Our distrust was born in the 1970s and 1980s, when thedrinking waterstandards were not as restrictive as they are today, but the demand for it was twice as high. So the main idea was to deliver the right amount of it. Quality took a back seat. It was enough that tap water posed no threat to he alth. Today we have good water at home, sometimes better than bottled water, but the distrust remains.

Important

It seems thatOligocene wateris perfectly clean since it comes from deep deposits. It turns out that not completely, because the places of its distribution may be microbiologically contaminated (they are not disinfected). In addition, it can only be kept for 24 hours, in a refrigerator, to keep it microbiologically safe.

Tap water is he althy because it is subject to restrictive EU standards

We can safely quench our thirst with unboiled tap water, because its quality complies with EU standards, more demanding than those developed by the World He alth Organization (WHO). Water is microbiologically and chemically safe. If you do not believe it, you can check the quality of water in your town on the websites of water companies or in the he alth resort. Such information should also be provided by small local waterworks.

The frequency of water quality checks depends on the daily capacity of the water supply. In large cities, it is tested daily at every stage of treatment. Additionally, its quality is checked once a month at specific points in the water supply network. In small waterworks, control is less frequent, but water quality requirements are the same.

According to an expertAnna Olejnik, water technologist, Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Wodociągów i Kanalizacji in Warsaw

Bottled spring waters, eagerly bought in Poland, contain negligible amounts of minerals (including those most important for he alth - magnesium and calcium). Tap water sometimes has many more, but it does not pretend to be mineral. Depending on the source, it is low or medium mineralized (optimal for every human being). And definitely clean.Even infant formulas can be prepared on it. However, we should not give raw food to young children. But this recommendation also applies to bottled waters, with the exception of those certified by the Institute of Mother and Child. In fact, bottled waters that deserve the name of mineral water are scarce in Poland (only about 30), so when buying them in a store, pay attention to at least how much calcium and magnesium they contain. A liter of mineral water should contain not less than 150 mg of calcium and 50 mg of magnesium.

Modern water treatment

If possible, waterworks use deep water, perfectly clean, which requires almost no treatment. This process mainly consists of aeration and filtration to remove excess manganese and iron. Such excellent water is found, for example, in Olsztyn and Łódź. However, deepwater resources in Poland are not sufficient, so we also use surface waters, i.e. rivers. But here too, a tremendous change has taken place. Infiltration intakes, such as in Warsaw or Płock, are more and more frequent. Water is drawn from the bottom of rivers or from special ponds. Before it enters the treatment plant, it is filtered through several meters of sand and stones. The treatment methods were also improved (e.g. ozone treatment, filtering through active carbon beds was introduced), and the technological process of treatment itself is so precisely selected that the water meets the strict EU standards. After the terrorist attacks in the USA on September 11, 2001, an additional control element was introduced in Poland. water - biomonitoring. The fry are kept in the aquariums in the treatment plants. It is very sensitive to toxins, so it reacts quickly to changes in water quality. Warsaw has double protection against sudden water contamination. Clams are also kept in the aquarium, which immediately close the shells when toxic substances appear in the water.

You must do it

How to take care of the quality of tap water yourself?

  • If you have your own water source (borehole, well), have it investigated. Check its chemical composition as there is a risk that it is contaminated, e.g. by slurry or pesticides flowing from the fields into the aquifer. The water sample can be tested in the laboratory of the local water supply or sanitary facility. Private companies also offer this service.
  • Because the long road in the water supply system deteriorates the water quality (and you should not count on the fact that the administrators of housing estates systematically flush the internal water supply systems), if you get up at dawn, before the rest of the inhabitants, drain 2-3 liters of water, before placing the kettle under the tap.
  • After returning from vacation or weekend, open all taps for a while and let the water runflow freely.

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