Importance
Much of the improvement in human life expectancy since the industrial revolution can be attributed to the provision of better quality drinking water.
Water quality is considered relative to the desired human use of water and the needs of the environment. The different categories of water use are:
- aquatic ecosystems (healthy water for animals and plants)
- primary contact recreation, e.g. swimming
- secondary contact recreation, e.g. boating
- visual amenity (no human contact)
- irrigation water
- livestock drinking water
- human drinking water.
