Table of contents:
- Can you drink raw water?
- What are the bacteria contained in raw water?
- 1. Giardia lamblia
- 2. Cryptosporidium
- 3. Vibrio cholerae
Most of the human body consists of water, so the need for fluids should not be underestimated. Maybe in your neighborhood there are several sources of drinking water, but many people prefer to use tap water or raw water for drinking which is certainly more economical. However, what happens if you drink raw and uncooked water? What impact will this have?
Can you drink raw water?
Raw water is water that has not been filtered, processed, or treated at all. Usually, to become drinking water that is proper and healthy, raw water will go through several processes using several chemicals which function to remove bacteria and harmful substances.
Another simpler way, you can boil the raw water until it's cooked so that all the bacteria in it die. If raw water is drunk directly without being treated, bacteria remain in the water and it is possible to infect the body.
Everyone who drinks raw water is very likely to get infectious diseases, but the elderly and children are the more vulnerable groups. The reason is, the immune systems of the elderly and children are not very strong, so they may "lose" in fighting bacteria.
Therefore, you should not drink raw water directly. Make sure that the water your family drinks has been processed, so that there are no disease-causing bacteria in it.
What are the bacteria contained in raw water?
According to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the environmental protection agency in the United States, drinking water from soil, rivers, lakes, and others has been contaminated by many animal waste products (feces or urine), microbes, or pollution.
To ensure your drinking water is safe, the EPA stipulates that drinking water must be free of more than 90 contaminants from chemicals or biological substances (microbes), such as:
- Chemical contaminants: arsenic, lead, copper, copper, radionuclides, and other materials
- Microbial contaminants: coliform, bacteria, parasites,
Even though untreated water looks clean, drinking it can be very dangerous for your health. Without the sterilization process, untreated or unfiltered water will contain harmful microorganisms such as:
1. Giardia lamblia
These are parasites found in soil, food, or water that colonize or collect in the human small intestine. According to previous studies, G. Lambia can cause a diarrheal disease called giardiasis.
2. Cryptosporidium
These are microorganisms that come from animal waste that cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
3. Vibrio cholerae
These are microorganisms that nest in water. If ingested, vibrio cholerae can cause cholera, intestinal infections, diarrhea, and even death.
So, make sure that your drinking water is safe from all these bacteria and germs so you don't get infectious diseases that usually attack the digestive system.
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