BHE314 Module3 SLP

Running Head: WATER QUALITY Water Quality Name: University: Tutor: Course: Date: Water Quality The quality of water is regarded as a great environmental determinant concerning health. The quality of drinking water affects public health to a great extent. Water borne diseases have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The quality of water and public health are linked in various ways. Firstly, water of poor quality or rather contaminated water eventually results to dangerous waterborne diseases when consumed. Such diseases include typhoid, dysentery and viral hepatitis as well as cholera. Drinking water containing high percentages of chemicals such as arsenic cause very serious diseases. Contaminated water is also associated with skin and eye infections and generally, poor personal hygiene (Trudgill & Webb, 1999). The impact of these waterborne diseases has mostly been felt in the developing countries. This has become a major challenge to the public health of the developing countries due to several factors such increasing population which has resulted to high rates of pollution. Most of the pollutants end up in the water catchment areas and thus the water is contaminated. Lack proper facilities for the treatment of water so as to improve its quality have been a major challenge in the developing countries and thus public health has adversely been affected (Lee & George, 2000). The quality of water directly affects the public health and hence it should be closely monitored. Public health can to great extent be improved by ensuring adequate supply of water which has been proved to be of high quality. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has set standards that have to be adhered unto so as to ensure adequate supply of good quality of drink...