Thousands of people are settling in new residential areas and in the process are drilling boreholes to cater for their water needs.
However, very few are going on to assess the parameters in the water that they plan to drink. The need for testing physical, chemical and biological properties is a no brainer. Water can be affected by bacteria, which can then be transmitted to humans upon drinking. Micro-organisms have to be analysed and tested, so that they can be eliminated before entering the food chain.
There are also chemical properties that have to be tested, in order to ensure that their elimination of chemical risk such as that posed by hazardous chemicals. Mineral content of water can also indicate the mineralogy of the underlying rock and soil formations.
On the physical front, parameters such as colour turbidity and temperature are essential.
You never know what is in water until a test is done on the water. Results of water tests can inform us on the best decision with regards to water treatment. Let avoid drinking water from untested sources.
