Just What is Water?

Water is wet, of course and in scientific terms, it's two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen.

In reality, water in a pure state is extremely rare. Most of us experience water that has "something else" in it. Have you ever detected the odor of chlorine in a glass of water or smelled rotten eggs when you took a drink? Have you ever seen red or black marks on kitchen and bathroom fixtures left by water?

Water can have many different substances in it. Mineral water contains minerals. Much of Nebraska's water has iron and manganese in it. These may cause red or black stains on fixtures. In extreme cases, these minerals may show themselves in the form of discolored laundry. Calcium is another common mineral in Nebraska's water.

Water containing hydrogen sulfide may smell like rotten eggs. Such water doesn't smell very nice but it's quite safe to drink.

These qualities are called "aesthetic" qualities. They may make the water you drink objectionable because of taste, color or odor, but they aren't harmful healthwise.

All water from natural sources will contain other substances. Many of them are not harmful, some are only harmful in high concentrations, while others can be harmful in very low concentrations.

Substances in water that can adversely affect health include bacteria, nitrates and many organic and inorganic chemicals, all of which are regulated in public water supply systems. For 83 of these substances, there are maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) or action levels, which indicate a level of the substance above which the water is considered unsafe to drink. If less than the MCL is present, the water is considered safe to drink.