SOME MYTHS, FACTS AND FACTS

. Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water.

Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H₂O. Its molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected bycovalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state (water vaporor steam). Water also exists in a liquid crystal state near hydrophilic surfaces.

Water covers 70.9% of the Earth's surface, and is vital for all known forms of life.A very small amount of the Earth's water is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products.

Water on Earth moves continually through a cycle of evaporation or transpiration (evapotranspiration), precipitation, and runoff, usually reaching the sea. Evaporation and transpiration contribute to the precipitation over land.

Clean drinking water is essential to humans and other lifeforms. Access to safe drinking water has improved steadily and substantially over the last decades in almost every part of the world. There is a clear correlation between access to safe water and GDP per capita.is actively handled by humans, is consumed byagriculture.

Water Droplet

The truth behind the curtain- Of water , water purifiers and chlorine

The mercury levels have risen much beyond my expectations. The afternoon was hot, sultry, uncomfortable and unbearable. The birds too were reluctant to fly out in the air and were resting quietly in their nests. The natural pool that would otherwise witness vibrant activity of fishes performing stunts was now calm and quiet. Children who would normally have to be forced to stay indoors were now finding relief with the AC put to work and the computer receiving signals from the gaming hands. I at last found something that could cool me down- the community swimming pool.

 I without any hesitation dived into the pool. My happiness was no less than the joy of a rishi when the god is pleased by his penance. 

I enjoyed myself in the pool for a few minutes after which I could feel a sensation of itching that I could no more bear. In seconds, I came out of the pool but the itching persisted. I thought that there was something wrong with the water. Moreover my skin is highly allergitic to chemicals. May be, the chemicals were used in much excess than what was required. I felt the hot blazing sun to be much better.

I got into my car to reach home. My throat had dried completely. As soon as I reached home, I dashed towards the newly bought water purifier and quenched my thirst. The purified water was crystal clear and the water tasted good too.

My attention was drawn towards the bright shining sticker on the purifier that promised a handsome reward of Rs 3.1919187 crores if one could prove that the water purifier was unsafe. I wondered what was the need to place a decimal and append the six letter word ‘crores’ at the end. Was it because one would not have the time to count the number of digits to find out if the promised money was nearly three crores or three lakhs? There was no use in thinking over that for I am not that lucky to claim the money.

I switched on the air conditioner and lay down on the bed. I pulled the blanket over me and was thinking of what I would be dreaming of if I went into a deep sleep at that moment. Suddenly I was woken up with a terrible pain in my stomach. I felt as if my internal organs had declared a war against me and have decided to end me.

I called the doctor. He tested me and declared that something must have gone wrong with what I have eaten or drunk. He prescribed some medicines on a plain sheet of plain in a writing that none except the boy at the medical shop could understand. 

I am a kind of person who would like to investigate all unnecessary things. Why did the stomach ache attack me all of a sudden? What did I eat or drink since morning? Bread and jam- but that is what I consume daily. What was new? Yes, the water from the brand new purifier. But could it be the reason? If so, why would they offer a reward of more than three crores for everyone who would visit them with a stomach ache or similar ailments?

I even remember gobbling a glass of water accidentally from the pool. That was my first visit to a pool and such accidents are normal.

I connected to the World Wide Web and started my research. Amazing facts did present themselves before me. The water purifier was unsafe and so was the water in the swimming pool. It seemed as though I drank a bucket of water to which a very strong disinfectant was added to kill the germs and the label purified water was put on the bucket. The chemicals added cause much more ailments than the germs themselves. And here is a brief summary of the interesting facts that I found out.

Not all chemicals can be used to purify water. Many of them are harmful and fatal. For the first time in 1991 the Standard setting body in India, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) made available the water standards IS 10500-1991. However India does not have any existing Standards for Storage Water Purifiers or other water purifiers. In such circumstances one should rely on the regulatory authorities like the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and others. These regulating authorities certify whether a particular chemical is suitable for use in Drinking Water use or not. Using chemicals that are not suggested for purification of water amounts to crime. While many certifications are necessary for the electronic goods and other household appliances, nothing as such exist for water purifiers, including the BIS certificate. There is no way by which consumers can know how safe a water purifier is.

Chlorine is one such chemical that should be used with care. A dosage of 10-20ppm is dangerous and possesses many risks. High chlorine levels show both short term and long term effects. Chest pain, vomiting, coughing, difficulty breathing,, nose, eyes, throat, stomach irritation and nausea are some observable effects. The fact that chlorine is a carcinogenic is debated. However, the EPA does not classify chlorine as a carcinogenic. 

Removing all the clutter from my brain was too difficult for me. However I managed to sleep and my mind enter the sub conscious state from the conscious state. 

There was a knock at my door and I was presented with a cash reward of 3.1919187 crores promised by that reputable company that claims to purify every single drop of water and make it safe for drinking. Such a huge amount! What shall I do with it? No idea.

Even before I could digest that happiness, there were few more knocks at the door and money came pouring in- 1 crore, 1.97 crores, 98.75 lakhs, 5 crores and so on…… at the end my house was filled with money and there was no place for me to move. I thought that the first thing to be done is to buy a new house.

I was just about to call a dealer to buy a new house when there was another knock at my door. Oh no! Where am I to keep the money that would come now? I might have to myself move out of the house if I am to accept that money.

I moved towards the door and opened it. Much to my surprise; hospital beds, wheel chairs, cardiograms, a team of doctors, nurses, ward boys and everyone and everything else rushed in. ‘We have been informed that you are going to be attacked by a number of diseases and we are here to rescue you’ said the head doctor. 

How is it in the world that they know in advance about my health condition? May be god sends warnings when millionaires are in a critical stage. The doctors started their work. I looked like a robot fitted with external hard drives, processors and all other equipments to make it more efficient.

The money that had earlier filled my house diminishing and later on my valuables and even my house too vanished. I was left in rags with a huge plate in hand- may be the one that I should use for begging. 

No………… and I was awakened by my own shriek. Thank god! It was a dream. The first thing that I have done was to dump the water purifier in the garbage which was followed by an oath that I shall never again see the face of a swimming pool. And today I live happily even after the intake of lakhs of germs present in the not so highly purified water!