QUALITY WATER

Because that face did not leave place to doubts, it went to the drift and it requested drink to the cars of other equipment that happened through their side exceeding it. From the car of the Gewiss equipment somebody tended a small bottle to him. Indurain. A tempered passion. (Javier Garcia Sanchez)

The dehydration takes place when a deficit of mineral salts in the human body is experienced due to an excessive loss of the same ones by a high degree of perspiration or to a minimum contribution in liquid water form.

The pure water, as his definition assures, is a transparent, odourless and an insipid liquid formed by two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen; its formula is H 2 O.

However the water that we drink is not this 'pure' water which we have defined since in addition to hydrogen and oxygen are presents other components like calcium, carbonates, bicarbonates, sodium, nitrates, chlorides, sulphates, magnesium etc..., however, the content of all these substances of mineral origin are presents in a very variable form in the different types from waters.

The distilled water, as its own name indicates, is obtained by techniques of distillation follow by a condensation of pure water and without mineralizing. It is not apt for the human consumption due to this total deficiency of mineralized substances what suppose a contribution for the human body. It means, the distilled water does not prevent the dehydration, since water without or with a few mineral content to long term can give rise to osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiac problems and dental losses.

It is necessary therefore to establish quality criteria when we want to treat or consume water. That's why we always have to demand some minimums parameters of mineralization, as well as to watch that other parameters that could be dangerous are not surpassed. These 'dangerous' parameters can be biological or physical-chemistry type, like ammonia or nitrates and heavy metals like lead, which in many cases of old networks of distribution can cause dangerous diseases like saturnismo. Also, certain originating substances of no natural antropic activities must be watched, like volatile pesticides, nitrites, organic compounds, etc.

Because of that it is very important to take an exhaustive control of the consumption water.

If we decide to treat water with other alternative techniques we must have certain precautions with the chosen method, since in certain cases we will be able to get water with non-adapted quality parameters; that can be the case of a homemade distillation or the famous domestic equipment of reverse osmosis . Although they are an effective system for treatment water for domestic use, the water obtained has much elevated purity and practically it is not mineralized, so it is necessary the contribution of concentrated saline compounds which are available in the market.

One of the multiple aspects in order to value the quality of a determined type of water is its hardness. This property is determined by the calcium content in the water. An excess of hardness can cause problems of calcareous depositions in pipes and facilities, diminish the effectiveness of soap washing and detergents and grant to the water a flavour too much hard.

It is certain that an excess of hardness is not a good symptom if we are looking for a quality water, but we shouldn't make the mistake of showing preference for an excessively soft water or a water treated by distillation or reverse osmosis without a later adjustment. In this case the water will have a very low calcium content, which is a mineral of vital importance for the human being and water is one of the most important routes of contribution of this element. Long periods of excessively soft water consumption can even suppose serious problems of decalcification of bones and losses of dental enamel or complete pieces.

Like for consumption, it would be a mistake to use water totally decalcified for other industrial or domestic uses. Water with very low calcium content is corrosive, it produces the oxidation of all those metallic elements with which it is in contact and it produces serious problems of corrosion in boilers and pipes. On the other hand, it is certain acid water that tends to absorb all type of heavy metals (pipes or metal container) where we store the water. We must remember that high heavy metal content in consumption water can produce serious problems of health.

It must therefore be chosen or adapted the water to a balance situation for which the water will be neither corrosive nor incrustante. There are a series of indicators to determine with exactitude the degree of proximity to this balance that certain water has. Consult with professionals like Hidritec, Technology and management of hydro resources to determine the quality of its water and the most suitable treatment.