| What's the most dangerous substance on earth? If | | | | cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, and other water-borne |
| you live in Asia, it could be that cold, refreshing glass of | | | | diseases. |
| water you're holding. | | | | Because of the problems associated with tap water, |
| The United Nations Commission on Sustainable | | | | most people buy bottled water for health and safety |
| Development said dirty water is responsible for five | | | | reasons. Unfortunately, that could take them from the |
| million deaths yearly. It added that contaminated water | | | | frying pan into the fire, especially if they buy bottled |
| accounts for about 80 to 90 percent of all diseases | | | | water from questionable refilling stations. |
| and more than one-third of deaths in developing | | | | Unlike bottled water manufacturers that are expected |
| countries. | | | | to pass rigid standards and follow good manufacturing |
| "Microbiological and chemical contaminants can enter | | | | practices set by the government, refilling stations in |
| water supplies. These can be the result of human | | | | Asia often do not comply with these standards and |
| activity or can be found in nature. For instance, | | | | some even operate without a license. Since they |
| chemicals can migrate from disposal sites and | | | | merely fill up empty bottles, how sure are you that the |
| contaminate sources of drinking water," according to | | | | water you get from them is safe? |
| the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). | | | | Another point to consider is their location. While the |
| "Animal wastes and pesticides may be carried to | | | | local sanitation code clearly states that refilling stations |
| lakes and streams by rainfall runoff. Human wastes | | | | should be meters away from sources of pollution, |
| may be discharged to receiving waters that ultimately | | | | flood, and other possible contaminants, some are |
| flow to water bodies used for drinking water. Coliform | | | | housed in old dirty buildings and in highly polluted areas. |
| bacteria from human and animal wastes may be | | | | This is a sad considering that clean water is important |
| found in drinking water if the water is not properly | | | | for our health and well-being. Aside from eliminating |
| treated or disinfected," the EPA added. | | | | toxins from the body, water prevents dehydration and |
| Compounding the problem is the presence of leaks | | | | makes you look and feel better. Without enough |
| and illegal connections that greatly affect our water | | | | water, our skin will suffer greatly since body cells need |
| supply. An Asian Development Bank (ADB) study | | | | water to function properly. |
| showed that about 35 percent or one-third of Asia's | | | | "If you don't replace the moisture you lose, your skin |
| urban water supply is lost or stolen because of busted | | | | can't be replenished and will get very dry. When skin |
| pipes and illegal connections. | | | | cells are dry, they crack, peel, and change colors. Dry |
| The ADB said that only 17 percent of public faucets | | | | skin can also be itchy and painful, as well as unsightly. |
| are metered and only 60 percent of household, | | | | Lotions and creams are just like putting a band-aid on |
| commercial and industrial meters are functioning | | | | a cut. It may help the problem in the short term, but the |
| properly. This makes consumers easy targets for | | | | real healing comes from within. |