potable water

What is potable water?

• Rainwater collected directly

• Seawater that has been desalinated

• Water that is safe to drink

• Water that contains only H2O molecules

Which of the following is NOT a criterion for water to be considered potable?

• It must have low levels of dissolved substances

• It must have a pH between 6.5 and 8.5

• It must contain only H2O molecules

• It must not contain harmful microorganisms

What is the primary source of fresh water in the UK?

• Desalinated seawater

• Rivers imported from other countries

• Imported bottled water

• Rain

What is the first step in treating fresh water to make it potable?

• Adding chlorine gas

• Boiling it

• Exposing it to ultraviolet light

• Passing it through a wire mesh

Which of the following is NOT a method used to sterilize water?

• Exposing it to ozone

• Bubbling chlorine gas through it

• Passing it through a sand and gravel bed

• Exposing it to ultraviolet light

What is the main challenge with desalination techniques?

• They don't remove all the salt

• They produce too much water

• They are too quick

• They require a lot of energy

What does reverse osmosis involve?

• Adding chemicals to water to purify it

• Passing water through a membrane to remove ions

• Boiling water to remove impurities

• Freezing water to separate clean water from contaminants

Why might groundwater be relied upon in warmer parts of the UK?

• It is easier to access

• It contains more minerals

• Surface water sources may dry up

• It is less expensive to process

What is the pH range for potable water?

• 0 to 7

• 6.5 to 8.5

• 5 to 9

• 7 to 14

Which of the following is a benefit of using surface water as a source?

• It is always pure and doesn't require treatment

• It is warmer and thus better for consumption

• It never dries up

• It gets replaced frequently by rain