Clean water is essential. All living things require plentiful supplies of clean water. Our bodies are mostly comprised of water and we must constantly replace the water normally lost through wastes and respiration. Water also lubricates and protects the body, promotes growth and reproduction, and helps guard against disease. Throughout history, civilizations have collapsed as their own water supplies were abused, wasted or contaminated.

All water is not clean. In its natural state, water dissolves elements, minerals and compounds from the air, soil and bedrock. Some are essential to life while others are harmful. Likewise, disease causing microorganisms may flourish in water. Ingestion of only a few cysts of Giardia, from a deceptively-clear mountain stream, may lead to serious illness and pain.

Water is easily contaminated. Without adequate precautions, water will become contaminated when exposed to the environment. Its chemistry permits the rapid mixing of organic chemicals, pesticides, gasoline and other toxins. Microbes thrive in water containing dissolved nutrients. Even treated drinking water can support the growth of pathogens that may be resistant to disinfectants.

Community water and sewage systems have many sites of possible contamination. There may be dozens, hundreds or thousands of contamination sites in the typical water use cycle. A thorough water testing program, performed on a regular basis, can detect, isolate and help eliminate contaminants. Testing can also confirm the benefits of water source protection, filtration, conservation and recycling in both the water supply and sewage system.

Water testing can detect contaminates. The science of water testing has been developing for two hundred years. Today, the modern laboratory can detect thousands of kinds of microbes, dissolved substances, toxic chemicals and radioactive contaminants...even if they are present in low concentration. Since the slightest presence of a substance may cause health problems, the ability to detect minute quantity is critical.

The public has a right to know and an obligation to act. Given the prevalence of life-threatening pollution in our air; water and soil, communities must find out what is in the water and share this information with residents, schools, businesses, etc. This is the preferred path to long-term water quality protection: concerted, effective action on the part of informed citizens and their public officials.

Water testing promotes prevention and cure. A proper testing program will give advance warning of water-borne contamination; this is especially important in communities where clean water has always been taken for granted. These once-clean sources become polluted from failing sewage systems, farm chemicals, industrial discharges, accidents and acid rain, to name a few. Likewise, water testing can narrow the field of possible culprits and point the direction for new community policies, laws and enforcement.

Clearly, it's up to everyone who is concerned about the health and well-being of themselves and their family to find out the quality of their water. Just as you inspect the ingredient lists of the food products you eat, you should find out what's in the water you use every day.

Water is vital to life -we depend on it for maintenance, replacement, fitness, performance, as well as basic cleansing. Without water we would die within a matter of days. It truly is the most essential nutrient.