Asked by gigi

Identify what constitutes the defining characteristic of potable water.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Potable water is water that is safe for human consumption — i.e., it does not pose a health risk when drunk.

In practice that means it is free of disease‑causing microorganisms and contains chemical, radiological and physical constituents only at levels below regulatory health limits (for example bacteria like E. coli absent, contaminants such as lead or nitrates below set thresholds, acceptable turbidity, taste and odor). Compliance with national or WHO drinking‑water standards is the usual test of potability.