Concrete steps should be taken to protect and increase drinking water resources

Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Engineering, Environmental Engineering Program Coordinator Prof. Dr. Rana Kıdak, speaking as part of the 22nd March, World Water Day, Rana Kıdak stated, "World Water Day is a day that has been created to draw attention to the continuously growing problem of clean water, of members of the UN and other countries, in an effort to encourage them to take concrete steps to protect and increase drinkable water resources".

Drawing attention to the fact that a life without water is not possible, Kıdak went on to state, "As well as the importance of having a continuous and safe supply of drinking and utility water, the protection of water resources has also gained great importance today".

Stating that all the water on the earth is connected to one another and thus, due to interactions within the ecosystem, pollution in one region can be carried to another region, Prof. Dr. Kıdak advised that once it has been used, it is important to remove wastewater in the environment in a way that it won’t pollute drinking and utility water, and to be treated using the most appropriate technologies and returned to the water cycle.

Kıdak: "Deterioration in the quality of drinking and utility water causes various diseases"

Pointing out that deterioration in the quality of drinking and utility water causes various diseases, Kıdak went on to elaborate, “For this reason, drinking water must not contain micro-organisms that create diseases; must be sufficiently soft; must not contain elements such as hydrogen sulfide, iron and manganese; must be absent of substances such as phenols and oils, which give bad odor and taste to the water; and it must be odorless, colorless, clear and pleasant to drink”.

Underlining the importance of harmful chemical substances being absent from water, Prof. Dr. Kıdak noted that the presence of such substances above the value limits ​​has negative effects upon the health.

Recalling that utility water is utilized by people for their daily activities and meeting their needs, such as washing and cleaning, Kıdak noted that these waters should not contain any microorganisms that create diseases, should not contain chemical substances such as chloride, sulphate, zinc, nitrite and lead above the specified amounts, while the pH, color, and haziness, should have the desired properties.