Water is the intrinsic part of the global ecosystem. It incorporates in the global water cycle and is the source of life. In healthy form and adequate availability it supports the life forms and if mismanaged or polluted it can be the cause of disasters. The quality of water directly affects our life. Good water quality sustains healthy ecosystems and hence leads to improved human well-being. However, poor water quality also negatively affects the environment and human well-being. The quality of water is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pollution; many of the water pollutants constitute high risk to human health.
It is far cheaper to protect water resources then to spend on measures for its clean up after pollution. Protection and maintenance of the quality of aquatic environments ensures the sustainability of their ecosystem services like potable water, nutrient flows, biodiversity, fisheries, recreation etc. The water theme of Eco Eureka Kit also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Common characteristics of water that greatly affect human beings and ecosystem health and require our attention have been focused under this theme. These are
pH of Water,
Hardness of Water,
Residual Chlorine in Water,
Transparency of Water,
Bacterial Contamination (E. coli) in Water