Drinking water purity – a UK perspective

Water purity is a vague term often interpreted in a subjective manner. When applied to drinking water quality, the emphasis of “pure” can mean free from all types of bacteria and viruses when defined by the EPA in the United States, or being wholesome as defined by drinking water legislation in the UK. These legal definitions have significant economic, practical and potential health implications that are of concern to the Water Science Forum (WSF) of the Royal Society of Chemistry. This brief outlines a UK-based perspective on the meaning of water purity based on relevant literature and consultation with our members