ABSTRACT
This chapter describes briefly the health problems related to the chemical, as opposed to the microbiological, composition of water. The chemistry of water can lead to disease either if there is an absence of a necessary constituent or, more commonly, if there is an excess of a harmful chemical. Water chemistry and disease may be considered in to three types: the absence of necessary chemicals, the excess of harmful organics and the excess of harmful inorganics. Most countries, and certainly all low and middle income countries, may safely take the view that the presence of trihalomethanes and most other organic pollutants in drinking waters is of negligible public health importance. Toxic, irritant abrasive and corrosive chemicals can produce serious health problems, affecting a substantial part of the population when the pollutant is released into the environment in large quantities.
