Introduction

The development of safe drinking water supplies is a major concern today, which might seem strange to those who might literally be surrounded by various bodies of water. Drinking water practitioners—those responsible for finding a source of drinking water, certifying its safety, and providing it to the consumer—know that two key concerns drive the development of safe drinking water supplies: quantity and quality. Waterways were important primarily because of the ease of transportation they afforded and because of their industrial value (e.g., water power), in addition to serving as a source of food for the settlers. And, of course, such waterways provided a natural, relatively clean, relatively safe source of drinking water. This chapter evaluates and emphasizes drinking water quality control, from the source to the treatment plant, from the distribution system to the consumer. It addresses the challenges faced by drinking water practitioners striving to provide the best drinking water quality to the consumer.