ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the importance of the quality of water for life and discusses the main sources of water pollution. It explores the main control measures that are available to reduce contamination of water sources. Groundwater is usually fairly pure as a result of the percolation which filters out contaminants or removes them by chemical processes. Surface water has to be treated to make it safe to drink by chemical treatment and filtration to remove impurities followed by disinfection to kill harmful bacteria. Legionella are a type of bacterium present naturally in water. In most cases they do not present a health risk but if inhaled in water vapour or mist they can cause a disease known as Legionnaires’ disease or Legionellosis which is a form of pneumonia. Many industrial and agricultural sites use water for cooling, washing materials, product or produce, or as part of their process operations.
