Is the Raw Water Movement Safe?

We all know that drinking good ol’ H2O is one of the best choices you can make to keep your body healthy. That’s not up for debate.

But what’s coming into question more and more these days is how to make sure the water you’re drinking is safe. Because drinking contaminated water can cause an ocean of troubles.

Some people have become increasingly wary of the tap water in their homes. It’s a concern that’s been exacerbated by news stories about unsafe levels of lead and other contaminants in tap water in a small number of communities.

So, rather than rely on the water that’s piped into their homes, some people are turning to a more off-the-grid solution. One with the potential for dangerous consequences.

It’s becoming a trend to drink untreated spring water, natural water or “raw” water — that’s to say, water in its most natural state. Unfiltered. Unaltered. Just water straight from the ground. Or the spring, lake, creek or wherever you source it.

And that’s cause for concern, says registered dietitian Gillian Culbertson, RD, LD.

What are the dangers of drinking untreated spring water and other sources of raw water? Let’s take a deep dive.

Understanding spring water and raw water

The “raw water movement” is all about getting your H2O from sources that don’t rely on public infrastructure. That’s to say, not drinking water that travels through the pipes that come into your home.

That can mean different things to different people. Some raw water enthusiasts recommend setting up troughs to catch rainwater. Or getting specialized equipment to leach water out of the atmosphere. Or filling jugs of water from naturally occurring springs, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers and other bodies of water.

Proponents of raw water will tell you that the water tastes better. That it has all the good minerals and probiotics that get filtered out when water is tested and treated. That it’s natural — and, therefore, better for you.

But here’s the trouble with that logic: Lots of things aren’t good for you in their most natural state. Chicken is a good source of lean protein, but it needs to be cooked

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Relevant to the Article

1. Sustainable Development Goal: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

2. Sustainable Development Goal: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

3. Sustainable Development Goal: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
• Indicator 12.4.2: Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment.

4. Sustainable Development Goal: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
• Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.

5. Sustainable Development Goal: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

Analysis and Explanation

1. The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:
– Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
– Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6)
– Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
– Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9)
– Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

2. Specific targets under these SDGs based on the article’s content are:
– Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
– Target 12.4: Achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes.
– Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
– Target 17.17: Encourage effective public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. The following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
– Indicator 12.4.2: Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment.
– Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.
– Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

4. Table presenting the findings:

| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|——|———|————|
| Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) | Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. | Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services. |
| Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) | Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. | Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services. |
| Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) | Target 12.4: Achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes. | Indicator 12.4.2: Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment. |
| Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9) | Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable. | Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added. |
| Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) | Target 17.17: Encourage effective public-private and civil society partnerships. | Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships. |

Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.

Fuente: health.clevelandclinic.org

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