What qualifies as potable water?

Potable water is defined as water that is safe for human consumption and meets specific drinking water standards. The correct answer identifies that potable water conforms to the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which include limits on contaminants and pathogens to ensure safety for drinking and cooking.

Standards established by the EPA involve rigorous testing for various substances that can affect health, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and chemical pollutants. When water meets these criteria, it is deemed safe for public use, and this is essential for protecting public health.

Other descriptions such as industrial use, untreated water from natural sources, or water with high mineral content do not qualify as potable. Industrial water may have entirely different requirements and treatments, untreated water can carry harmful bacteria and pathogens, and while high mineral content does not necessarily make water unsafe, the mineral levels must still fall within acceptable limits to be considered potable.