Thats what united utilities say to us when their fixing pipes - whta makes it so diferent? jus boil your dirty water guys.
2006-11-28 02:21:54 · 10 answers · asked by Dave - H - 2 in Environment
All the above answers are good, but I must point out that boiling does not clean the water; it merely kills bacteria in the water. It does not remove the dead bacteria or remove pollutants like mercury or DDT or anything else.
2006-11-28 02:45:28 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Problem is how do you boil the water? One of the third world's problems is fuel. There isn't mains electricity let alone kettles. Further more boiling the water will reduce the amount available as it will evaporate as steam. If you've walked miles from the well to your home carrying water the last thing you want is to lose some of it through boiling.
Open fires are problematic due to shortages of fuelwood and cutting down the trees affects the local ecology adversely.
Filtration through reed beds or other filters is another option
Check out Oxfam and similar websites for more information
2006-11-28 10:35:01 · answer #2 · answered by Selphie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our water has been purified before it is piped to us. Boiling water after pipe repairs is just a precautionary measure. To purify their water the 3rd world countries would need elaborate filters, chemicals they can't afford and fuel to heat the water!
If it was simply a case of boiling the water charity workers would be showing them how they could achieve it!!!
We take all this for granted and even moan about additives in our water, but at least it is Safe.
2006-11-28 10:44:39 · answer #3 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The problem is that due to large scale deforestation in alot of these areas fuel is scarce. And because they have cut the trees down they can't grow anything as there are no nurients for the soil, because of that you'll get nothing growing there will be a lower transpiration rate meaning less rainfall, and therefore even less chance of anything growing, meaning no wood, no water and no food. All a very sad spiral of decline .
2006-11-29 09:43:21 · answer #4 · answered by jo jo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boiling water implies that you have a fire, fuel for it and a pot or other container to heat water in.
In many 3rd world countries, the population lacks any one of these three items or more.
Goes to show what simple things all of us in the 'civilized' world take for granted as easily as breathing.
2006-11-28 10:31:00 · answer #5 · answered by drumrb0y 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fuel is scarce, and do you know how difficult it is to boil water over what is essentially a campfire? -Especially- when that scarce fuel is used for cooking what little food they have to eat.
2006-11-28 10:30:46 · answer #6 · answered by daisyprincess78 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They do boil waters. But if there's a clean spring, they use it.
2006-11-28 10:33:31 · answer #7 · answered by E A C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably the most expensive way.
2006-11-28 10:28:51 · answer #8 · answered by Shuvarek 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fuel is scarce.
2006-11-28 10:29:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course they do !,
but everyday .......... c'mon - one might just get fed up.
2006-11-28 10:32:55 · answer #10 · answered by medicine man 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋