What Is “Healthy Water”?
Healthy water is a broad concept in water science: simply put, it is drinking water that benefits human health. The ideal healthy water should originate from naturally pristine underground rock-fissure water, undergo only minimal necessary processing, and retain the water’s mineral elements and natural bioactivity. Healthy water not only sustains life but also enhances the quality of life.
WHO Healthy Water Standards
The World Health Organization (WHO), based on studies of the world’s five longevity villages, has proposed six universal standards for healthy water:
- Free from any substances that are toxic, harmful, or have objectionable odors to the human body;
- Rich in a variety of minerals and trace elements essential for human health;
- Moderate hardness;
- Adequate dissolved oxygen;
- Small molecular clusters;
- Neutral pH.
Clean Water, Safe Water, and Healthy Water
Professor Li Fuxing, director of the Healthy Drinking Water Committee of the China International Exchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare, believes that the difference between healthy water and clean/safe water comes down to three key points: First, no pollution—water must be non-toxic, harmless, and odor-free. Second, meeting human physiological needs—containing beneficial natural minerals with neutral or mildly alkaline pH. Third, bioactivity. Water meeting only the first criterion is clean water (such as purified or distilled water); mineral-added water only artificially supplements minerals on a purified base while becoming more acidic; only water meeting all three criteria qualifies as healthy water.
Is Tap Water Healthy?
Currently, 90% of China’s water treatment plants can only address physical and microbial contamination, unable to effectively remove chemical pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and various organic and inorganic compounds. Additionally, tap water faces significant risks of secondary contamination from distribution pipelines. Tap water can be considered “safe water” but is not ideal for long-term drinking—it should primarily be used for washing purposes. For drinking, it requires proper treatment.
WHO surveys indicate that 80% of global diseases are related to water pollution. In the 21st century—a century of health—we must all take the initiative to deepen our understanding of healthy hydration.