Which statement correctly describes potable water?

Which statement correctly describes potable water?

• A. The molecular formula for water is HO2.
• B. Potable water means the water is free of disease-causing organisms, has a chlorine residual, and is safe for human consumption.
• C. Surface water comes from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
• D. The state must be notified about changes to public water systems involving water source, water quality, and health hazards.

Answer: (B)

Potable water is water that is safe to drink, meaning it is free from disease-causing organisms and other health hazards, and it maintains a disinfectant presence to protect against contamination as it moves through the system. The statement that potable water means the water is free of disease-causing organisms, has a chlorine residual, and is safe for human consumption fits this definition by describing both safety and ongoing disinfection. The other statements miss the definition: HO2 is not the formula for water (it’s H2O); surface water describes sources like rivers or lakes rather than safety; and while regulatory notifications are important, they don’t define what potable water is.

Potable water is water that is safe to drink, meaning it is free from disease-causing organisms and other health hazards, and it maintains a disinfectant presence to protect against contamination as it moves through the system. The statement that potable water means the water is free of disease-causing organisms, has a chlorine residual, and is safe for human consumption fits this definition by describing both safety and ongoing disinfection. The other statements miss the definition: HO2 is not the formula for water (it’s H2O); surface water describes sources like rivers or lakes rather than safety; and while regulatory notifications are important, they don’t define what potable water is.