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Water, an essential for life on earth, is the most widely distributed nongaseous substance in nature. Because of water’s importance, the pattern of human settlement throughout history has often been determined by its availability. Fertile river valleys with abundant water supplies were the centers for beginning civilizations. With growth, demand for water has increased dramatically and its uses have become much more varied. Per capita use in the U.S. is nearly 200 gallons per day. This includes water used in agriculture, industry, recreation, and non-ingested personal consumption. Frequently, each of these uses required a different level of quality in order for the water to be considered adequate. Good quality drinking water may be consumed i