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Making Drinking
Water Safe
W
hat happens if you are outside playing at recess and you get
thirsty? You walk over to a drinking fountain for a drink. And
if your dad needs to boil some water to make dinner, he goes
to the sink and turns on the faucet.
In the United States, we don’t usually think about how easy it is
to get water that’s safe to drink. We just turn on the faucet, and out
comes clean water. Our water is treated and tested for safety before
it gets to us.
What about other countries? Many people don’t have running
water in their homes and schools. They go to lakes and rivers to get
water. Sometimes the water contains bacteria. Most bacteria don’t
hurt people, but some can make people sick. Boiling kills bad bacteria,
but not everyone can boil their water whenever they need to. Many
engineers around the world are seeking solutions to problems related
to clean water.
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