The following components, science, economics and politics, are critical to understand when dealing with water management. The most important purpose of these regulations is to protect consumers of the water from becoming ill because of something in the water. BOD determines the amount of decaying organic material in the water. This hardness leads to rust colored deposits in pipes and water. Other measurements include the level of treatment, chlorates, microbial parameters and total coliform bacteria and E. coli.
Humans can only consume a certain type of water and remain healthy.
Although the majority of the water on this planet is salt water if a human attempted to survive on salt water he or she would die. Science has produced methods to treat water in order to make it drinkable for people. We have the power to observe microscopic particulate matter in water and there are ways to remove pollutants from the water. Through science it is possible to discover, observe, treat, purify and transport water. Economically it is very costly to distribute water to people.