raw water
Straight from nature
Raw water is untreated water from natural sources—springs, rivers, or wells—consumed without filtration, chlorination, or other purification.
The term gained currency around 2018 when some health enthusiasts began marketing it as more natural than municipal tap water.
Critics note that raw water may contain harmful bacteria, parasites, and contaminants that modern water treatment exists to remove.
Recoiling metal spiral
- streamSteady continuous flow
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
watershed · precipitation · rainfall · freshwater · catchment · riparian · mineral content · enzymes
Particles settling in liquid
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- parasitesOrganisms feeding off hosts
- contaminantsUnwelcome substances in something pure
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
microbes · turbidity · biofilm · algae · heavy metals · pollutants · agricultural runoff · animal waste
Community-level disease prevention
- waterborne illnessSickness transmitted through water
- E. coliIntestinal rod-shaped bacterium
- giardiaWaterborne intestinal parasite
- cryptosporidiumIntestinal parasitic microorganism
outbreak · disease · health risks · pseudoscience · debate · legislation · advocacy · wellness trend
spring
Recoiling metal spiral
- streamSteady continuous flow
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
groundwater · watershed · precipitation · rainfall · freshwater · catchment · riparian · mineral content · enzymes · probiotics
sediment
Particles settling in liquid
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- parasitesOrganisms feeding off hosts
- contaminantsUnwelcome substances in something pure
pathogens · microbes · turbidity · biofilm · algae · heavy metals · pollutants · agricultural runoff · animal waste · nitrates
public health
Community-level disease prevention
- waterborne illnessSickness transmitted through water
- E. coliIntestinal rod-shaped bacterium
- giardiaWaterborne intestinal parasite
cryptosporidium · outbreak · disease · health risks · pseudoscience · debate · legislation · advocacy · wellness trend · misinformation
- waterocean, river, sea, lake, wave
- non-potable watersewage, wastewater, greywater
- pseudosciencehomeopathy, astrology, phrenology, numerology, palmistry
- quackerysnake oil, cure-all, miracle cure, panacea, patent medicine
- Water Treatmentfiltration, filtration system, chlorination, purification, disinfection
raw waterpurified water
Water with contaminants removed
chlorinated water · distilled water · tap water · municipal water · city water
raw, water, rawer, rawest, rawness, rawly, waters, watery, wateriness