World Water Day (March 22): Clean Water, the Foundation of Healthy Living

World Water Day (March 22) reminds us that water is not only a resource that “quenches thirst”; it is a critical health factor for sustaining life, supporting immunity, and protecting against infections. In daily life, we often treat water as an invisible safety net. Yet if water is not clean, invisible risks can quickly turn into visible health problems.

In this article, we will discuss the diseases that can be transmitted through unsafe water, who is at higher risk, practical precautions that can be taken at home, and which symptoms require medical evaluation. As part of this reminder, Happ Health’s “digital health platform” approach—aiming to make access to care easier through solutions such as online doctor services and at-home healthcare services when needed—also plays an important role.

Why Is Clean Water a Public Health Issue?

Clean water sits at the center of daily routines such as drinking, preparing food, brushing teeth, bathing, preparing infant formula, and cleaning wounds. When water safety is compromised, the risk is not limited to “getting diarrhea.” Certain microorganisms can lead to a wide range of conditions—from intestinal infections to liver infections, skin problems, and parasitic diseases.

Infrastructure problems, network malfunctions, disasters such as earthquakes/floods, improper storage conditions, and consuming water from unreliable sources all increase the risk. The clearest health-related message of World Water Day is this: Water safety is a fundamental barrier in preventing infections.

Diseases That Can Be Transmitted Through Unsafe Water

Contaminated water can transmit microorganisms directly through drinking, but also indirectly through food preparation, handwashing, surface cleaning, and bathing. The following illnesses become more common when water is not safe.

Acute Gastroenteritis (Diarrhea–Vomiting)

The most common condition transmitted through contaminated water is gastrointestinal infection. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue. In some cases, blood or mucus may be present in the stool, which increases the likelihood of a more serious infection.

Fluid loss (dehydration) can develop quickly, especially in children and older adults. Postponing diarrhea assuming it will “pass” can result in serious fatigue and low blood pressure within a few days. That’s why the severity and duration of symptoms matter.

Cholera and Similar Severe Watery Diarrhea Conditions

Some bacteria can cause extremely intense watery diarrhea, leading to severe fluid loss in a short time. Such conditions become more critical after disasters, in crowded living spaces, and when infrastructure has been damaged. Here, the main risk is not the microbe itself but rapid fluid and electrolyte loss.

If diarrhea is very frequent and very watery, and is accompanied by fatigue severe enough to make it hard to stand, medical evaluation is needed rather than waiting at home. In babies, signs such as “reduced urination, sunken eyes, dry mouth, and drowsiness” should be taken seriously.

Hepatitis A (Jaundice) and Liver Infections

Hepatitis A is an infection that can be transmitted through contaminated water and food and affects the liver. Early symptoms may include loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, fever, and marked fatigue. Later, signs such as yellowing of the eyes and skin and darkening of urine may appear.

While Hepatitis A can be mild in some people, in others it may cause prolonged fatigue and reduced ability to work. For this reason, hygiene, consuming reliable water, and acting consciously in higher-risk areas are important preventive measures.

Parasitic Infections

Parasites (e.g., certain intestinal parasites) can be transmitted through contaminated water and may progress more “silently.” Prolonged diarrhea, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, and sometimes signs of iron deficiency can occur. Some parasites can indirectly affect growth and development in children.

If diarrhea persists for a long time, it is more appropriate to seek evaluation rather than thinking of it as “a simple stomach bug.” When needed, stool tests can support differential diagnosis and help shape a treatment plan.

Skin and Eye Infections

Bathing with unclean water or exposure to contaminated pool/sea water can contribute to skin rashes, itching, folliculitis-like conditions, and certain eye infections. Not every redness is an “allergy”; if there is itching, discharge, pain, or spreading, infection should be considered.

When the skin barrier is compromised (such as eczema, wounds, or cracks around the nails), risk increases. Therefore, water hygiene plays a protective role not only for drinking water but also for skin health.

Who Is at Higher Risk?

Water-related illnesses can affect anyone, but the risk of complications is higher in certain groups. Babies and young children can become dehydrated very quickly. Older adults, people with chronic conditions, and immunocompromised individuals may also experience more severe infections.

During pregnancy, dehydration and infectious conditions must be managed more carefully. Travelers, campers, or those who consume water from off-grid sources can also be considered at higher risk. For these groups, the key strategy is to maintain the right balance between “prevention + early evaluation.”

Practical Steps for Safe Water at Home

The goal here is not to create a perfect laboratory environment, but to reduce risk meaningfully in everyday life. The rule is simple: If you do not trust the water source, adopt an approach that increases safety through filtration/appropriate storage/heat.

Boiling and Preparing Safe Water

Boiling is a practical safety step against many microorganisms. Boiling water and consuming it after it cools appropriately can be a temporary but effective method, especially during suspicious periods (infrastructure failures, after outages, disaster conditions). It is important to store boiled water in clean containers and keep the lid closed.

The safety of the water used to prepare infant formula is particularly critical. In suspicious water conditions, rather than assuming “boiling once is enough,” it is best to consider reliable sourcing and all hygiene steps together.

Storage and Bottle Hygiene

Even if the water itself is clean, improper storage can contaminate it. If regular cleaning of water dispenser attachments, faucet heads, and bottles is neglected, issues such as biofilm formation may occur. That’s why the cleanliness of the container you put water in matters as much as the water itself.

Using the same bottle “with the same mouthpiece all day,” especially in hot weather, can increase microbial growth. Regularly washing personal bottles and avoiding leaving them in direct sunlight are simple but effective habits.

Hand Hygiene and Kitchen Safety

The strongest complement to water hygiene is hand hygiene. Proper handwashing after using the toilet, before preparing food, and after contact with raw foods helps reduce the “person-to-person” spread of many agents carried by water. Washing fruits and vegetables and cleaning kitchen surfaces are also critical links in the chain of transmission.

In suspicious water conditions, foods consumed raw (such as salads) should be prepared with extra care. Because the risk is not only in drinking water, but also in carrying microorganisms into the kitchen via water on food surfaces.

When Should We See a Doctor?

Diarrhea and vomiting often improve within a few days, but certain signals indicate the need for evaluation. The goal is not unnecessary panic, but recognizing high-risk situations early. Seeking medical advice is appropriate if any of the following occur:

• Diarrhea/vomiting lasting longer than 24–48 hours and causing marked fatigue

• Blood in the stool, black stool, or heavy mucus

• High fever, severe abdominal pain, confusion

• Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, very little urination, dizziness, or feeling faint

• In babies: refusing to feed, persistent sleepiness, sunken eyes

• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes/skin), dark urine, extreme fatigue

Happ Health’s approach to making healthcare accessible online and at home helps people get to the right specialty when needed. If necessary, symptoms can be assessed and a follow-up plan can be created through an online doctor consultation; and if needed, guidance can be provided for appropriate testing pathways.

7 Simple Health Habits for World Water Day

Rather than seeing World Water Day as only a day that “reminds you to drink water,” you can treat it as a starting point for small steps that improve water safety. A few everyday habits can make a big difference.

1. Do not drink from a source you don’t trust; boil it if necessary.

2. Clean water storage containers and bottles regularly.

3. After an outage, avoid using the first water that runs; consider using water after a short flush.

4. Wash fruits and vegetables with safe water; if in doubt, reduce raw consumption.

5. Make handwashing timely and proper.

6. Recognize signs of fluid loss early in children with diarrhea/vomiting.

7. Do not delay medical evaluation if symptoms persist or worsen.

A Practical Health Plan with Happ Health

When a waterborne infection is suspected, the right step is often not “searching for a medication,” but assessing symptoms correctly. With its digital health platform approach, Happ Health aims to make access to outpatient care easier—so users can receive support online, or at home when needed.

When symptoms begin, you can seek evaluation through an online doctor consultation. If there are high-risk findings, timely guidance can reduce unnecessary delays. This content approach also aims to naturally guide users to the appropriate healthcare service while informing them.