Today’s question: Is potable water the same as safe water?

Plain Talk answer: When it is safe to drink, water is called potable, which rhymes with "floatable." Water is considered safe to drink if it meets or exceeds all of the federal, state, and provincial standards that are legally enforceable. In the United States, if your tap water does not meet any one of the standards, your water supplier must notify all its customers of the problem.

For more information on this and many other water-related topics, check out Plain Talk About Drinking Water by Dr. James M. Symons.