To a large extent,
consumers have no
means of judging the
safety of their drinking-water themselves, but their attitude towards their drinkingwater
supply and their drinking-water suppliers will be affected to a considerable extent
by the aspects of water
quality that they are able to perceive
with their own senses. It
is natural for consumers to regard
with suspicion water that
appears dirty or discoloured or
that has an unpleasant taste or
smell, even though these characteristics may not in themselves be of direct consequence
to health.