Difference between sea water (bottled water) and tap water

Posted by John Smith on July 21st, 2017

Sea water and sometimes also known as Saltwater is very different from tap water. Sea water is water that contains a specific measure of salts. This implies its conductivity is higher and tastes considerably saltier. It is not suited to be utilized as drinking water, since salt channels water from human bodies. At the point when people drink salt water, they have a lack of hydration. On the off chance that we need to drink seawater, it should be desalinated first. Salt water can be discovered wherever on the surface of the earth, in the seas, in waterways, and in saltwater lakes. Approximately 71% of the earth is covered with salt water.

Tap water hardly contains salt and mainly comes from lakes, rivers, and streams.  Unlike sea water, it makes up only about 1% of all the planet’s water bodies. Most of the water in the world contains a good amount of salt and thus is difficult to classify it as fresh or tap water.
Both tap and sea water can prove to be dangerous so one must filter the water. Best filters for tap water include Soma Pitcher, Eau water bottle, etc.  Sea water can also be made drinkable with the help of a newly-developed salt filter.

Salinity

As the name suggests, sea or salt water contains sodium chloride where as tap water might contain only small amounts of salt.  Ocean water is thought to have around 3.5 % salinity posing a challenge for organisms that live in it. This salt comes from salt leaching out of the ocean floor and out of the rivers and streams too.

Density

Another major difference is that of density. Sea water is denser than tap water because of the sodium chloride it contains. Warmer salt water is less dense and thus explains why cold water sinks to the ocean floor. When cold water freezes into ice, it becomes less dense and floats on the surface.

Freezing Point

Both the freezing and boiling points of sea water differ from that of tap water. However, it is the freezing point only that should be of concern. The freezing point for sea water is -2 degrees Celsius, and it can be even lower than this if the salt content is higher or the water is under pressure.  On the other, the freezing point of tap or fresh water is 0 degrees Celsius.

Tonicity

Tonicity is the relative concentration of solutes dissolved in a solution that helps determine the extent of diffusion. Tonicity is essential for plant and animal species living in water. Saltwater is considered hypertonic to the tissues in plants and animals which in simpler terms mean that these organisms lose water to the environment. Consequently, they have to drink water to get rid of the salt constantly. On the contrary, tap water is hypotonic to the animals and plants. These organisms do not require much water however they must excrete it often to balance the salt concentration.  This whole process of adaptation is known as osmoregulation.

Both sea water and tap water can prove to be harmful. Therefore before consumption, they should be treated. Sea water is not healthy because it contains mineral salts that can harm the body on the other hand tap water hardly contain any minerals salt. In fact, it even lacks the salts that are essential for the body. However, it can treat by adding minerals to it, and sea water can be made drinkable through the use of processes such as desalination. In simpler words, both sea water and tap water should only be used after treatment.