What does potable mean?

Potable means suitable or safe for drinking. It is often used to describe water that is safe to drink, but can also be used to describe other beverages, such as milk or beer.

The opposite of potable is non-potable, which means not suitable or safe for drinking. Non-potable water can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or other harmful substances that can make you sick.

It is important to drink potable water to stay healthy. Drinking non-potable water can lead to a variety of health problems, such as gastrointestinal illness, diarrhoea, and vomiting. In some cases, drinking non-potable water can even be fatal.

If you are not sure whether water is potable, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid drinking it. You can always boil water to make it safe to drink, or you can buy bottled water.