What should a general practitioner know about drinking water

Part I.: Water in health promotion. The review deals with various aspects of drinking water safety which should be known to all general practitioners. The first part focuses on basic information; on the situation of the water supply in the Czech Republic its legislative framework and practice including data on water quality. Special attention is paid to drinking water as an important source of many essential elements. Basic rules on proper hydration and the health risks relating to both dehydration and over-hydration are described. The suitability of various drinks for healthy hydration is discussed. Part II will focus on health risks relating to water quality.