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Glite Dictionary
potability

potability

1 6.3
The quality of water that makes it safe to drink
  • noun
  • /ˌpoʊtəˈbɪləti/
  • Specialized
: potabilidad
  • The report highlighted serious concerns about the potability of the city's tap water.

Examples

  • Both flooding and drought can affect the availability and potability of water.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Before drinking from the stream, we tested its potability to ensure it was safe.

  • I would be concerned with water potability, especially after the building tanks empty.

    Blog text (13)

  • Water is rarely consumed because of potability problems.

    Academic text (2007)

  • It could be something like the augmentation you described with microwave range and the potability of water.

  • Thus, the only effective means of re-establishing the potability of well water is to reduce nitrogen levels over time by slowing or ceasing nitrogen inputs to groundwater.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Experts determined that the potability of the well water had decreased due to contamination.

Synonyms

drinkability
vspotability
1 4.2

How safe, easy, and pleasant a liquid is to swallow

is about safety and suitability rather than ease or pleasantness

How Drinkable

drinkability
1 4.2
potability
  • Specialized
1 6.3

Surface Forms

potability singular
potabilities plural

Morphology

potability = potable (transparent) = potable + ity

The word is transparently derived from 'potable' with the suffix '-ity' indicating a state or quality.

Etymology

Potability comes from the Latin root potare, meaning 'to drink', and you can see the same root in the word potable, which means 'drinkable'. So potability is the quality of being 'fit to drink'.