Which statement concerning sources of drinking water is FALSE?

• A. Seawater is safe to drink
• B. Seawater should never be consumed
• C. Rainwater collected in liferaft tubes is drinkable with no treatment
• D. Water from condensation can be used after minimal treatment

Answer: (B)

The ability to recognize which water sources can be used for drinking at sea depends on salinity, contamination, and the need for treatment. Seawater is not suitable to drink in its natural state because its high salt content dehydrates the body and cannot be safe without some form of desalination. However, saying seawater should never be consumed is not entirely accurate because, if you have desalination equipment or a distillation process, seawater can be converted to freshwater. That makes the statement about seawater being unusable in all cases too absolute, and thus false in this context.

In contrast, rainwater collected in a liferaft is generally cleaner than seawater but still has potential contaminants, so it typically should be treated or filtered before drinking. Water obtained from condensation is clean enough to drink after minimal treatment, such as disinfection, making it a reliable source with light processing.