Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential for human survival and environmental stability. However, water contamination continues to be a major threat, particularly in India, where pollutants like heavy metals – fluoride, arsenic, and nitrate – severely impact water quality. These contaminants not only harm human health but also disrupt ecosystems, degrade soil, reduce agricultural productivity, and contribute to water scarcity. Prolonged exposure to contaminated water can result in chronic health conditions, including kidney and liver damage, neurological disorders, and various types of cancer. Waterborne diseases have plagued societies throughout history, often claiming countless lives. Illnesses such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, and dysentery continue to pose serious health risks today, especially in areas lacking proper sanitation and clean water access. To protect against these risks, ancient communities developed traditional methods of water purification. Techniques like boiling water, sand filtration, storing water in copper vessels, and exposing water to sunlight were widely used to make water safer for consumption. These practices reflect an early understanding of the need for clean water and highlight how traditional knowledge played a role in public health.