Final answer:
The water quality in the first English settlement of Jamestown was poor due to contamination from the James River and lack of sanitation practices. Boiling water was later discovered to improve its quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The water quality in the first English settlement of Jamestown was poor. The settlers relied on the James River as their source of drinking water, which was contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and pollutants. This led to widespread waterborne diseases such as dysentery and typhoid fever.
Additionally, the settlers were not aware of proper sanitation practices, further contributing to the poor water quality. They dumped waste directly into the river, which further contaminated the water. The absence of clean drinking water greatly affected the health and well-being of the settlers.
Only later did they realize that boiling the water before drinking it could help kill the harmful microorganisms, improving the water quality. This knowledge helped them to address the issues and improve their living conditions in Jamestown.
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