Water itself is actually a poor conductor of electricity because it does not contain enough free ions to facilitate the flow of electric current. Pure water, which is distilled and free of impurities, has very few ions present. Without these charge carriers, the ability of water to conduct electricity is significantly limited.
When water contains dissolved minerals, salts, or other impurities, it becomes a better conductor because these substances dissociate into ions that can carry an electric charge. For example, when table salt (sodium chloride) is dissolved in water, it breaks down into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl–) ions, which enhances the conductivity of the solution.
In summary, pure water’s lack of free-moving charged particles is the main reason it is a poor conductor of electricity. However, most water we encounter in everyday life is not pure and contains various dissolved substances that make it a better conductor.