WATER QUALI TY STANDARD

I n d i an S t an d ar d
D r i n k i n g Wat e r - S p e c i f i c at i o n
I S 1 05 00 : 1 991
 Tec hni c al Ter ms

• BI S ( Bu r e au o f I n d i an S t an d ar d s )
• D e s i r ab l e l i mi t s
• Pe r mi s s i b l e l i mi t
• PPM
• NTU
• Haz e n Un i t s
Co l o u r , Haz e n Un i t s

IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 5 Hz. , Permissible : 25 Hz.

Risks or effects Visible tint, acceptance decreases

Tannins, Iron, Copper, Manganese

Sources
Natural deposits

Treatment Filtration, Distillation, Reverse osmosis, Ozonisation

Od o u r
IS 10500-1991 Unobjectionable

Risks or effects Rotten egg, Musty, Chemical

Chlorine, Hydrogen sulphide, Organic matter, Septic

Sources
contamination, Methane gas

Treatment Activated carbon, Air stripping, oxidation, Filtration

pH
IS
Desirable :6.5 – 8.5, Permissible
10500-199
:No relaxation
1

Low pH - corrosion, metallic

Risks or taste
effects High pH – bitter/soda taste,
deposits

Sources Natural

Increase pH by soda ash

Treatment Decrease pH with white vinegar /
citric acid
Tot al Di s s ol ved Sol i ds ( TDS)
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 500 mg/l , Permissible : 2000 mg/l

Hardness, scaly deposits, sediment, cloudy colored water,

Risks or effects
staining, salty or bitter taste, corrosion of pipes and fittings

Livestock waste, septic system

Landfills, nature of soil
Sources
Hazardous waste landfills
Dissolved minerals, iron and manganese

Treatment Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, deionization by ion exchange

Har dnes s
IS 10500-1991 Desirable :300 mg/l , Permissible : 600 mg/l

Risks or effects Scale in utensils and hot water system, soap scums

Dissolved calcium and magnesium from soil and aquifer

Sources
minerals containing limestone or dolomite

Treatment Water Softener Ion Exchanger , Reverse Osmosis

http://www.portatreatment.com/yours.htm
Al kal i ni t y
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 200 mg/l , Permissible : 600 mg/lit

Low Alkalinity (i.e. high acidity) causes

deterioration of plumbing and increases the
Risks or effects
chance for many heavy metals in water are
present in pipes, solder or plumbing fixtures.

Pipes, landfills
Sources
Hazardous waste landfills

Treatment Neutralizing agent

I r on
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 0.3 mg/l , Permissible : 1.0 mg/l

Brackish color, rusty sediment, bitter or metallic taste, brown-

Risks or effects
green stains, iron bacteria, discolored beverages

Leaching of cast iron pipes in water distribution systems

Sources
Natural

Treatment Oxidizing Filter , Green-sand Mechanical Filter

Manganes e
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 0.1 mg/l , Permissible : 0.3 mg/l
Brownish color, black stains on laundry and
Risks or effects fixtures at .2 mg/l, bitter taste, altered taste of
water-mixed beverages

Landfills
Sources
Deposits in rock and soil

Ion Exchange , Chlorination, Oxidizing Filter , Green-sand

Treatment
Mechanical Filter
 SO4

Sul phat e
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 200 mg/l, Permissible : 400 mg/l
Bitter, medicinal taste, scaly deposits, corrosion, laxative
Risks or effects effects, "rotten-egg" odour from hydrogen sulphide gas
formation

Animal sewage, septic system, sewage

Sources By-product of coal mining, industrial waste
Natural deposits or salt

Sulphate Treatment Ion Exchange , Distillation , Reverse Osmosis

 NO3-

Ni t r at e
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 45 mg/l, Permissible : 100 mg/lit
Risks or effects Methemoglobinemia or blue baby disease in infants

Livestock facilities, septic systems, manure lagoons,

Household waste water,
Sources Fertilizers,
Natural Deposits,

Treatment Ion Exchange, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis

 Cl
Chl or i de
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 250 mg/l , Permissible : 1000 mg/l

High blood pressure, salty taste, corroded pipes, fixtures and

Risks or effects
appliances, blackening and pitting of stainless steel

Fertilizers
Sources Industrial wastes
Minerals, seawater

Treatment Reverse Osmosis , Distillation, Activated Carbon

Fl uor i de

IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 1.0 mg/l, Permissible : 1.5 mg/l

Risks or effects Brownish discoloration of teeth, bone damage

Industrial waste
Sources
Geological
Activated Alumina, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis, Ion
Treatment
Exchange
Ar s eni c
IS:10500-1991 Desirable: 0.05 mg/l Permissible: No relaxation

Weight loss; Depression; Lack of energy; Skin and nervous

Risks or effects
system toxicity

Previously used in pesticides (orchards)

Improper waste disposal or product storage of glass or
Sources
electronics, Mining
Rocks

Activated Alumina Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation,

Treatment
Chemical Precipitation, Ion exchange, lime softening
Chr omi um
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation

Skin irritation, skin and nasal ulcers, lung tumors,

gastrointestinal effects, damage to the nervous system and
Risks or effects
circulatory system, accumulates in the spleen, bones, kidney
and liver

Septic systems
Sources Industrial discharge, mining sites
Geological

Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

Copper
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : 1.5 mg/l

Anemia, digestive disturbances, liver and kidney damage,

Risks or effects gastrointestinal irritations, bitter or metallic taste; Blue-green
stains on plumbing fixtures
Leaching from copper water pipes and tubing, algae
treatment
Sources
Industrial and mining waste, wood preservatives
Natural deposits
Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation
Cyani de
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation

Risks or effects Thyroid, nervous system damage

Fertilizer
Sources Electronics, steel, plastics mining

Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Chlorination

 Hearing
Brain
Problems
Nerve
Damage

Digestive Issues

Stunted Growth

Lead
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 0.05 mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation
Reduces mental capacity (mental retardation), interference with
Risks or effects kidney and neurological functions, hearing loss, blood
disorders, hypertension, death at high levels

Paint, diesel fuel combustion

Sources Pipes and solder, discarded batteries, paint, leaded gasoline
Natural deposits

Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon , Reverse Osmosis,

Treatment
Distillation
Mer c ur y
IS 10500-1991 Desirable : 0.001 mg/l, Permissible : No relaxation

Loss of vision and hearing, intellectual deterioration, kidney

Risks or effects
and nervous system disorders, death at high levels

Fungicides
Batteries, fungicides
Sources
Mining, electrical equipment, plant, paper and vinyl chloride
Natural deposits

Treatment Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

Zi nc
IS 10500-1991 Desirable :5 mg/l, Permissible : 15 mg/l

Risks or effects Metallic taste

Leaching of galvanized pipes and fittings, paints, dyes

Sources
Natural deposits

Ion Exchange Water Softeners, Reverse Osmosis,

Treatment
Distillation
Tot al Col i f or m Bac t er i a
95% of samples should not contain coliform in 100 ml
IS 10500-1991
10 coliform / 100ml

Risks or effects Gastrointestinal illness

Livestock facilities, septic systems, manure lagoons

Sources Household waste water
Naturally occurring

Treatment Chlorination , Ultraviolet, Distillation, Iodination

E. c ol i f or m Bac t er i a
IS 10500-1991 Nil / 100ml

Risks or effects Gastrointestinal illness

Livestock facilities, septic systems, manure lagoons

Sources Household waste water
Naturally occurring

Treatment Chlorination , Ultraviolet, Distillation, Iodination

 HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHEMI CAL PARAMETERS
Parameter BIS Guideline value General & Health effect
(maximum
allowable)

Total dissolved 2000 mg/L Undesirable taste; gastro intestinal irritations;

solids corrosion or incrustation

PH 6.5-8.5 Affects mucous membrane; bitter taste; corrosion;

affects aquatic life

Alkalinity 600 mg/L Boiled rice turns yellowish

Hardness 600 mg/L Poor lathering with soap; deterioration of the quality of
clothes; scale forming; skin irritation; boiled meat
and food become poor in quality

Calcium 200 Poor lathering and deterioration of the quality of

clothes; incrustation in pipes; scale formation

Magnesium 100 Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes; with sulfate

laxative

Iron 1.0 Poor or sometimes bitter taste, color and turbidity;

staining of clothes materials; iron bacteria causing
slime

Manganese 0.3 Poor taste, color and turbidity; staining; black slime
 HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHEMI CAL PARAMETERS
BIS Guideline value
Parameter General & Health effect
(maximum allowable)

Aluminum 0.2 Neurological disorders; Alzheimer's disease

Copper 1.5 Liver damage; mucosal irritation, renal damage and

depression; restricts growth of aquatic plants

Zinc 15 Astringent taste; opalescence in water; gastro intestinal

irritation; vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain,
nausea and dizziness

Ammonia - Indicates pollution; growth of algae

Nitrite - Forms nitrosoamines which are carcinogenic

Nitrate 100 Blue baby disease (methemoglobineamia); algal growth

Sulfate 400 Taste affected; laxative effect; gastro intestinal

irritation

Chloride 1000 Taste affected; corrosive

Fluoride 1.5 Dental and skeletal fluorosis; non-skeletal

 HEALTH EFFECTS OF CHEMI CAL PARAMETERS

BIS Guideline
Parameter value (maximum General & Health effect
allowable)

Phosphate - Algal growth

Arsenic 0.05 Toxic; bio-accumulation; central nervous system affected; carcinogenic

Mercury 0.001 Highly toxic; causes 'minamata' disease-neurological impairment and

renal disturbances; mutagenic

Cadmium 0.01 Highly toxic; causes 'itai-itai' disease-painful rheumatic condition;

cardio vascular system affected; gastro intestinal upsets and hyper
tension

Lead 0.05 Causes plumbism-tiredness, lassitudes, abdominal discomfort,

irritability, anaemia; bio-accumulation; impaired neurological and
motor development, and damage to kidneys

Chromium 0.05 Carcinogenic; ulcerations, respiratory problems and skin complaints

Pesticide 0.001 Affects central nervous system

Detergent - Undesirable foaming

L i n k s t o t h e i mag e s u s e d
http://southasia.oneworld.net/ImageCatalog/ganga3.jpg
http://files.fbstatic.com/PostImages/157511/0/8e27ea17-943c-41b3-9758-7f21d20bc114.jpg
http://pyrufoevyc.blogspot.com/2011/05/water-pollution-facts-for-kids.html
http://media.rd.com/dynamic/81/86/19/Oct06_JoinCopper-1_size2.jpg
http://ecorenovator.org/removing-sediment-water-heater/
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http://www.livablefutureblog.com/2009/09/nyt-series-focuses-on-idaho-wisconsin-groundwater-contamination/
http://edina.ac.uk/digimap/casestudies/mine_waterpollution/fig1.jpg
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