Water Quality Standards for Best Designated Usages

Category of Fresh A-I A-II A-III A-IV

Water
Best Usage Unfiltered Public water Not fit for Fit for
Public water supply with human Agriculture,
supply after approved consumption, Industrial
approved treatment equal Fish & cooling &
disinfection to coagulation, Wildlife process water.
sedimen- Propagation.
tation &
disinfection.
Chemical Qualities : Maximum allowable concentration
1. Toxic Substances
Arsenic (As) 0.3 mg/l 0.3 mg/l 1.0 mg/l 0.1 mg/l
Cadmium (Cd) 0.01 mg/l 0.01 mg/l - -
Chromium ( Cr ) 0.05 mg/l 0.05 mg/l 0.05 mg/l 0.2 mg/l
Cyanide (CN) 0.05 mg/l 0.1 mg/l 0.05 mg/l 0.2 mg/l
Lead (Pb) 0.1 mg/l 0.1 mg/l - 0.1 mg/l
Boron (B) - - - 2.0 mg/l
Mercury (Hg) 0.001 mg/l 0.001 mg/l 0.001 mg/l -
Gross alpha activity 3 PCI/l 10-9 uc/ml 3 PCI/l 3 PCI/l
Gross Beta activity 30 PCI/l 10-8 uc/m 30 PCI/l 30 PCI/l
2. Substances affecting health
Fluoride (F) 1.5 mg/l 1.5 mg/l - 1.0 mg/l
Nitrates (NO3) 45 mg/l 45 mg/l - -
3. Substances affecting the potability of water
pH 6.5 to 8.5 6.0 to 8.5 6.5 to 9.0 6.5 to 9.0
T.D.S. - T.D.S. T.D.S. -.
Total Solids 1500 mg/l. 1500 mg/l. -. -
Total Suspended 25 mg/l - - -
Solids
Total Hardness 50 mg/l - - -
(Caco3)
Total Residual - - - -
Chlorine
Electrical conduct at - - 1000 x 10-6 3000 x 10-6
25. C mhos mhos
Free Carbon Di Oxide - - 12 mg/l -
Free Ammonical - - 1.2 mg/l -
Nitrogen
Oil & Grease - - 0.1 mg/l -
Pesticides - - 0.02 mg/l -
Biotic Index - - 6.0 mg/l -
Total Ammonical 1.5 mg/l 1.5 mg/l - 50 mg/l
Nitrogen
Chlorides (Cl) 600 mg/l 600 mg/l - 600 mg/l
Sulphates 400 mg/l 400 mg/l - 1000 mg/l
Copper (Cu) 1.5 mg/l 1.5 mg/l - -
Manganese (Mn) 0.5 mg/l 3.0 mg/l - -
Iron (Fe) 1.0 mg/l 5.0 mg/l - -
Sodium - - - -
Zinc (Zn) 15.0 mg/l 1.5 mg/l 5.0 mg/l 5.0 mg/l
Phenolic Compounds 0.002 mg/l 0.002 mg/l 0.05 mg/l -
Alkyl Benzene 1.0 mg/l 1.0 mg/l - -
sulphates
Mineral Oil 0.3 mg/l 0.3 mg/l - -
Ammonia 1.5 mg/l 1.5 mg/l - -
B.O.D. (5 days 20 . C) 2.0 5.0 10 mg/l 30 mg/l
mg/l(Monthly mg/l(Monthly
average of average of
atleast 10 atleast 10
samples) samples)
C.O.D. - - - 150 mg/l
D.O. Not less than 5 4.0 mg/l Not less than 3 Not less than 2
mg/l(Monthly mg/l mg/l
average of 100
samples)
Bacteriological Coliform Bact. Not greater
Standards : 250 than 5000
(MPN/100)
 The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
1(SCHEDULE-IV)
(See rule-3A)

General Standards for Discharge of environment pollutants Part-A: Effluent.

Sr. No Parameter Standards

Inland surface Public sewers Land for Marine
water irrigation coastal
areas.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
1 Colour and odour See 6 of Annexure- --- See 6 of See 6 of
I Annexure-I Annexure-I
2 Suspended Solids, 100 600 200 a) For
µg/l, Max process
waste
water-100

b) For
cooling
water
effluent -10
percent
above total
suspended
matter of
influent.
3 Particle size of Shall pass 850 ---- ---- a) Floatable
suspended solids micron IS Sieve solids, Max
3 mm

b)
Settleable
solids Max
850
microns.
4 *** * ---- *** ----
5 PH Value 5.5 to 9.0 5.5 to 9.0 5.5 to 9.0 5.5 to 9.0
6 Temperature Shall not exceed ---- ---- Shall not
5oC above the exceed 5oC
receiving water above the
temperature. receiving
water
temperature.
7 Oil and grease, 10 20 10 20
µg/l. max.
8 Total residual 1.0 --- --- 1.0
chlorine, µg/l,
Max.
9 Ammonical 50 50 -- 50
nitrogen (as N),
µg/l, Max.
10 Total Kjeldahi 100 --- --- 100
nitrogen (as N),
µg/l, Max.
11 Free Ammonia (as 5.0 --- --- 5.0
NH3) µg/l, Max.
12 Biochemical 30 350 100 100
oxygen demand (5
days at 20 oC),
µg/l, Max.
13 Chemical Oxygen 250 --- --- 250
demand, µg/l, Max
14 Arsenic (as As), 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
µg/l, Max.
15 Mercury (As Hg), 0.01 0.01 --- 0.01
µg/l, Max.
16 Lead (as Pb), µg/l, 0.1 1.0 -- 1.0
Max.
17 Cadmium (as Cd), 2.0 1.0 --- 2.0
µg/l, Max.
18 Hexzavalent 0.1 2.0 -- 1.0
chromium (as
Cr+6) µg/l, Max.
19 Total chromium 2.0 2.0 --- 2.0
(as Cr), µg/l, Max.
20 Copper (as Cu), 3.0 3.0 -- 3.0
mg/l, Max.
21 Zinc (as Zn), µg/l. 5.0 15 -- 15
Max.
22 Selenium (as Se), 0.05 0.05 --- 0.05
µg/l. Max.
23 Nickel (as Ni) µg/l, 3.0 3.0 --- 5.0
Max.
24 *** * * * *
25 *** * * * *
26 *** * * * *
27 Cyanide (as CN), 0.2 2.0 0.2 0.2
µg/l, Max.
28 *** * * * *
29 Fluoride (as F), 2.0 15 --- 15
µg/l, Max.
30 Dissolved 5.0 - - -
Phosphates (as P),
µg/l, Max
31 *** * * * *
32 Sulphide (as S), 2.0 -- -- 5.0
µg/l, Max.
33 Phenol 1.0 5.0 -- 5.0
Compounds (as
C6H5OH) µg/l,
max.
34 Radioactive 10-7 10-7 10 -8 10-7
materials:
10-6 10-6 10 -7 10-6
a) Alpha emitter
 micro curie/ml.

b) Beta emitter
micro curie/ml.
35 Bio-assay test 90% survival of 90% survival of 90% survival of 90%
fish after 96 hours fish after 96 fish after 96 survival of
in 100% effluent hours in 100% hours in 100% fish after 96
effluent effluent hours in
100%
effluent
36 Manganese (as 2 µg/l 2 µg/l 2 µg/l
Mn)
37 Iron (as Fe) 3 µg/l 3 µg/l 3 µg/l
38 Vanadium (as V) 0.2 µg/l. 0.2 µg/l. 0.2 µg/l.
39 Nitrate Nitrogen 10 µg/l --- -- 20 µg/l
40 *** * * * *

1) Schedule VI inserted by Rule 2(d) of the Environment (Protection) Second Amendment Rules, 1993 notified
vide G.S.R. 422(E) dated 19/5/1993, published in the Gazette No. 174 dated 19/05/1993.
2) Omitted by Rule 2(d)(i) of the Environment (Protection) Third Amendment Rules 1993 vide Notification
No. G.S.R. 801(E) dated 31/12/1993.
 Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Union Territories) Rules 1983.
CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NOTIFICATION
Delhi, the 11th April, 1994.

S.O. 384(E): - The Central Pollution Control Board in exercise of its powers conferred under Section 16(2) (h) of
the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981(14 of 1981) hereby notify the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards with immediate effect.

Concentration in ambient air

Time
Pollutant Weighted Residential, Method of measurement
Industrial Sensitive
average Rural &
Area area
other areas
1 2 3 4 5 6
Annual 1. Improved West and Gaeke
80 µg/m3 60 µg/m3 15 µg/m3
Average * method
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
24 hours** 120
80 µg/m3 30 µg/m3 2. Ultraviolet fluorescence
µg/m3
Annual 80 µg/m3 1. Jacob & Hochheiser modified
60 µg/m3 15 µg/m3
Oxides of Nitorgen as Average* (Na-Arsenite) Method.
NOx 120
24 hours** 80 µg/m3 30 µg/m3 Gas Phase Chemiluminescence
µg/m3
360
Annual 140 µg/m3 70 µg/m3
µg/m3 -
Average*
Suspended Particulate
Matter (SPM) 500
100 (Average flow rate not less than
24 hours** µg/m3 200 µg/m3
µg/m3 1.1 m3/minute).

Annual 120
Respirable Particulate 60 µg/m3 50 µg/m3
Average* µg/m3
matter (size less than
10 um) (RSPM) 150
24 hours** 100 µg/m3 75 µg/m3
µg/m3
-- AAS Method after sampling
Annual 1.0 0.50
0.75 µg/M3 using EPM 2000 or equivalent
Average* µg/m3 µg/m3
Lead (pB) filter paper.
1.5 0.75
24 hours** 1.00 µg/m3
µg/m3 µg/m3
5.0 1.0 -- Non dispersive infrared
8 hours** 2.0 µg/m3
Carbon Monoxide µg/m3 µg/m3 spectroscopy
(CO) 10.0 2.0
1 hour 4.0 µg/m3
µg/m3 µg/m3
* Annual Arithmetic mean of min 104 measurements in a year taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform interval.
** 24 hourly/8 hourly values should be met 985 of the time in a year. However, 2% of the time, it may exceed
 but not on two consecutive days.

Effluent

ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY : WASTEWATER DISCHARGE STANDARDS

Concentration not to except, mg/l (except for pH and

Parameter
temperature)
pH 6.0 to 9.0
should not exceed 5°C above the ambient temperature of the
Temperature
receiving body
Oil & grease 10
Suspended solids 100
Cynaides (as 'CN') 0.2
Ammonical nitrogen (as N) 50
Total residual chlorine (as Cl2) 1.0
Cadmium (as Cd) 2.0
Nickel (as Ni) 3.0
Zinc (as Zn) 5.0
Chromium as Cr
Hexavalent 0.1
Total 2.0
Copper (as Cu) 3.0
Lead (as Pb) 0.1
Iron (as Fe) 3.0
Total Metal 10.0
Source : EPA Notification
[S.O. 393(E), dt. 16th April, 1987]