WATER

QUALITY CONSIDERATION

General considerations and

principles

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5

Microbial aspects
Disinfection
Chemical aspects
Radiological aspects
Acceptability aspects

Microbial aspects
Safety is increased if multiple barriers are in place,
including protection of water resources, proper
selection and operation of a series of treatment
steps and management of distribution systems to
maintain and protect treated water quality.
The preferred strategy is a management approach
that places the primary emphasis on preventing or
reducing the entry of pathogens into water
sources and reducing reliance on treatment
processes for removal of pathogens.

 Drinking-water safety is not related only to

faecal contamination. Some organisms grow
in piped water distribution systems (e.g.,
Legionella), whereas others occur in source
waters (guinea worm Dracunculus
medinensis) and may cause outbreaks and
individual cases. Some other microbes (e.g.,
toxic cyanobacteria) require specific
management approaches.

Disinfection
Disinfection is of unquestionable importance
in the supply of safe drinking-water.
The destruction of microbial pathogens is
essential and very commonly involves the
use of reactive chemical agents such as
chlorine.

Chemical aspects
Exposure to high levels of fluoride, which occurs naturally, can
lead to mottling of teeth and, in severe cases, crippling skeletal
fluorosis. Similarly, arsenic may occur naturally, and excess
exposure to arsenic in drinking-water may result in a significant
risk of cancer and skin lesions. Other naturally occurring
chemicals, including uranium and selenium, may also give rise
to health concern when they are present in excess.
The presence of nitrate and nitrite in water has been associated
with methaemoglobinaemia, especially in bottle-fed infants.
Nitrate may arise from the excessive application of fertilizers or
from leaching of wastewater or other organic wastes into surface
water and groundwater

Radiological aspects
Environmental radiation originates from a number of
naturally occurring and
human-made sources. Radioactive materials occur
naturally everywhere in the environment
(e.g., uranium, thorium and potassium-40). By far the
largest proportion
of human exposure to radiation comes from natural
sources from external sources
of radiation, including cosmic and terrestrial radiation, and
from inhalation or ingestion
of radioactive materials

Radiation exposure through drinkingwater

Radioactive constituents of drinking-water can result from:
naturally occurring radioactive species (e.g., radionuclides of the thorium and
uranium decay series in drinking-water sources), in particular radium-226/228
and a few others;
technological processes involving naturally occurring radioactive materials
(e.g.,
the mining and processing of mineral sands or phosphate fertilizer production);
radionuclides discharged from nuclear fuel cycle facilities;
manufactured radionuclides (produced and used in unsealed form), which
might enter drinking-water supplies as a result of regular discharges and, in
particular, in case of improper medical or industrial use and disposal of
radioactive materials; such incidents are different from emergencies, which are
outside the scope of these Guidelines; and
past releases of radionuclides into the environment, including water sources.

Acceptability aspects
Water should be free of tastes and odours that
would be objectionable to the majority of
consumers.
In assessing the quality of drinking-water,
consumers rely principally upon their senses.
Microbial, chemical and physical water
constituents may affect the appearance, odour or
taste of the water, and the consumer will evaluate
the quality and acceptability of the water on the
basis of these criteria

 Field Measured Parameters

pH
Alkalinity
Conductance
Salinity
Dissolved Oxygen
Turbidity

pH
Measures hydrogen ion
concentration
Negative log of hydrogen
ion concentration
Ranges from 0 to 14 std.
units
pH
7 neutral
0 - 7 acidic
7 - 14 alkaline

Thanks to Phil Brown

Conductivity
Measures electric
conductivity (EC) of
water
Higher value means
water is a better
electrical conductor
Increases when more
salt (e.g., sodium
chloride) is dissolved
in water
Indirect measure of
salinity
Units are mhos/cm
o

Thanks to Phil Brown

Salinity
Classification of Ground Water
Composition Based on Total
Dissolved Solids Content
Type of Water

Dissolved salt content

(mg/l)

Fresh water

< 1,000 mg/l

Brackish water

1,000 - 3,000 mg/l

Moderatly saline 3,000 - 10,000 mg/l

water
Highly saline
water

10,000 - 35,000 mg/l

Sea water

> 35,000 mg/l

Salts in Sea Water

Dissolved Oxygen
Amount of gaseous
oxygen (O2) dissolved
in water
Oxygen gets into water
by diffusion from the
surrounding air, by
aeration, and through
photosynthesis
DO range from 0-18
mg/l
Need 5-6 mg/l to
support a diverse
population
DO < 2 mg/l - Hypoxia
Thanks to Phil Brown

Turbidity

Measured in Nephelometric
Turbidity Units (NTU)
Estimates light scattering by
suspended particles
Photocell set at 90o to the
direction of light beam to
estimate scattered rather
than absorbed light
Good correlation with
concentration of particles in
water

HF Scientific
MicroTPI
Turbidity Meter

YSI 556 MPS

Thanks to Phil Brown