|
No
|
Characteristics
|
Acceptable*
|
Cause
for Rejection**
|
|
1.
|
Turbidity
( N.T.U. )
|
1
|
10
|
|
2.
|
Colour
(Units on Platinum Cobalt scale)
|
5
|
25
|
|
3.
|
Taste
and Odour
|
Unobjectionable
|
Objectionable
|
|
4.
|
pH
|
7.0 to 8.5
|
<6.5 or >9.2
|
|
5.
|
Total
dissolved solids (mg/l)
|
500
|
2000
|
|
6.
|
Total
hardness (mg/l) (as CaCO3)
|
200
|
600
|
|
7.
|
Chlorides
(as Cl) (mg/l)
|
200
|
1000
|
|
8.
|
Sulphates
(as SO4) (mg/l)
|
200
|
400
|
|
9.
|
Fluorides
(as F) (mg/l)
|
1.0
|
1.5
|
|
10.
|
Nitrates
(as NO3) (mg/l)
|
45
|
45
|
|
11.
|
Calcium
(as Ca) (mg/l)
|
75
|
200
|
|
12.
|
Magnesium
(as Mg) (mg/l)
|
<30
|
150
|
|
If there are 250 mg/l of sulphates, Mg content can be increased
to a maximum of 125 mg/l with the reduction
of sulphate at the rate of 1 unit per every
2.5 units of sulphates.
|
|
13.
|
Iron
(as Fe) (mg/l)
|
0.1
|
1.0
|
|
14
|
Alkalinity
mg/l as CaCO3
|
200
|
600
|
|
15
|
Residual
Chlorine
|
0.2
|
>1.0
|
|
16
|
Manganese
(as Mn) (mg/l)
|
0.05
|
0.5
|
|
17
|
Aluminium
as Al mg/l
|
0.03
|
0.2
|
|
18.
|
Copper
(as Cu) (mg/l)
|
0.05
|
1.5
|
|
19
|
Zinc
(as Zn) (mg/l)
|
5.0
|
15.0
|
|
20
|
Phenolic
Compounds (as Phenol)(mg/l)
|
0.001
|
0.002
|
|
21
|
Anionic
detergents (mg/l) (as MBAS)
|
0.2
|
1.0
|
|
22
|
Mineral
Oil (mg/l)
|
0.01
|
0.03
|
|
|
TOXIC
MATRIALS
|
|
|
23
|
Arsenic
(as As) (mg/l)
|
0.01
|
0.05
|
|
24
|
Cadmium
(as Cd) (mg/l)
|
0.01
|
0.01
|
|
25
|
Chromium
(as hexavalent Cr) (mg/l)
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
|
26
|
Cyanides
(as CN) (mg/l)
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
|
27
|
Lead
(as Pb) (mg/l)
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
|
28.
|
Selenium
(as Se) (mg/l)
|
0.01
|
0.01
|
|
29
|
Mercury
(total as Hg) (mg/l)
|
0.001
|
0.001
|
|
30
|
Polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons(PAH) (ug/l)
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
|
31
|
Pesticides
Total, mg/l
|
Absent
|
Refer
WHO guidelines for drinking water quality
Vol.I;1993
|
|
|
RADIO
ACTIVITY +
|
|
|
32
|
Gross
Alpha activity Bq/l
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
|
33
|
Gross
Beta activity Bq/l
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
|
NOTES
|
*.The figures indicated under the column 'Acceptable' are
the limits upto which water is generally
acceptable to the consumers.
|
|
**. Figures in excess of those mentioned under 'Acceptable'
render the water not acceptable, but still
may be tolerated in the absence of alternative
and better source but upto the limits indicated
under column "Cause for Rejection"
above which the sources will have to be
rejected.
|
|
|
+. It is possible that some mine and spring waters may exceed
these radio activity limits and in such
cases it is necessary to analyse the individual
radionuclides in order to assess the acceptability
or otherwise for public consumption.
|
|
|
|
|
|
