Recommended Raw Water Quality Criteria

Frequency to be monitored

Unit

Acceptable
value

Surface

Ground

Direct
Impounding

Ref.

Total Coliform
Turbidity
Colour
pH

cfu/100 ml
NTU
TCU
-

5000.0
1000.0
300.0
5.5-9.0

W
W
W
W

M
M
M
M

M
M
M
M

WHO1
WHO2
WHO1
MAL

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD)
Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD)
Chloride (Cl)
Anionic Detergent, MBAS
Ammonia (as N)
Nitrate (as N)
Total Nitrogen (as N)
Iron (Fe)
Fluoride (Fl)
Hardness

mg/l

1500.0

Y/4

Y/4

WHO1

mg/l

6.0

Y/4

Y/4

WHO1

mg/l

10.0

Y/4

Y/4

WHO1

mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

250.0
1.0
1.5
10.0
1.0
1.0
1.5
500.0

M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

MAL
WHO1
WHO1
MAL
WHO1
WHO1
WHO1
MAL

Mercury (Hg)
Cadmium (Cd)
Selenium (Se)
Arsenic (As)
Cyanide (CN)
Lead (Pb)
Chromium (Cr)
Silver (Ag)
Copper (Cu)
Manganese (Mn)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sodium (Na)
Zinc (Zn)
Sulphate (SO4)
Mineral Oil
Phenol

mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

0.001
0.003
0.01
0.01
0.07
0.05
0.05
0.05
1.0
0.2
150.0
200.0
3.0
250.0
0.3
0.002

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

MAL
MAL
WHO1
WHO1
MAL
MAL
WHO1
MAL
MAL
MAL
MAL
MAL
WHO1
WHO1
MAL
WHO1

Parameters

Recommended Raw Water Quality Criteria (Cont.)

Frequency to be monitored

Unit

Acceptable
value

Surface

Ground

Direct
Impounding

Ref.

mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

0.00003
0.0002
0.002

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

MAL
MAL
MAL

mg/l

0.0003

Y/4

Y/4

Y/4

MAL

mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

0.001
0.002
0.02

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

Y/4
Y/4
Y/4

MAL
MAL
MAL

mg/l

0.03

Y/4

Y/4

Y/4

MAL

Gross

Bq/l

0.1

MAL

Gross

Bq/l

1.0

MAL

Parameters
Organochlorine Pesticides:
Aldrin/Dieldrin
Chlordane
DDT
Heptachlor & Heptachlor
Epoxide
Hexachlorobenzene
Lindane
Methoxychlor
Herbicides:
2,4-D (Dichlorophenoxyacetic
Acid)
Radioactivity:

Note:

WHO1 :
WHO2 :
MAL :
W
:
M
:
Y/4 :
Y
:

International Standards For Drinking Water 1963.

Guidelines For Drinking Water Volume 1 & 2 1984.
Values adopted For Malaysian Conditions.
Indicates parameters to be monitored at least once a week.
Indicates parameters to be monitored at least once a month.
Indicates parameters to be monitored at least once in 3 months.
Indicates parameters to be monitored at least once a year.