SANITARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Laboratory Experiments-Experiment 1: Turbidity

By sanitary laboratory staff

CONTENT
• Objective
• Introduction (theoretical concept)
• Experiment procedure
• Instruments
• Video
• Conclusion
• References
OBJECTIVE
• This experiment is indicated to measure the turbidity of water
caused by solid particles
• According to the WHO (world health organization) the
turbidity of drinking water shouldn't be more than 5 NTU.
• *(Nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU))
 INTRODUCTION
What is turbidity?
• Turbidity is the water property containing suspended solids (SS)
which causes light to be scattered rather than moved in straight line
through the sample.
• Turbidity is considered as an important characteristic in drinking
water supplies because it indicates the amount of suspended
particles which effect the water quality.
• High suspended particles lead to high turbidity which reduce the
quality of water.
Causes of turbidity:

• There are many sources of turbidity in water such as :

• Living or dead organism (algae, fungi, bacteria)
• Silt and clay
• Organic matter from the disposal of wastewater into water supplies
• Waste discharge
• Sediments from erosion
• Turbidity is directly proportional to the intensity of the scattered light.
• It can be measured by using the technique of nephelometric.
• Nephelometric is the measurement of turbidity by measuring the
intensity of the scattered light through the water sample as a function of
concertation of suspended solids.
• The turbidimeter (Lovibond) is used in this experiment which consist of
light source, transparent glass tube for placing the sample, an electronic
detector for light, processor and display which shows reading of
turbidity value.
 EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE
How the turbidimeter works:
• Light source sends a straight line of light passing through the sample
then the light will be scattered by the suspended particles.
• The detector receives the scattered light with an angle of 90 degree
and sends it to the processor.
• The processor calculates the intensity of the scattered light and
changes it to turbidity reading in NTU unit.
• The display shows the result of turbidity value in NTU.
Light source Sample

Detector Processer Display

Determination method:
• Open the turbidimeter by clicking ON.
• Calibrate the instrument to the correct reading by using one of the
standard solutions with known turbidity value (0.1, 20, 200, 800)NTU.
• Take 10 ml of the water sample by using pipet and fill up the tube and
then place it in the turbidimeter and cover the sample.
• Click on read and record the reading showing on the display, then close
the turbidimeter.
INSTRUMENTS

• Cylindrical glass tube

• Digital turbidity meter ( Lovibond)
• Water sample
• Standard solution
• Pipet
 CONCLUSION
• Turbidity effects on the growth of planet by blocking light and carry
lead, mercury, and bacteria, and effect on the aquatic life by reducing
food supply.
• The highest amount of turbidity lead to increase the cost of water
treatment for drinking and food processing.
• As a result, the turbidity test is very important in order to know the
efficiency of the water treatment and the correct method of treatment.
 REFERENCES
• Https://www.Fondriest.Com/news/turbiditymeasurement.Htm.
• Https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=tfa_exv53ew.
• D.M. Lawler, in encyclopedia of analytical science (second edition),
2005.
• Https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=tfa_exv53ew