Water Quality Parameters

Dr. G.K.Khadse
Senior Scientist
NEERI, Nagpur
 Dispersion & Dissolution in Water

Clouds

Atmospheric
Constituent

Surface runoff Water bodies Leachates from

Soil and Rocks
Water quality
 Quantity Returned

Inland
Surface Water Domestic

Quantity lost
Abstractive
Uses Irrigation
Ground
Water

Water Industrial

Sea Water

Quality changed
Non-abstractive uses
 Non-abstractive uses

Transport Food Recreation Eco-system

• Fishing • Swimming • Conservation

Sea In-land • Sea Food • Sunbath &
Waters Swimming • Rejunvetion
• Pond Food
• Picnic Spot • Technical
• Lean Period interferences
River bed • Water Sports
• Technological
crops • Pilgrimage Interventions
 Water Issues
QUANTITY QUALITY
– Pollution
 Optimization of use • Systemic
 Recirculation & reuse • External
• Alternate Supply
 Sequential uses
• Treatment
 Regional water use • Wastewater treatment
planning • Treated water supply
• Change in use pattern
Water Contaminants
Water: It’s H2O …. and some other things

Particles Bacteria

Gases Ions

Organics
6
 Chemical Contaminants
Geological Condition

Agricultural
Activity Source Urbanization

Industrialization
 Water may contain

Physical Chemical Metals Organics Bacterio- Biological Radio-

logical active
Clay Calcium Iron Phenols Zoo-
Total plankton Alpha
Silt Magnesium Manganese Oil & emitters
Grease Coliforms Phyto-
Humus Sodium Copper plankton Beta
Potassium Chromium Pesticides emitters
Peat Faecal
Materials Chloride Cadmium
Coliforms
Weeds Sulphate Zinc
Fluoride Lead
Carbonates Mercury
Nitrate Nickel
Phosphate Selenium
Boron
Adverse Effects of Impurities

Problems Constituents Responsible

 Aesthetically not acceptable and

 Clay, Silt, Humus, Colour
Palatability decreases
 pH
 Health related problems
 affect mucous membrane
 Hardness, TDS, Ca, Mg, SO4
 gastro-intestinal irritation
 Dental and skeletal fluorosis  Fluoride
 Methaemoglobinemia  Nitrate
 Encrustation in water supply  Hardness, TDS
structure
 Adverse effects on domestic use  Ca, Mg, Cl
 Adverse Effects of Impurities

 Eutrofication of the waterbody  Zoo & Phyto, Phosphate, Nitrate

 Taste, discolouration and  Iron, Mn, Cu, Zn, Alkalinity
corrosion of pipes fittings and
utensils
 Promotes iron bacteria  Fe & Mn
 Corrosion in water supply system  pH, Cl
 Carcinogenic effect  Cr, As
 Toxic effect  Cd, Pb, Hg
 Formation of chlorophenols with  Phenols
chlorine
 Imparts unpleasant taste and  Oil & grease
odour after chlorination
 Water-borne diseases  Bacteria & viruses
 Aesthetically
acceptable

Radioactive
elements absent Chemically safe

Safe Water/
Wholesome
Water

Free from bacteria Organic substances

absent
 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
The standard categorize various characteristics as essential and desirable.
All essential characteristics are to be examined in routine

Essential Characteristics
The essential characteristics include colour, odour, taste, turbidity, pH, total
hardness, iron, chlorides, and residual free chlorine.

Desirable Characteristics
The desirable quality control characteristics include dissolved solids, calcium,
magnesium, manganese, sulphate, nitrate, fluoride, copper, mercury, cadmium,
selenium, arsenic, lead, zinc, chromium.

The standard serves two basic objectives

1. Assessment of the quality of water sources
2. Effectiveness of water treatment and supply
Water Quality Goals, Objectives and Strategies
Restoration and maintenance of
physical, chemical & biological
integrity of water bodies

Use of water bodies for its original

purposes such as drinking,
fisheries navigation, recreation etc.

Effluent control Adopt best mgt. for control

on point sources of non-point sources

Secondary treatment of Area wise WW mgt.

municipal waste planning coordinate with
Appropriate treatment of river & sea water mgt.
industrial waste
Water Quality Assessment : Potable & Industrial Uses
Parameters

Physical Inorganic Radioactive

Toxic Organic, Bacteriological Biology
OR elements
Metals Nutrient
Chemical
& Demand

Total Coliform
Phytoplankton
Faecal Coliform
Zooplankton
Hardness Fluoride
Calcium Alkalinity
Magnesium Nitrate
BOD
Chloride Phosphate Alpha emitter
Copper COD
Sulphate Beta emitter
Chromium Phenols
Cadmium Oil &
Temperature Turbidity Zinc Grease
PH Conductivity Lead Pesticides
Colour Odour Mercury Nitrate
Taste TDS Iron
Manganese
 Water Quality Assessment

 To measure concentration of the constituents in quantity for

characterization of water for different uses
 Of the various parameters in potable water few are objectionable
even when present in very small quantity
 Others if only present in unusual quantities as to relegate the water
from the potable to the unusable class
 In actual practice the number of analysis which are applied to an
individual water sample is quite small
 The analyst familiar with water quality characterization will often
select parameters to be measured based on experience and intuition
Water Analysis

Sampling
Proper Labeling Selection of Parameters

Key
Factors

Reporting the values Precision and accuracy

Preservation of method selected
Water Sample Collection
Sample
A part of the whole, that can be examined to see what the
rest is like

Sampling
To collect a small portion representing

– Water body
– Segment of water body
– Defined system with water component
 Need for water quality analysis
 Ensure safe drinking water
 Identify problems
 Adopt precautionary measures
 Raise awareness
 Determine the effectiveness of Household Water
Treatment and Safe Storage process
 Select an appropriate water source
 Influence government to supply safe water
Objectives

 Baseline Water quality

 Impact assessment
 Assessment of Technology
 Performance assessment of treatment plant
 Assessment of products and processes
Design of Water Sampling Programme
Objectives, parameters, levels of accuracy
and use of the data

Sampling Location

Sampling frequency

Sample collection

On Spot Analysis Sample Preservation

Analytical methods and Instrumental

Techniques

Data handling and reporting

Sample classification
A. Grab or Catch Sample
• A source is known to be fairly constant
- In composition
- Over a considerable period
- For substantial volume
- Over spatial dimensions

• Condition of source
- Fairly steady Represent the composition
- Varies with time Suitable intervals
- Varies in space Appropriate locations
 Sample Classification
B. Composite Sample
• Composite or time composite
- Mixture of grab samples
- Same sampling point
- Different intervals
- Fixed time periodicity
- Standard schedule: 24 hours

 For determining components that are demonstrated

to remain unchanged during sampling & preservation
 May be linked to other parameters of monitoring
Sample Classification

C. Integrated Sample
Mixture of grab samples
- From different points
- Collected simultaneously
- From the cross-sections of a defined cube

 Need for such sampling occurs in a river/stream that

varies in composition across its width & depth and also
when combined treatment is proposed for several
separate wastewater streams

 Collection of integrated samples may require equipment

 Care in Water Sampling

Just before sampling

 Flush lines or hand pumps sufficiently before collecting

samples from distribution systems or hand pumps

 Avoid Sampling locations with excessive turbulence

because of potential loss of volatile constituents

 Avoid sampling at weirs because such areas induce

settling of suspended particles
Care in Water Sampling
During Sampling
 Use safe containers

Rinse container 2-3 times with water being collected

- For all samples except the one for bacteriological analysis
 Fill the container fully for organics determination
 Leave space for aeration and mixing for microbiological analysis
 Leave an air space of about 1% of container capacity to allow for
thermal expansion when the samples are to be transported
 Preserve the sample for specific parameters
 Proper labels: source, date, time and place of collection
 Note down relevant matter in the note book
 Ensure no deterioration or contamination during handling
 pH Definition
• pH = - log10 [H+] = log10 1/[H+] OR [H+] = 10-pH

pH Meter This method has advantage because all states of acidity and alkalinity of
solutions with respect to hydrogen and hyroxide ions can be expressed by a
series of positive numbers between 0 to 14
[ H+] (10o) 10-1 10-2 10-3 10-4 10-5 10-6 10-7 10-8 10-9 10-10 10-11 10-12 10-13 10-14
pH 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

pH
Hydrogen Ion
pOH 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Exponent
6.5 - 8.5 [OH-]10-14 10-13 10-12 10-1110-10 10-9 10-8 10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3 10-2 10-1 10-0

Significance o Chemical reactions depend on pH

o Water Supply and Waste Water Treatment
o Water Softening, Precipitation, Coagulation, Disinfection, Corrosion
Control, alkalinity and CO2 Measurement and fluoride activity
Measurement
o Electrometric method - Using pH meter and electrodes
o e.m.f. produced in glass electrode system varies linearly with pH
o pH meter is calibrated potentiometrically with electrode system using
standard buffers having assigned values so that pH = - log10 [H+]
•
 pH
A pH meter is an electronic device
used for measuring the pH (acidity
or alkalinity) of a liquid

The pH probe measures pH as

the activity of the hydrogen
cations surrounding a thin-
walled glass bulb at its tip. The
probe produces a small voltage
(about 0.06 volt per pH unit) that
is measured and displayed as pH
units by the meter.
 EC
 Concentration of ions
Measure of the ability of
 Mobility
aqueous solution to
carry an electric current  Valency
 Temperature
Conductance(G) Definition

 Area (A)
Significance • Degree of Minerilization
 1/Distance (L) Conductivity • Effect on plants &
Conductivity
G = K(A/L)
Meter animals
A = 1cm2 Measurement • Check purity of distilled
L = 1 cm water
G=K
• Monitoring seasonal
K is called variation
Unit
specific • Determine sample size
conductance
 mho/cm for chemical analysis
or • Check results of
s/cm chemical analysis
Conductance is measured • Estimate TDS
between two specially fixed
and chemically insert platinum
electrodes
Turbidity Meter
• Expression of the optical property that causes light
Definition to be scattered and absorbed
• Light-scattering properties depends upon size, shape
and refractive index of the suspended particulates

• Presence of suspended matters

Cause • Silt
• Clay
• Fine Organic and Inorganic matters
• Plankton and microscopic organisms
• Aesthetic quality decreases
Significance
• Beverages and food industry needs clear water

• Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)

Unit • Based on the measurement of intensity of light
scattered at 900 angle to incident light
• formazin polymer is used as reference turbidity
standard suspension

Nephelometer compares the intensity of light scattered

by sample with the intensity of light scattered by
Measurement
standard reference suspension
 Portion of Solids that
passes through a filter of
2.0 m or smaller pore size

Definition
Yield values for TDS
closer to obtained Palatability
through summation decreases
Evaporation
At this temp. all TDS Gastrointestinal
mechanically occluded 500 -2000 mg/L Significance irritation
water is lost Method
BIS 10500
Unsuitable for
Some samples may many industrial
require prolonged drying Method uses
and desiccation

Evaporation Conductivity Calculations

at 180 + 20C
 Acid neutralizing
Sluggish response due to capacity of water
coating of soap, oily
matter in potentiometric
Due to All Titratable Bases
Colour, Turbidity with
indicator method

 Carbonate  Borates
ALKALINITY  Bicarbonate  Phosphates
 Hydrocarbons  Silicates
200 - 600 mg/L  Other Bases
BIS - 10500

Titration using indicator

•Treatments of water and
wastewater
Potentiometric titration
End Point pH •Interpretation and control of
water and waste water
treatment processes
Phenolphthalein Total Alkalinity 4.5
Alkalinity 8.3
 Defined as the sum of calcium and
By EDTA Titration magnesium expressed as CaCO3 mg/L

Methods of Definition
Chiefly due
Analysis Cause
Ca & Mg estimated Ca & Mg
by AAS, ICP or
Gravimettric method
Other polyvalent
cations
By Calculations
HARDNESS
[Ca mg/L x 2.497]
300 mg/L- 600 mg/L
[Mg mg/L x 4.118]

BIS - 10500
Carbonate
•Scale formation
Type Significance •Adverse effect on domestic use
Non Carbonate
•Encrustation in water supply
system
•Cathartic and diuretic effect
 True Colour Apparent Colour
Due to dissolve material Due to suspended matter

• Metallic ions May Result from Type Significance

(Fe & Mn) presence • Aesthetically not acceptable
• Humus Color
• Peats • May be toxic
• Plankton
• Weeds
• Industrial waste

Unit Measurement methods

• Based on platinum cobalt scale • Visual comparison (Standard

•1.246 g. potassium chloroplatinate Platinum Cobalt Solution)
(K2PtCl6) and 1.0 g. cobaltous • Spectrophotometric Method
chloride (CoCl2 .6H2O)
•Dissolve in D. Water with 100 ml conc.
HCl and make up to 1000 ml. This has a
colour 500 units
 Oxygen is critical to the survival of aquatic plants
Turbidity Meter
and animals

5 - 6 ppm Sufficient for most species

< 3 ppm Stressful to most aquatic species
Impact
< 2 ppm Fatal to most species

• Plants and animals respiration

• Decomposition of waste
Factors • Salt vs. fresh water - Fresh water can hold
Affecting more oxygen than salt water.
DO • Temperature - Cold water can hold more
oxygen than warm water.
• Atmospheric pressure (Altitude) - The greater
the atmospheric pressure the more DO

• Azide modification of the Winkler method

Measurement • DO Meter
Turbidity Meter A bioassay test, involving measurement of oxygen
Defination
consumed by micro-organisms while stabilizing
biologically decomposable organic matter under
aerobic conditions

1–2 ppm : Very Good

Level 3-5 ppm Fair: Moderately Clean
6-9 ppm Poor: Somewhat Polluted
=>100: Very Polluted Contains organic waste.

Need  To determine the pollution load of waste water

 The degree of pollution in water sources
 Self purification capacity of sources
 Designing of treatment facilities
 Efficiency of waste water treatment methods

• 0 day DO and 5 day DO at 200 C

Measurement • Azide modification of the Winkler method
• DO Meter
 oxygen equivalent of the total org. matter (biologically
Defination
active & inactive ) in a water sample that is
susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant.

COD > BOD for any given sample and is typically >20
Level mg/l in unpolluted waters..

 To assess the water pollution

 To determine the pollution load of waste water
Need
 Designing of treatment facilities

Measurement • Potassium Dichromate consumption

 Fatty acids (Addition of 30 ml of conc. H2SO4

with swiriling prevent)
 Straight chain aliphatic compounds (Ag2SO4 to
conc. H2SO4 as a catalyst stimulates oxidation)
Interferences  Chlorides (HgSO4)
 Nitrites (H2SO4)
 Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
• The TOC concentration represents all the carbon covalently
bonded in organic molecules and so is not filtered.

• TOC does not take into account the oxidation state of the
organic matter

• Does not measure other organically bound elements, such

as N & H, and inorganics that can contribute to the oxygen
demand (measured by BOD)

• Drinking water TOC concentrations range from <100 μg/L to

>25 mg/L

• Wastewaters may contain very high levels of organic carbon

(>100mg/L).
 Nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N),
Forms Nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N),

Total Kjeldahl Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N)

Nitrogen Organically bonded nitrogen

Organic nitrogen and ammonia in Freshly

Level polluted water
Under aerobic conditions
the conversion of Org. N to NH3,
under the appropriate biological conditions,
biochemically oxidized first into nitrite, then
into nitrate

 Kjeldahl digestion converts the organic

nitrogen to ammonia
 Titrimetric method for ammonia
Measurement  The persulfate digestion method oxidizes all
nitrogenous compounds into nitrate
 Ammonia and Nitrate selective electrodes
 Ultraviolet method for nitrate in fresh water
Phosphorus
• It occurs in natural and wastewaters as orthophosphate, and organically bound
phosphate contributed by a variety of sources

• It is in both soluble and suspended forms

• Phosphorus analysis embody two steps:

 Conversion to dissolved orthophosphate form

 Colorimetric determination of dissolved orthophosphate

• Preliminary acid hydrolysis/oxidative digestion (to convert Pinto reactive form)

• Reactive form of phosphate measured by spectrophotometer with:

 Vanadomolybdo phosphoric acid method

 Stannous chloride method

 Ascorbic acid method

 Phenols
• Phenols may occur in domestic and industrial waste waters,
natural water and potable water supplies.

• Chlorination of such waters may produce odorous and

objectionable tasting chlorophenols.

• 4-aminoantipirine colorimetric method is the method of choice for

phenol estimation.

• Steam distillable phenols react with 4-aminoantipirine at pH 7.9 

0.1 in the presence of potassium ferricyanide to form a coloured
antipyrine dye. This dye is extracted from aqueous solution with
CHCl3 and the absorbance is measured at 460 n.m.
 Oil & Grease
 Groups of substances with similar physical characteristics are
determined qualitatively on the basis of their common solubility in
organic solvent

 For Oil & Grease analysis, Partition-Gravimetric method is suitable

 Oil & Grease is extracted from water with org. solvent such as Hexane

 Solvent layer from separatory funnel is collected into a clean flask and
distill off on water bath

 Gain in weight of flask is the concentration of Oil & Grease in the

volume of sample taken
Toxic Metals

• Many metals are toxic to aquatic animals.

• Bio-accumulate through food chains and has implications

for human health as well as environmental health

• Colorimetric methods are tedious and time consuming.

• Toxic metals are best analyzed by AAS or ICP with

minimum pre-treatment of the samples.
Bacterial Analysis
SAMPLE COLLECTION
• Use appropriate sampling container (sterile) with
sodium thiosulphate to remove chlorine
• Use gloves while sampling
• Sample should be representative of flow
• After collection place it on ice or in a refrigerator
• Deliver to a laboratory ASAP, but no later than
6 hours of collection
MOST PROBABLE NUMBER (MPN)
Used to detect coliforms

This test consists of two to three steps:

• Presumptive test
• Confirmatory test
• Completed test

MEMBRANE FILTRATION TECHNIQUE

H2S VIAL