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OFFICIAL CHILEAN STANDARD NCh409/1.Of2005

Potable water - Part 1 - Requirements

Preamble

The National Institute for Standardization, INN, is the body in charge of studying and preparing technical
standards at the national level. It is a member of the INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR
STANDARDIZATION (ISO) and the PAN AMERICAN COMMISSION FOR TECHNICAL STANDARDS
(COPANT), representing Chile before these organizations.

As there is no International Standard, in the preparation of this standard the standard NCh409/1.Of84
Drinking water - Part 1: Requirements and the document Guidelines for drinking-water quality, Volume 1
Recommendations, World Health Organization, Geneve , 1995 and its update in 2004.

The NCh409/1 standard has been prepared by the Standards Division of the National Institute of
Standardization, based on a draft prepared by the Superintendency of Services
Sanitary, and in its study the Committee was made up of the following organizations and natural persons:

Aguas Andinas S.A. Cristián Salazar

Aguas Cordillera S.A. Marcela Etcheberrigaray
Aguas de Antofagasta S.A. Alberto Cáceres V.
AIDIS - Chile Elizabeth Echeverria O.
ANAM SA Jacqueline Pizarro
AQUA Ltda. Elizabeth Echeverria O.
ARQUIMED SA Alexandra Bruna A.
Eugenia Lisboa S.
Center for Studies, Measurement and Quality
Certification, CESMEC Ltda. Vicenta Lozano R.
Ximena Parra S.
Chilean Copper Commission, COCHILCO Soledad Santa Ana L.
DICTUC SA Arturo Givovich H.

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Sanitary Works Company of Valparaíso, ESVAL SA Gabriella Simpson L.

Companies Thames Water GCL Raul Mardones G.
- Fundación Chile Institute of Adriana Munoz C.
Public Health, ISP National Institute for Soraya Gandoral
Standardization, INN Labser Ltda. Ramona Villalon D.
Carolina Sepulveda F.
Ministry of Health Gonzalo Aguilar Julio
Monreal U.
MR LAB Manuel Ruiz M.
Pontifical Catholic University Gustavo Lagos
Superintendence of Sanitary Services, SISS Nancy Cepeda R.
Ricardo Christi L.
Christian Lillo S.
Christian Maurer G.
Thames Water Chile Eduardo Alarcon M.
Marcela Del Villar Marcela Del Villar

In addition to the organizations that participated in the Committee, the Institute received responses during the public
consultation period for this standard, from the following entities:

A & A Tecnolab SA
CIMM SA
National Environmental Commission, CONAMA Codelco Chile
ESMAG SA

ESSAM SA
ESSAR SA
ESSCO SA
Nestle SA
National Consumer Service, SERNAC Catholic University
of the North University of Chile - IDIEF

This standard cancels and replaces standard NCh409/1.Of84 Drinking water - Part 1: Requirements, declared Official
of the Republic by Decree No. 11, dated January 16, 1984, of the Ministry of Public Health, published in the Official
Gazette of the March 03, 1984.

This standard has been approved by the Council of the National Institute for Standardization, in a session held on July
26, 2005.

This standard has been declared Official of the Republic of Chile by Exempt Decree No. 446, dated June 16, 2006, of
the Ministry of Health, published in the Official Gazette on June 27, 2006.

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OFFICIAL CHILEAN STANDARD NCh409/1.Of2005

Potable water - Part 1 - Requirements

1 Scope and field of application

1.1 This standard establishes the quality requirements that drinking water must meet throughout the
national territory.

The parameters to define the quality requirements have been grouped into the following types:

Type I Microbiological and turbidity parameters;

Type II Chemical elements or substances of importance for health;

Type III Radioactive elements;

Type IV Parameters related to the organoleptic characteristics;

V-type Disinfection parameters.

1.2 This standard applies to drinking water from any supply service.

1.3 This standard applies to drinking water in the distribution system and sampled as established in
NCh409/2.

NOTE - In the case of bottled drinking water that is sold, the corresponding Chilean standard applies.

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2 Normative references

The following normative documents contain provisions that, through references in the text of the
standard, constitute requirements of the standard.

NCh409/2 Drinking water - Part 2: Sampling.

NCh410 Water quality - Vocabulary.
NCh1620/1 Drinking water - Determination of total coliform bacteria -
Part 1: Multiple tube method (NMP).
NCh1620/2 Drinking water - Determination of total coliform bacteria -
Part 2: Membrane filtration method.
NCh2043 Water - Simultaneous determination method of bacteria
total coliforms and Escherichia coli by the technique of
chromogenic substrate.
Manual of Drinking Water Analysis Methods published by the Superintendency of Sanitary
Services, latest edition.

3 Terms and definitions

For this standard, the terms defined in NCh410 and additionally the following apply:

3.1 Competent Authority: that designated by the laws and regulations in force for these
purposes

3.2 drinking water: water that meets the microbiological, turbidity, chemical, radioactive,
organoleptic and disinfection requirements described in NCh409/1, which ensure its safety and
suitability for human consumption

3.3 total coliforms: group of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria, Gram negative, non-
spore forming, lactose fermenters at 35ºC with acid and gas production, which have ÿ-D-
galactosidase activity

3.4 true color color caused by dissolved matter in water, such as metal ions (iron, manganese),
tannins, lignins and other humic matter, and industrial discharges, determined after removing
turbidity by filtration

3.5 contamination: presence of elements, compounds or organisms that modify or alter the
physical, chemical, biological and/or radioactive properties of water, exceeding the limits
established in NCh409/1

3.6 Escherichia coli: bacteria of the coliform group. Includes those microorganisms that, in a
suitable medium, at a restrictive temperature of 44.5ºC ± 0.2ºC, ferment lactose producing acid
and gas, and have ÿ-D-glucuronidase activity and tryptophanase activity. They are negative for
oxidase and urease activity.

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3.7 critical parameters: those parameters, characteristic of the source or the service, toxic
or organoleptic (Type II or Type IV), which in the absence or failure of the treatment process
exceed the maximum limit specified in NCh409/1

3.8 radioactivity: spontaneous disintegration of the atomic nuclei of certain elements,

accompanied by the emission of particles and electromagnetic radiation

3.9 taste: gustatory sensation produced by the substances contained in the water

3.10 drinking water service; service: that made up of an independent drinking water
distribution network, operating under normal conditions, made up of one or more sources, its
conduction, treatment, regulation and distribution works

3.11 turbidity; turbidity: optical interference of suspended matter in the water that produces
a reduction in its transparency

4 Criteria for microbiological parameters and turbidity (Type I)

4.1 Microorganisms indicating microbiological contamination

Coliform group microorganisms are a good microbial indicator of water quality. Drinking water
must simultaneously meet the following conditions:

4.1.1 Of all the samples that are analyzed monthly in a drinking water service, the presence
of total coliforms is accepted in:

a) a sample, when less than 10 samples have been analyzed in the month;

b) 10% of the samples, when 10 or more samples have been analyzed in the month.

4.1.2 Of all the samples that are analyzed monthly in a drinking water service, the presence
of total coliforms in a concentration greater than or equal to 5 CFU or NMP per 100 ml is
accepted in:

a) a sample, when less than 20 samples have been analyzed in the month;

b) 5% of the samples, when 20 or more samples have been analyzed in the month.

4.1.3 In each of the sectors of a drinking water service, the presence of total coliforms is
accepted in:

a) a sample, when less than four samples have been analyzed in the sector;

b) 25% of the samples of the sector, when four or more samples have been analyzed in the
month in said sector.

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4.1.4 All samples that are analyzed monthly in a drinking water service must be free of
Escherichia coli. To verify this requirement, in the samples in which the presence of total
coliforms has been detected, the absence of Escherichia coli must also be confirmed.

4.2 Turbidity

Drinking water in each service must simultaneously meet the following conditions:

4.2.1 The monthly average turbidity must be less than or equal to 2 NTU, obtained as an
arithmetic average of all the punctual samples analyzed in the month.

4.2.2 Of all the samples that are analyzed monthly, the turbidity can exceed the value of 4
NTU in:

a) a sample, when less than 20 samples have been analyzed in the month;

b) 5% of the samples, when 20 or more samples have been analyzed in the month.

4.2.3 No sample may exceed the value of 20 UNT.

4.2.4 Of all the samples that are analyzed monthly, the samples that present turbidity between
10 NTU and 20 NTU may not correspond to the same 24-hour period.

4.3 The final percentage of the conditions indicated in 4.1.1 b), 4.1.2 b), 4.1.3 b) and 4.2.2 b),
must be expressed with two decimal figures.

5 Criteria for elements or chemical substances of importance for

health (Type II)
Drinking water must not contain elements or chemical substances in total concentrations
greater than those indicated in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, referring to the maximum content of
elements or chemical substances of importance for health present in drinking water.

Table 1 - Essential elements

Expressed as total Maximum limit

Element
items mg/L

Copper Cu 2.0
total chrome Cr 0.05
ÿ

Fluoride F 1.5

Iron Faith 0.3

Manganese min 0.1
Magnesium mg 125.0
Selenium I know
0.01
Zinc zinc 3.0

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Table 2 - Non-essential elements or substances

Expressed as elements or total Maximum limit

element or substance
substances
mg/L

Arsenic Ace 0.01 1)

Cadmium CD 0.01

Cyanide ÿ 0.05
NC
Mercury Hg 0.001

Nitrate ÿ
fifty
NOT
3

Nitrite ÿ
3
NOT
two

two)
Nitrate + nitrite ratio one

Lead Pb 0.05

1) With the prior report of the Superintendency of Sanitary Services, the Competent Health Authority may establish the term
in which the maximum limit indicated for arsenic must be reached by those water services that exceed it at the time
this standard enters into force. . This period may not exceed 10 years and will be set considering the infrastructure
that is required to be implemented for it, in accordance with the contingency plan presented by the respective
company. In any case, and also subject to a prior report from the Superintendency of Sanitary Services, the time
allowed to reach the limit of 0.03 mg/L may not exceed five years.

2) Sum of the ratios between the measured concentration of each and its respective limit
maximum.

Table 3 - Organic Substances

Maximum limit
Substance
µg/L

Tetrachloroethene 40

Benzene 10

toluene 700

Xylenes 500

Table 4 - Pesticides

Maximum limit
pesticide
µg/L

DDT + DDD + DDE two

2,4-D 30

Lindane two

methoxychlor twenty

Pentachlorophenol 9

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Table 5 - Secondary products of disinfection

Maximum limit
Product
mg/L

monochloroamine 3
Dibromochloromethane 0.1
bromodichloromethane 0.06
tribromomethane 0.1
trichloromethane 0.2
trihalomethanes 1 *)

*) Sum of the ratios between the measured concentration of each

and its respective maximum limit.

6 Criteria for radioactive elements (Type III)

Drinking water must not contain radioactive substances in concentrations greater than those
indicated in Table 6.

Table 6 - Maximum limits for radioactive elements

Maximum limit
Element
Bq/L

Strontium 90 0.37
Radius 226 0.11
Total base activity (excluding Sr-90, Ra-226 and other alpha emitters) 37

Total beta activity (including Sr-90, corrected for K-40 and other natural 1.9
emitters)
Total alpha activity (including Ra-226 and other alpha emitters) 0.55

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7 Quality requirements for organoleptic parameters (Type IV)

Drinking water must meet the requirements indicated in Table 7 and the tolerances established in
clause 9.

Table 7 - Parameters related to organoleptic characteristics

Parameters Expressed as Unit Maximum limit

Physical:
true color - Pt-Co unit 20
Smell - - odorless
Taste - -
tasteless

Inorganic:
Ammonia NH3 mg/L 1.5

Chloride 400 1)
ÿ

Cl mg/L
- -
pH 6.5 < pH < 8.5 500
Sulfate ÿ

two
mg/L 1)
SW
4

Total dissolved solids - 1,500

mg/L

Organic:
Phenolic compounds Phenol µg/L two

1) The Competent Authority, in accordance with the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health, may authorize values higher than the maximum
limits indicated in this table, in accordance with current health regulations.

8 Criteria for disinfection parameters (Type V)

8.1 Drinking water distributed by networks must be subjected to a disinfection process, and there
must be a residual concentration of active disinfectant in the network permanently.

8.2 The maximum residual concentration of free chlorine must be 2.0 mg/L under normal operating
conditions at any point in the network. The Competent Authority may require higher concentrations,
under special conditions for a particular service.

8.3 The minimum residual concentration of free chlorine must be 0.2 mg/L at any point in the
network.

8.4 Of all the samples that are analyzed monthly in a drinking water service:

a) less than or equal to 10% of them may have a residual concentration of

active disinfectant lower than the established minimum;

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b) a number not greater than that indicated below may have no residual chlorine
free:

i) one sample, when up to 100 samples are analysed;

ii) three samples, when more than 100 samples are analysed.

The Competent Authority may dictate exception conditions and requirements for a particular
service, which it will qualify.

8.5 The use of any disinfectant other than an active chlorine generator must be authorized by
the Competent Authority, which must also establish the minimum concentration, the maximum
concentration, the tolerance, the controls and the method of determining a residual active
disinfectant in the network, as well as the form of sampling.

9 Tolerance for critical parameters

9.1 Of all the samples that are analyzed monthly in a drinking water service, the critical
parameters (see 3.7) may exceed the values established in Table 1, essential elements, Table
2, non-essential elements or substances, and Table 7, organoleptic parameters , in:

a) one sample, when less than 10 samples have been analysed;

b) 10% of the samples, when 10 or more samples have been analysed.

9.2 The arithmetic average of all the samples analyzed in the month must not exceed the limits
established in the corresponding table.

9.3 In the case of the elements or substances: copper, fluoride, nitrate and nitrite, no single
sample may exceed twice the limit established in this standard.

10 Sampling

The extraction of samples to verify the requirements established in this standard is carried out
in accordance with the provisions of NCh409/2.

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11 Test Methods
11.1 To verify the disinfection requirements, the determination of the residual free chlorine
concentration in drinking water samples must be carried out in the field, at the same time of
collection and by the DPD method (N, N - diethyl - p-phenylenediamine). Both the use of digital
colorimeters with photometric measurement and the use of colored disks for visual comparison
are allowed; In both cases, the equipment must be previously verified for its entire working
range, at least every six months, against the FAS standard method defined in the Standard
Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, latest edition.

The Competent Authority may authorize another method for determining the concentration of
residual free chlorine.

11.2 To verify the requirements of the radioactive parameters, the Competent Authority will
determine the volume of the sample, the place of sampling, the conditions of extraction of the
samples and the frequency of sampling.

11.3 The verification of the other requirements established in this standard must be carried out
by applying those methods specified by the Superintendency of Sanitary Services and in their
absence, the corresponding Chilean standards for drinking water must be used or any of the
procedures established in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,
latest edition.

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OFFICIAL CHILEAN STANDARD NCh 409/1.Of2005

NATIONAL INSTITUTION OF NO RMALIZATION z INN – CHILE

Potable water - Part 1 - Requirements

Drinking water - Part 1: Requirements

First edition: 2005

Descriptors: food, drinking water, requirements

CIN 13.060.20

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