1

Water Treatment
The broad objectives of a water supply system are:
 Supply water of adequate quantity
 Supply safe and wholesome water to the consumers
 Make water easily available to consumers.

 Domestic Safe Water: Unpolluted, not Harmful upon

 Commercial consumption
 Industrial Water Treatment
 Recreational Must satisfy the National and
 Public water uses International Standard and Guideline

Third objective means that the water is accessible and within the reach
of the consumers as to encourage the use of adequate water for
personal and household cleanliness.

2
Objectives of Water Supply

To deliver potable and acceptable water of adequate quantity

(easily available) to the consumers.

Potable Water
Pleasant to Taste
Safe to drink (cause no health hazard or harm upon
consumption)
Suitable for domestic uses.
Acceptable in terms of taste, odor and appearance

3
 Elements of Water Supply System
 Sources of supply
 Collection system
 Treatment
 Distribution system

4
 Global Water Distribution
Total Water

Saline water Fresh Water

(97.5%) (2.5)

Oceans Salt Lakes Ice Caps and Lakes, rivers

(99.99%) (0.01%) Glaciers (75%) and soil (1.0%)

Groundwater
(24%)

Less than 1.0% of the world’s total water can readily be

used by humans for water supply and other uses.
Fresh water is regarded as Limited Resource.
5
 Sources of Water Supply
 Surface Water  Quantity
 Groundwater  Quality and
 Rainwater  Cost.

Surface Water (Water in the Ponds, Lakes, Rivers, Reservoirs,

etc)
Availability: Seasonal variation, quantities are not sufficient
for meeting the demand.
Quality: Microbiologically Contaminated, Chemicals and
Pesticides, other organic and inorganic matters.
Surface waters tend to be variable in quality in terms of
turbidity, color, taste and odor causing substance
Need Extensive Treatment for Water Supply.
Surface water sources should be carefully selected. The following should be
considered:
 Safe and reliable watershed yield during the drought years to meet the
projected demand (hydrological analysis and demand analysis)
 Urbanization and land development on the watershed
 Proposed impoundments on tributaries
 Water quality based on short term, seasonal and long-term changes
expressed as physical, chemical and microbiological indicators
 Potential changes in the quality of the raw water due to the increased
rate of withdrawal
 Assessment of reliability in terms of possible disruptions due to flood
damage, earthquake, or accidental spills of toxic substances
 Requirements for construction of reservoir, collection head works,
conveyance system, treatment plant and distribution system
 Economics of the project including the cost of construction and operation
of the facilities
 Environmental impacts of the project (EIA).
7
 Checklist for Surface Water Investigations
i. Topographic maps showing pertinent drainage areas.
ii. Hydrologic data, as required for project evaluations; e.g., rainfall, runoff,
evaporation, assessment of ground water resources and their potential as
the sole source or supplementary source of supply.
iii. Sanitary survey findings.
iv. Intake location.
v. Water quality data at or near proposed intake site.
vi. Feasibility of developing supply without reservoir construction.
vii. Reservoir location if reservoir is required.
viii.Plans for other reservoirs on watershed.
ix. Pertinent geological data that may affect dam foundation or ability of
reservoir to hold water.
x. Locations for pumping stations, supply lines, treatment plant.
xi. Energy requirements for proposed system.
xii.State water laws, rules and regulations, procedure for obtaining right
to use water, impact of the proposed use on rights of other users.
xiii.Disposal of sludge from the treatment plant. 8
 Criteria for Selecting Surface Water
Bangladesh water quality standards for surface water as water source
(ECR, 1997)

Water quality Unit Values for water supply by

parameters Disinfection Conventional
only treatment
pH -- 6.5 - 8.5 6.5 - 8.5
BOD mg/L 2 or less 3 or less
DO mg/L 6 or more 6 or more
Total Coliform No./100 mL 50 or less 5,000 or less
(TC)

9
 Groundwater (Water in aquifer)
Quantity: Normally available to meet the demand
Quality: Excellent microbial quality (Free from Microbial
Pollutants), however it contains excessive dissolved
minerals and inorganic materials (TDS, As, Fe, Mn,
Hardness, etc.)
Need to remove excess minerals and inorganic materials
before water supply.
In many places, the groundwater from the shallow aquifer in
Bangladesh contains excessive iron, manganese, arsenic,
TDS and hardness.
In the coastal areas of Bangladesh, groundwater also
contains excessive salinity. This water needs specific
treatment for domestic uses like drinking, cooking, etc.

10
 Checklist for Groundwater Investigation
Hydro-geological investigation
 Exploratory drilling, soil sampling and analysis
 Geophysical logging
 Aquifer test and analysis of test data
 Groundwater sampling
 Water quality analysis
 Water quality problems
 Groundwater level data (from Secondary Sources)
 Water treatment requirement
 Energy requirement and impact of the proposed plant on the
environment especially on groundwater resources.

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 WHO classification of water sources according to bacterial
quality and the recommended level of treatment
Source Level of contamination Treatment
Groundwater
Protected Deep Free of faecal contamination; Disinfection (c) for
Tubewells E.coli nil per 100 mL (b) distribution purpose
only
Evidence of faecal contamination;
E.coli 20 per 100 mL Disinfection (c)
Unprotected Faecal Contamination; Filtration (d) and
Groundwater (shallow E.coli up to 2000 per 100 mL disinfection (c)
wells)
Gross faecal contamination; Not recommended as
E.coli > 2000 per 100 mL a water supply source
(e)

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Source Level of contamination Treatment
Surface waters
Protected impounded Essentially free of faecal Disinfection (c)
upland water contamination;
E.coli < 20 per mL

Unprotected Faecal contamination; Filtration (d) and

impounded upland E.coli 20-2000 per 100 mL disinfection (c)
water/ upland river

Unprotected lowland Faecal contamination; Long-term storage or

river E.coli 200-20,000 per 100 mL pre-disinfection;
filtration (d);
additional filtration (f)
and disinfection (c)

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 If the sources are contaminated with Giardia cysts or Cryptoporidium
cysts, they must be treated by processes additional to disinfection
 Water must comply with the WHO guideline criteria for pH, turbidity,
bacteriological and parasitological quality
 WHO conditions for final disinfection must be satisfied
 Filtration must be either rapid gravity (or pressure) preceded by
coagulation-flocculation and where necessary clarification or slow
sand filtration. The degree of viruses reduction must be > 90%.
 Water from these sources should be used only if no higher quality
source is available. Drinking water from such sources carries a risk of
inadequate virological quality
 Additional treatment may consist of slow sand filtration, ozonation with
granular activated carbon absorption or other processes
demonstrated to achieve > 99% virus reduction.

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 Rainwater
 Availability depends on seasons, not available to meet
the year long demand of a community.
 Quality: Excellent (purest form of natural water), lack of
minerals, test is not good.
 Rainwater needs harvesting (Stored Rainwater) for use
 Normally do not need any treatment.

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Raw water should be monitored and analyzed for the following water quality
parameters for preliminary selection as source for water supply.
Physical/chemical
 pH
 Acidity
 Alkalinity
 Suspended solids
 Color
 Taste
 Odor
 Turbidity
 Dissolved oxygen (DO)
Biological
 Total coliforms (37OC, 24 hr)
 E.coli (37OC, 48 hr)

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Global Water Supply Situation
Water Supply Access
According to World Bank Water
Supply
In 1996, nearly 25 percent of Access,
25%
the world’s 5.7 billion people
Without
lacked access to safe water for Water
drinking, personal hygiene, and Supply
Access,
domestic use. 75%

 About, 20% of the world’s population does not have

ready access to drinking water and 40% lack sanitation
facilities.
 Majority of these people are in developing countries
 The United Nations has identified water use as a priority
for international aid.
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 Global water supply situation (UNICEF, WHO)
 More than 1.1 billion people do not have an access to
safe and affordable drinking water
 2.4 billion people live in conditions lacking adequate
sanitation.
 Each year about 4 million people die of waterborne
diseases, including 2 million children who die of diarrhea.
 220 million urban residents in the developing world lack a
source of safe drinking water near their homes.
 84% of the population without access to an improved
source of drinking water live in rural areas.

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Based on assumptions of population growth, projections of
development and climate change, Stockholm Environment
Institute -proportion of the world’s population living in
countries with significant water stress will increase from
approximately 34% in 1994 to 63% in 2025, including large
areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Safe drinking water, sanitation and good hygiene are

fundamental to health, survival, growth and development.
However, these basic necessities are still a luxury for
many of the world’s poor people.
Over 1.1 billion of our fellow citizens do not use drinking water
from improved sources.
At the beginning of the 21st century many people face
formidable challenges to meet increasing demand for water.

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Global Water Supply and
Sanitation Situation
This figure illustrates, by region, %
of population without access to
improved water and sanitation.
To demonstrate how this impacts
health, the figure also shows
number of deaths per
1000 children younger than 1 year
of age that are attributable
to diarrheal diseases.
Conditions are most severe in sub-
Saharan Africa, where 42% of the
population is without improved
water, 64% is without improved
sanitation, and deaths due to
diarrheal diseases are greater
than in any other region. Adopted from WHO/UNICEF, 2004.
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Water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases

21
22
23
 Challenges
 Available of Water Sources to meet the increasing
demand of growing population.
 100% access to water supply of all people
 Regulations and Legislation (1985 - New physical and
chemical water quality standards; Additional Treatment)
 Higher urban population growth and associated higher
demand of water.
 Environmental Considerations
 Climate Changes and Global Warming
 Resources
 Limited Quantity/Pollution??

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 Impurities/Contaminants in Water and Effects

 Impurities of mineral origin

 Impurities of organic origin
 Living impurities
 Radioactive Impurities

Form of Presence
 Suspended
 Colloidal form
 Dissolved form

Classification of Solids in Water

Suspended Solids (> 1.0 m)
Colloidal Solids (less than 1 m but more than 10-3 m)
Dissolved Solids (< 10-3 m)
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 A dissolved substance is one which is truly in solution. This substance
cannot be removed from the liquid without accomplishing a phase
change such as precipitation (ppt), distillation, adsorption or
extraction. Any physical method such as filtration, sedimentation
cannot remove dissolved substances.

 Suspended solids are large enough to settle out of solution or be removed

by filtration. SS can be removed from water by physical methods such as
sedimentation, filtration and centrifugation.

 Colloidal particles are in the size ranges between dissolved and SS and
can be removed by physical means like very high centrifugation or
filtration through membranes with very small pore openings. However,
particles are too small to be removed by sedimentation or by normal
filtration. Colloidal particles can be removed effectively by
coagulation followed by sedimentation and filtration.

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Impurities Effect on Water Effect on Health
Living Impurities
Bacteria Turbidity at high concentrations Diseases
Viruses -- Diseases
Algae, protozoa, fungi Turbidity, color, odor Diseases, toxicity
Impurities of mineral &
organic origin
Salt and clay Turbidity --
Salt of Ca and Mg Hardness, taste, corrosiveness --
and scale formation
Salt of Na Salinity, foaming, taste, scaling --
Fluorides -- Tooth decay
Nitrate Algal growth Diseases
Fe and Mn Taste, hardness, scaling --
Arsenic, lead, heavy metals -- Diseases
Vegetable dyes Color, acidity Diseases
Gases
Oxygen Corrosiveness, taste --
Carbon dioxide Acidity, corrosiveness --
Hydrogen sulphide Odor, corrosiveness, acidity Toxicity
Radioactive impurities -- Diseases

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 Inorganic Constituents
Major Anions and Cations in water
Cations Anions
Calcium (Ca+2) Bicarbonate (HCO3-) and Carbonate (CO3-2)
Magnesium (Mg+2) Chloride (Cl-)
Sodium (Na+) Sulfate (SO4-2)
Potassium (K+) Nitrate (NO3-)
Iron (Fe+2) Phosphate (PO4-3)
Manganese (Mn+2) Fluoride (F-)

Heavy Metals (Cd, As, Co, Hg, etc)

Sum of cations and anions in meq/L should be equal.
 Minor and trace elements in Water
Antimony
Lead
Arsenic
Mercury (Inorganic)
Asbestos
Nitrate
Barium
Nitrite
Beryllium Antimony
Selenium
Cadmium Potential Health Effect:
Thallium Increase in blood cholesterol
Chromium
Decrease in blood sugar
Copper
Sources:
Cyanide Petroleum refinery, retardants, ceramics,
Fluoride electronics, solder, etc.
Maximum Concentration Level (MCL) in
drinking water is 0.006 mg/L
 Chemical Units

 Water Quality Parameters
 Physical
 Chemical
 Biological
 Radiological
 Physical WQ Parameters
Examples: Solids, turbidity, color, taste, odor and temperature.
Solids: may be inorganic, organic particles or of immiscible liquids.
Impacts:
 Aesthetically displeasing and provide adsorption sites for chemical and
biological agents
 Suspended organic solids may be degraded biologically, resulting in
objectionable by-products
 Biologically active SS may include disease causing organisms.
Measurement: Total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS),
suspended solids (SS).
 Color
 Due to presence of suspended matter or dissolved solids in water

 True color (dissolved materials) and Apparent color (suspended solids)

 Color water is aesthetically unacceptable and cause taste and odor of

water
 Presence of various carcinogenic substance in water

Unit: True Color Unit (TCU) or Hazen

TCU: 1.0 mg of platinum in 1.0 L of water in the form of chloroplatinate ion.

Bangladesh standard: 15 Hazen

WHO recommended level is 10 TCU

 Turbidity
 Caused by the presence of suspended matter such as clay, finely
divided organic and inorganic matter and micro-organisms.

 Light scattering and light absorbing properties of water

 High turbidity – microorganisms, viruses, cysts,

 Interface with disinfection and chlorine demand

 Important that safe and wholesome drinking water have a very low
turbidity to qualify as safe water for municipal water supply.

Unit: NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit)

WHO Recommended level is 5 NTU
BD recommended level: 10 NTU
Other Physical WQ parameters
 Taste
 Odor
 Temperature

Details: Text or Reference Books

 Chemical WQ Parameters
 pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and TDS
 Chloride, Nitrate, F, As, Fe, Mn, Na, Heavy metals, etc.
 Alkalinity of Water
Alkalinity is a measure of its capacity to neutralize acids
The alkalinity is primarily due to salts of weak acids and strong bases and is
thus a measure of the buffer capacity.
Caused by 3 classes of elements
 Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
 Carbonate (CO3-2)
 Hydroxides (OH-)
Very important parameter for coagulation process of water treatment, Fe
removal process.
Unit: meq/L or mg/L as CaCO3
mg/L as CaCO3 = mg/L of species x (EW of CaCO3/EW of species).
 Alkalinity = HCO3- + CO3-2 + OH- - H+
 Alkalinity of Water
 Below pH 4.5, all the carbonates are H2CO3 and alkalinity is negative
 At pH = 7.5-8.3, all carbonates are HCO3- and alkalinity equals HCO3-
 At pH = 8.3-9.4, all carbonates are CO3-2 and alkalinity equals to
2[CO3-2]
 Above pH 11.5, all carbonates are OH- and alkalinity equals to OH-

Impacts: bitter test to water if present in large quantity. Alkalinity in water

may react with certain cations in water, resulting in formation of ppt.
Use of alkalinity data: buffering capacity of water, process control
variable in most water and wastewater treatment.
No maximum limit for drinking water.
 Hardness
Used to characterize a water and is useful in softening calculation
Sum of all polyvalent metallic cations in solution. Practically hardness is the
sum of Ca+2 and Mg+2 in solution, also called Total Hardness (TH).
Unit: mg/L as CaCO3

CH: Hardness equivalent to

Carbonate hardness (CH) alkalinity. CH is equal to TH or
TH alkalinity, which ever is less.
Non-carbonate hardness (NCH)

NCH: is the total hardness in

Temporary (CH) excess of alkalinity. If the
TH
alkalinity is equal to or greater
Permanent (NCH) than TH, NCH = 0.
 Hardness
 When alkalinity = hardness
Ca and Mg are present in the form of HCO3-, CO3-2 or OH-

 When alkalinity > hardness and pH< 8.3

Sufficient bicarbonate anions (alkalinity) are present with non-hardness
cations (NaHCO3, KHCO3 dominate) and all harness are bicarbonate
hardness Ca(HCO3)2, Mg(HCO3)2

 When alkalinity < hardness

Non-carbonate hardness (Cl-, SO4-2) of Ca and Mg are present (CaCl2,
CaSO4, MgCl2, MgSO4 dominate) and alkalinity = CH.
 Hardness
Impacts
 Soap consumption by hard water represents an economic loss of the
consumers
 Boiler scale may formed, loss of fuel efficiency loss
 May cause change of water pH, deposition of ppt
 Mg hardness < 50 mg/L as CaCO3 is desirable in drinking water. Ca
hardness presents no public health problems. Hardness is
approximately beneficial for the human cardiovascular system.
Uses: Potable and industrial water supply.
Classification of water based on BD standard:
Hardness 200-500 mg as CaCO3
Soft < 50 mg as CaCO3
Moderately soft 50-150 mg as CaCO3
Hard 150-300 mg as CaCO3
Very hard > 300 mg as CaCO3
TDS (mg/L) and EC (μS/cm)
TDS: inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter.
For domestic water uses TDS < 500 mg/L
Based on TDS, water can be classified as:
 Excellent TDS < 300 mg/L
 Good 300-600 mg/L
 Fair 600-900 mg/L
 Poor 900-1200 mg/L
 Unacceptable > 1200 mg/L

Relationship between TDS and EC

TDS = K.EC
K = 0.55 - 0.90
Arsenic (As)
Potential Health Effect:
Skin damage or problems with circulatory
systems, Increase risk of cancer
Sources: Erosion of natural deposit, runoff from
orchards, glass and electronics products wastes.
MCL in drinking water: 0.01 mg/L (WHO/USEPA)
0.05 mg/L (Bangladesh, India, China)
Public Health Goal: Zero in drinking water
Copper
Potential Health Effect:
Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress
Long term exposure: Liver or kidney damage
Sources: Erosion of natural deposit, Corrosion of
household plumbing systems.
MCL in drinking water: 1.3 mg/L (WHO/USEPA)
0.050 mg/L (Bangladesh, India, China)
Public Health Goal: 1.3 mg/L in drinking water
Increase in treatment level to reduce the Copper contents in
drinking water supply.
Nitrate
 Surface water, less nitrate
 Ground water has higher nitrate level
 If presence in excess amount, it may cause infant
(Below 6 months) methemoglobinemia (Blue Baby)
and shorten of breadth.
 Recommended level of nitrate in drinking water is 10
mg/L

Sources: Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic

tanks, sewage and erosion from natural deposits.
Fluoride (F)
 Essential constituent and is utilized in the structure of bones and
teeth.
 A deficiency of F may result in Dental Cavities
 Excess cause Dental Fluorosis and toxicity
 A significant portion of F comes from drinking water; therefore its
control in water supply is important
 Recommended level in drinking water is 1.0 mg/L (4 mg/L)

Sources: Water additive which promotes strong teeth,

erosion of natural deposits, discharge from fertilizers and
Aluminum factories.
 Organic Constituents in Drinking Water
 Natural decomposition of plants and animal material
(proteins, carbohydrates and lipids)
 Most common natural organic matter is humic, fulvic and
hymotomelanic acids, algae and other microorganisms
 Municipal and industrial discharge – Synthetic Organic
Compounds (> 100,000. Surfactants, pesticides and
herbicides, cleaning solvents, polychlorinated biphenyls and
disinfection by-products, etc)
 Concentration in surface and GW is increasing – excessive
use, discharges, spills and dumping
 Many of these compounds at low concentration is toxic and
carcinogenic.
Measurement of Organic Content
Non-specific (BOD5, COD, TOC, TOD, Color)
Specific quantification of specific compounds: GCMS, Liquid
Chromatography
Different Classes of Synthetic Organic Compounds

Synthetic Detergents: Alkyl benzene sulfonate (ABS),

Linear alkyl sulfonate (LBS)
Pesticides: Chlorinated hydrocarbons, aldrin, Chlordane,
DDT, Organophosphate, Chlorophenoxys, etc.
Cleaning Solvents: Acetone, Benzine, Carbon
tetrachloride, Chlorobenzene, Dichloromehane,
Trichloroethylene.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Disinfection by-products (DBPs): Chloroform (CHCl3),
Bromoform (CHBr3), Bromodichloromethane (CHCl2Br),
Chlorodibromomethane (CHClBr2)
 Bacteriological/Microbial WQ Parameters
Requirements of Drinking Water
 Be completely free of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause diseases.
 Water must be tested for the presence of pathogenic organisms, which
may cause outbreak of water borne diseases.
 Improvement of drinking water quality is an effective preventive measure
against transmission of water borne diseases.
Table 17.5 (ITN): Water borne diseases, responsible pathogens and route
of transmission.
Water may be contaminated by sewage disposal, human and animal excrement. Fecal
pollution of water may introduce a variety of intestinal pathogens (bacterial, viral and
parasitic), which may cause
 Typhoid fever
 Bacillary dysentery
 Chorea
 Virus causing hepatitis
 Dysentery, etc.
 Microorganisms
 Water has long served as a mode of transmission of diseases.
 Most common water borne diseases (Typhoid fever, Para-typhoids,
Dysentery, Infectious Hepatitis, Cholera and some parasitic worm
diseases.
 Bad taste and odor, corrosion and slime production
 Many microorganisms also caused nuisance in water supply.

Major Groups of Microorganisms in Water Supply

 Bacteria
 Viruses
 Fungi and Mold
 Algae
 Protozoa
 Helminths or parasitic worms
 Measurement
In water supply, it is practically impossible to test for all pathogens in water.

Water safety against microorganisms: Indictor organisms

Non pathogenic microorganisms (Faecal Origin) those presence indicate the

presence of pathogenic microorganisms.

Properties of an Ideal Indicator Organisms

 Be applicable to all types of water

 Always be present, when pathogens are present

 Always be absent, when pathogens are absent

 Easy to detect and analysis.

Classification Based on Carbon/Energy Source
 Autotrophic Organisms: Derive Carbon from CO2
 Heterotrophic Organisms: Use Organic Carbon for cell
synthesis
 Phototrophs: derive energy for cell synthesis from Light
 Chemotrophs: derive energy from Chemical Reaction

Classification Based on Oxygen Requirements

 Aerobic Microorganisms: Require presence of
Molecular Oxygen for their Metabolism.
 Anaerobic Microorganisms: Grow in absence of
molecular oxygen (Toxic)
 Facultative Microorganisms: Can grow in the
presence or absence of oxygen
Classification based on Temperature
Requirements
 Psychrophilic or Cryophilic (12 - 180C)
 Mespophilic (25 - 400C)
 Thermophilic (55 - 650C)
Bacteria
Single cell protists
Cause disease, taste and odors, pipe corrosion, and
pipe blockages.
Shape: Spherical, Rod-shaped, Spiral or Filamentous
Some form spores and are resistant to Chlorination.
Cholera, Gastroenteritis, Typhoid fever, etc
Viruses
Smallest of infectious agents, small as a single
protein molecule
They are obligate parasites and require a Host
More resistant to Disinfection that bacteria
Hepatitis, Poliomyelitis
Fungi and Molds
 Aerobic, single or multi-cellular, heterotrophic
microorganisms
 Obtaining food from dead organic matter
 Frequently form dense, slimy mats that clog
filters and other water treatment equipments
 Produce musty taste and odors, color and
turbidity of water
Algae
Simple organisms that are autotrophic and
photosynthetic and contain Chlorophyll
Contain different pigments and have various colors
Causing interface with coagulation-sedimentation and
filtration process
Cause color and turbidity of water.

Protozoa
Group of unicellular, non-photosynthetic, aerobic
organisms
Cause diseases
Cyst of these organisms have long survival, even in the
presence of chlorine residual
Amoebic dysentery, Giardiasis, Cryptosporidiosis
Parasitic Worms
Cause many diseases
Transmitted through contaminated water
 Measurement
Indictor organisms
Non pathogenic microorganisms (Faecal Origin) those
presence indicate the presence of pathogenic
microorganisms
Properties of an Ideal Indicator Organisms
 Be applicable to all types of water
 Always be present, when pathogens are present
 Always be absent, when pathogens are absent
 Easy to detect and analysis

But, These Concepts: Several Shortcomings ??

 Microbial Indicators normally used
 Total Coliform (TC)
 Faecal Coliform (FC) or Thermo-tolerent Coliform (TTC)
 E.Coli

Measurements are done as per Standard Methods.

Two widely used techniques are:
Multiple Tube Fermentation (MPN/100 mL)
Membrane Filtration (Nos/100 mL)
 Water Quality Standard and Guidelines
Safe Drinking Water Act requires two types of standards
 Primary Standard
 Secondary Standard
Primary drinking water standards protect the public
health, to extent feasible, using the treatment
technology.
It includes the MCLs and treatment required for organics,
inorganics, radionuclides, microbial contaminants.
More than 102 contaminants (Table 4-1)
Secondary drinking water regulations pertain to those
contaminants that affect the aesthetical quality of
drinking water (taste, odors, color) (Table 4-2).
WHO Guidelines
 WHO Standards
 First Edition WHO’s International Standard for
Drinking Water was published in 1958.
 Second Edition in 1963.
 The 1963 standards set Coliform Standards for
Microbiological Purity, Health based maximum
allowable concentrations for 7 metals and maximum
acceptable and maximum allowable concentration of
further 18 parameters.
 Considering the acceptable limits for F and Nitrate
without setting any standards and suggested
radiological limits.
 In 1984 and 1985, WHO first published Guidelines for
Drinking Water Quality (3 Volumes)
 Set the maximum Allowable Limits to ensure
aesthetically pleasing water posing no significant
health risk.
 Proposed guideline values for 43 parameters.

In 1993, Second Edition of WHO Guidelines was

published.
The number of parameters for which guideline values
were given increased to 140, including approximately
90 organic chemicals of health significance.
  WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality was further
updated in 2003 (Latest-2013)
 Available in Internet
 WHO Guideline are normally followed Internationally.

Other Guidelines
EU Guidelines
USEPA Guidelines (Safe Drinking Water Act)
Several National Guidelines (Country Wise)
Bangladesh Drinking Water Quality Standard (ECR 1997)
 Several Definitions in Guideline

Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG)

Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL)
Secondary Maximum Contaminants Levels (SMCLs)
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels (MRDL)
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goals (MRDLG)
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG)
The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which
there is no known or expected risk to health.
MCLGs allow for a margin of safety and are non-
enforceable public health goals.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in
drinking water.
MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best
available treatment technology and taking cost into
consideration. MCLs are enforceable standards.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL)
The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.
There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is
necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goals (MRDLG)

The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is
no known or expected risk to health.
MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants
to control microbial contaminants.
References
 WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, 3rd Edition,
2003.
 WHO. Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality: Second
Addendum. Vol. 1, Recommendations, 3rd Edition, 2008.
 Chris Binnie, Martin Kimber and George Smethurst.
Basic Water Treatment (3rd Edition), Royal Society of
Chemistry, 2006.