PHYSICAL QUALITY PARAMETERS OF DRINKING WATER

The drinking water should have the following physical properties:

1) Suspended solids

2) Turbidity

3) Color

4) Taste & Odor

5) Temperature

1) Suspended solids :-

In the drinking water the suspended solids should not be present even in small amounts.

For drinking water the suspended solids must be zero.

Acceptable limit of suspended solids: Zero.

2) Turbidity :-

The word turbidity indicates that the property of obstructing the light through it. The turbidity of water can be determined by Jackson's Turbidimeter, Baylis Turbidimeter, Nephelometer.

Acceptable limit of suspended solids:- 1 JTU (Jackson Turbidity Units)

Rejectable limit :- 5 NTU (Nephleometer Turbidity Units).

3) Color :-

The drinking water should be color less because the color indicates that impurities present in the water. 

Acceptable limit of color :- Colorless

4) Taste & Odor :-

The taste of the drinking water should be comfortable to consume and it should not impart bitter taste.

The odor of the water should not impart bad smell. The units to measure odor is Threshold odor number.

5) Temperature :-

The drinking water is acceptable when it contains 10o C to  25o C

If temperature of water < 10o C -- difficult to consume

If temperature of water > 25o C -- biological reaction

Special Thanks to CHINTHA TEJA