Water quality parameters and sampling

1. Water Quality

2. Characteristics of safe Water
 No smell
 Clear
 Free form SS
 Have minerals and salts needed by the body but in safe concentrations
 Free from harmful microorganisms

3. Sources of water
 Ground water
 Surface water
 Rain water
Note:
Depending on the source, water may pick many things which can affect its
quality

4. Multi-barrier Approach to Safe Drinking
Water
The best way to reduce the risk of drinking unsafe water is to use the multi-
barrier approach.
The five steps of the multi-barrier approach to safe drinking water are:
1. Protect your source water
2. Sediment your water
3. Filter your water
4. Disinfect your water
5. Store your water safely

5. Water Quality Parameters
1. Physical (temperature, smell, taste, colour, turbidity)
2. Chemical (pH, minerals, metals, salts)
3. Microbiological (bacteria, virus, protozoa, helminth-worms)
Note
 Priority is based on the parameter that will have impact on public health
 Microbiological quality is the main concern

6. Planning for Water Quality Testing
1. Review the need - Why do you need to do water quality testing?
2. Develop your objectives - What are your objectives for testing the water
quality?
3. Identify the test parameters - What water quality parameters are you going to
test for?

7. Sanitary Inspection
A sanitary inspection is an on-site inspection of a water supply to identify actual
and potential sources of contamination.
 Reveals conditions or practices that may cause contamination incidences
 Reveals possible sources of contamination
 Identifies risks that may microbial and physical quality of water.

8. Inspection Cont…
 When to do it?
Before the source is used for drinking water, and on a regular basis once it is in
operation.
 How to do it?
Use of a tool

9. Test Procedures
 Sampling and Sample Handling