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Indian standard for drinking water as per bis specifications (is 10500 2012)

The document outlines the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications (10500:2012) for drinking water quality parameters, including acceptable and permissible limits for various contaminants. It details potential health risks, sources of contamination, and treatment methods for substances like total dissolved solids, turbidity, pH, and various metals and bacteria. Recommended practices are provided for managing water quality to protect human health and the environment.

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Water Quality Insights• Drinking Water•
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WATER QUALITY STANDARDS WATER QUALITY Indian Standard for Drinking Water- Specification (Second Revision) IS 10500: 2012
Technical terms • BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) • Desirable limits • Permissible limit • PPM • NTU • Hazen Units
Organoleptic and physical parameters Colour, Hazen Units IS 10500-2012 Acceptable: 5 Hz., Permissible: 15 Hz Risks or effects Visible tint, acceptance decreases Sources Suspended material, soil runoff, presence of tannins and lignins, minerals like iron, copper, manganese, and organic wastes Treatment Filtration, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis, Ozonisation
Odour IS 10500: 2012 Agreeable Risks or Effects Rotten egg, musty, chemical smell Sources Chlorine, hydrogen sulphide, presence of iron, manganese, chlorides, sulphates, aluminium, copper, contamination due to sewage and organic matter, methane gas Treatment Activated carbon, Air stripping, Oxidation, Filtration, Distillation, Ion Exchange
pH IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 6.5-8.5, Permissible: No relaxation Risks or effects Low pH – corrosion leading to metallic taste High pH – bitter/soda taste, leads to deposits Sources Natural Treatment Increase pH by soda ash Decrease pH with white vinegar / citric acid
Total dissolved solids, mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 500 mg/l Permissible: 2000 mg/l Risks or effects Hardness, scaly deposits, sediments, cloudy coloured water, salty or bitter taste, corrosion of pipes and fittings Sources Salts, heavy metals and organic compounds found in agricultural and urban runoff, wastewater from households, industries, sewage from urban and rural areas, hazardous wastes from landfills Treatment Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, deionization by Ion Exchange
Turbidity NTU Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable unit: 1 NTU Permissible limit: 5 NTU Risks or effects Cloudiness or haziness Sources High sediment deposition due to pollution and industrial activities like construction, mining, quarrying, agriculture, due to presence of organic matter such as phytoplankton Treatment Settling or filtration processes using sand filtration, settling tanks, and clarifiers.
Substances undesirable in excessive amounts Aluminium (as Al), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.03 mg/l Permissible limit: 0.2 mg/l Risks or effects High risk associated with dialysis patients Sources Rock and soil leaching Treatment Portable Cation Exchange*** Distillation, Reverse Osmosis
Ammonia (as total ammonia-N), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.5 mg/l Permissible limit: No relaxation Risks or effects None proposed for human, but toxic for aquatic life Sources Disinfection with chloramines, wastes, fertilisers and natural processes Treatment Ion Exchange with zeolite Sodium alumino silicate zeolites Distillation
Barium (as Ba), mg/l, Max IS 10500:2012 Acceptable limits: 0.7 mg/l Permissible limits: No relaxation Risks or effects Difficulties in breathing, increased blood pressure, changes in heart rhythm, stomach irritation, brain swelling, muscle weakness, and damage to the liver, kidney, heart, and spleen. Source Mineral deposits Disposal of drilling wastes Smelting of copper Motor vehicle parts manufacturing Treatment Point-of-Entry (POE) Point-of-Use (POU) Cation Exchange Reverse Osmosis Distillation
Iron (as Fe), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.3 mg/l Permissible limit: No relaxation Risks or effects Brackish color, rusty sediment, bitter or metallic taste, brown-green stains, iron bacteria, discoloration of beverages Sources Leaching of cast iron pipes in water distribution systems Natural Treatment Oxidizing Filter, Green-sand Mechanical Filter
Manganese (as Mn), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.1 mg/l Permissible limit: 0.3 mg/l Risks or effects Can stain laundry and fixtures at 0.2 mg/l, cause discolouration and leave an unpleasant taste to water. May affect brain development in infants and young children Sources Landfills, deposits in rock and soil Treatment Ion Exchange, Chlorination, Oxidising filters Green-sand mechanical filters
Sulphate (as SO4), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 200 mg/l Permissible limit: 400 mg/l Risks or effects Bitter, medicinal taste, scaly deposits, corrosive, laxative effects, "rotten- egg" odour from hydrogen sulphide gas formation Sources Urban and rural sewage, industrial wastes, bye-product of coal mining, natural deposits or salts Treatment Ion Exchange , Distillation , Reverse Osmosis
Nitrate (as NO3), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 45 mg/l Permissible limit: No relaxation Risks or effects Methemoglobinemia or blue baby disease in infants Sources Human sewage and livestock manure, fertilisers, erosion of natural deposits Treatment Anion exchange, Nitrate ‘Sélective’ Anion Exchange Resins, Distillation, Electrodialysis
Chloride (as Cl), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 250 mg/l Permissible limit: 1000 mg/l Risks or effects High blood pressure, salty taste, corroded pipes, fixtures and appliances, blackening and pitting of stainless steel Sources Fertilisers, Industrial wastes, Minerals in soil, seawater Treatment Reverse Osmosis , Distillation, Activated Carbon
Fluoride (as F), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 1.0 mg/l Permissible limit: 1.5 mg/l Risks or effects Brownish discoloration of teeth, bone damage, skeletal damage Sources Contamination due to industrial wastes. Geological or natural Treatment Activated Alumina, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis, Anion Exchange
Total arsenic (as As), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.01 mg/l Permissible limit: 0. 05 mg/l Risks or effects Skin problems, endocrine disruptor, carcinogenic, affects cardiovascular and nervous system Sources Leaching from natural deposits, pesticides, industrial deposits, coal mining, improper waste disposal Treatment Activated Alumina Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, Chemical Precipitation, Anion exchange, lime softening, Manganese greensand
Total chromium (as Cr), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.05 Permissible limit: No relaxation Risks or effects Nausea, gastrointestinal distress, stomach and skin ulcers, allergic reactions, kidney and liver damage, reproductive problems, lung and nasal cancer Sources Septic systems, industrial discharge, mining sites, geological Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, Activated carbon
Cadmium (as Cd), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.003 Permissible limit: No relaxation Risks or effects Short term –nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle cramps, sensory disturbances, liver injury, convulsions, shock and renal failure. Long term –kidney, liver, bone and blood damage Sources Corrosion of galvanised pipes, from natural deposits, discharge from metal refineries, runoff from waste batteries and paints Treatment Coagulation/Filtration, Ion Exchange, Lime softening, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation
Copper (as Cu), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.05 Permissible limit: 1.5 Risks or effects Acute copper poisoning causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal irritation. Severe cases can lead to anaemia and liver and kidney damage Sources Leaching from copper water pipes and tubing, copper salts used for algae control in reservoirs, industrial and mining discharges, erosion from natural sources Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation
Cyanide (as CN ), mg/l, Max IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.05 mg/l Permissible limit: No relaxation Risks or effects Thyroid, nervous system damage, can cause Vitamin B 12 deficiency Sources Fertilisers, electronics, steel, plastics and mining industries Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Chlorination
Lead (as Pb), mg/l, Max IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 0.01 mg/l Permissible: No relaxation Risks or effects Poisonous, can affect central nervous system and red blood cells, interferes with kidney and neurological functions, leads to hearing loss, blood disorders, hypertension, death at high levels. Children more vulnerable than adults Sources Household plumbing systems, discarded batteries, paints, leaded gasoline, natural deposits Treatment Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon , Reverse Osmosis, Distillation
Mercury (as Hg), mg/l, Max IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 0.001 mg/l Permissible: No relaxation Risks or effects Damage to brain, kidney, developing foetus, death at high levels Sources Fungicides, batteries, sewage, metal refining operations, mining, electrical equipment, chloralkali plant, erosion from natural sources Treatment Reverse Osmosis, Distillation
Zinc (as Zn), mg/l, Max IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 5 mg/l Permissible: 15 mg/l Risks or effects Metallic taste, toxic, can be poisonous in large doses, can lead to copper deficiency Sources Leaching of galvanized pipes and fittings, paints, dyes, natural deposits Treatment Ion Exchange Water Softeners, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation
Total coliform bacteria IS 10500-2012 Nil/100ml Risks or effects Gastrointestinal tract infections Sources Contaminated animal waste, sewage contaminated with faecal matter, household wastewater, polluted storm water and agricultural runoffs Naturally occurring Treatment Chlorination, Ultraviolet light, Distillation, Ozonation
E coliform bacteria IS 10500-2012 Nil/100ml Risks or effects Gastrointestinal tract infections Sources Contaminated animal waste, sewage contaminated with faecal matter, household wastewater, polluted storm water and agricultural runoffs, Naturally occurring Treatment Chlorination, Ultraviolet light, Distillation, Ozonation,
Parameter BIS Guideline value (maximum allowable) General and health effect Total dissolved solids 2000 mg/l Undesirable taste, gastro intestinal problems, corrosion or incrustation pH 6.5-8.5 Affects mucous membrane, bitter taste, affects aquatic life Alkalinity 600 Hardness 600 Poor lathering with soap, deterioration of the quality of clothes, scale forming, can lead to skin irritation, affects the quality of food Health effects of chemical parameters
value (maximum allowable) Calcium 200 mg/l Poor lathering and deterioration of the quality of clothes, incrustation in pipes, scale formation Magnesium 100 mg/l Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes Iron 0.3 mg/l Poor taste, colour and turbidity, stains clothes, iron bacteria can cause slime, chronic iron overload could lead to haemochromatosis Manganese 0.3 mg/l Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes Aluminium 0.2 mg/l High risk associated with dialysis patients Copper 1.5 mg/l Anaemia, digestive disturbances, liver and kidney damage, gastrointestinal irritation, Can cause bitter or metallic taste and blue-green stains on plumbing fixtures Zinc 15 mg/l Metallic taste, toxic and can be poisonous in large doses, can lead to copper deficiency
Parameter BIS Guideline value (maximum allowable) General and health effect Ammonia 0.5 mg/l None proposed for human, but toxic for aquatic life Nitrite 45mg/l Forms nitrosoamines which are carcinogenic, can cause toxicity Nitrate Can cause Blue baby disease (methemoglobineamia) Sulphate 400mg/l Taste affected, can have a laxative effect, may cause gastrointestinal irritation Chloride 1000 mg/l Can lead to high blood pressure Fluoride 1.5mg/l Dental and skeletal fluorosis
Parameter BIS Guideline value (maximum allowable) General and health effect Arsenic 0.05 mg/l Skin problems, endocrine disruptor, carcinogenic, affects cardiovascular and nervous system Mercury 0.001 mg/l Damage to brain, kidney, developing foetus, leads to death at high levels Cadmium 0.003 mg/l Short term – nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle cramps, sensory disturbances, liver injury, convulsions, shock and renal failure. Long term –kidney, liver, bone and blood damage. Lead 0.01 mg/l Reduces mental capacity (mental retardation), interferes with kidney and neurological functions, leads to hearing loss, blood disorders, hypertension, death at high levels
Parameter BIS guideline value (Maximum allowable) General and health effects Chromium 0.05 mg/l Nausea, gastrointestinal distress, stomach ulcers, skin ulcers, allergic reactions, kidney and liver damage, reproductive problems, lung and nasal cancer Detergent Undesirable foaming
Pesticide residue limits Parameter Limit General and health effects Alachlor 20 µg/l Skin or eye irritation in short term. Long term exposure can damage the liver, kidneys, eyes and spleen Atrazine 2 µg/l Carcinigenic and endocrine disruptor Aldrin/Dieldrin 0.03 µg/l Dizziness, vomiting, irritability in short term, Convulsions and kidney damage in the long term Alpha HCH 0.01 µg/l Blood disorders, dizziness, headaches, changes in the levels of sex hormones Beta HCH 0.04 µg/l Blood disorders, dizziness, headaches, changes in the levels of sex hormones Butachlor 125 µg/l Severe neurological and cardiovascular impacts on ingestion
Parameter Limit General and health effects DDT 1 µg/l Vomiting, tremors or shakiness, and seizures. Carcinogenic Endosulfan (alpha, beta and sulphate) 0.4 µg/l Neurotoxic, haemotoxic, genotoxic, nephrotoxic and carcinogenic. Linked to congenital physical disorders, mental disabilities and deaths in farm workers Malathion 190 µg/l Exposure can lead to skin and eye irritation, cramps, nausea, diarrhoea, excessive sweating, seizures and even death.
Parameter Limit General and health effects Chlorpyriphos 30 µg/l Vomiting, abdominal and muscle cramps, muscle twitching, tremors and weakness, and loss of coordination Methyl parathion 0.3 µg/l Neurotoxic Phorate 2 µg/l Nausea, dizziness, confusion, respiratory paralysis and death.