Criterion 28 Ensure water quality Gaurav chaudhary

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 Introduction

In Griha two aspects of water quality are considered one is to ensure the desired quality
of potable water whatever may be the source of supply . If the municipal supply is not
meeting the desired quality standards , it is recommended to go for any of the relevant
treatment system and and provide desired quality of potable water to the end user.

The other aspect of water quality is for treated water. Depending on the quality of
effluent obtain from the treatment plant and the other factors. One decide on the
potential application of the treated wastewater for use in building.
 Solution
Potable water quality standards
Water is usually tasteless, odourless, colorless, and a liquid in its pure state. But, water is one of the best naturally
occurring solvents present on the earth and almost any substance will dissolve in it to some degree. This is why it is
seldom found in its'pure'state and usually contains several impurities (gases, solids, colour).

Drinking water for human beings should contain some level of minerals (TDS), but these levels should not be
excessive. The standard that is applicable in India is the BIS 10 500-1991 standard. This standard uses the WHO
standard as the basis and has been amended subsequently to take into account the fact that over exploitation of
groundwater, which has the largest share of water supplied for human use, has deteriorated to such an extent that the
crucial parameters such as TDS, hardness, chlorides, and so on usually exceed the desirable levels substantially.
Consequently, a higher permissible limit has been specified. Water used for drinking becomes unpalatable when the
TDS level is above 500 mg/l, but lack of any better source enables people consuming such water to get used to its
taste.

The Bureau of India Standards (BIS) standard applies to the purity level acceptable for human consumption. For
practically all industrial and some commercial uses, the purity level required is very high, and in most cases, demand
water with virtually no residual dissolved solids at all.
 Objective

To provide the occupants of the building with

good potable quality water for
drinking/washing purposes as prescribed by
the standards and to ensure that the treated
wastewater is meeting the desired standards
for reuse/disposal
 Commitment
Ensure water from all sources (such as groundwater and municipal water) meets the water quality norms as
prescribed in the IS for various applications (Indian Standards for drinking [IS 10500–1991], irrigation
applications [IS 11624-1986]), cooling towers (as given in NBC 2005)

Drinking water –specification

Characteristics-
Bacteriological Examination
1 Water in Distribution System
a) Throughout any year, 95 percent of samples should not contain any coliform organisms in 100 ml

b) No sample should contain E. Coli in 100 ml;

c) No sample should contain more than 10 coliform organisms per 100 ml

d) Coliform organisms should not be detectable in 100 ml of any two consecutive samples.
 2 Unpiped Water Supplies

• Obvious sources of contamination should be removed from the

immediate catchment area, special attention being given to the safe
disposal of excrement.

• Wells and storage tanks should be protected by lining and covering

• Access of man and animals should be restricted by fencing

• Containers used for water should be kept clean, covered and clear of
the floor

• Bacteriologically, the objective should be to reduce the coliform count

to less than 10 per 100 ml, but more importantly, to ensure the absence
of faecal coliform organisms
 Virological Examination
• In practice, 0.5 mg/l of free chlorine for one hour is sufficient to inactivate virus, even in
water that was originally polluted.

Biological Examination
• Biological examination is of value in determining the causes of objectionable tastes and odours in
water and controlling remedial treatments.

• Chlorination, at the dosages normally employed in waterworks, is

ineffective against certain parasites, including amoebic cysts.

• Strict precautions against back syphonage and cross-connections are

required if amoebic cysts are found in a distribution system containing
tested water

• The drinking water shall be free from microscopic organisms such as

algae, zooplanktons, flagillates, parasites and toxin-producing
organisms
 BIS 10 5000 standards for drinking water
Essential characteristics

Sr no characteristics Requirements Permissible limit in

(desirable) the absence of
In mg/1 alternative source

1 Color-hazen units, 25
max
2 Odour unobjectionable unobjectionable
3 Taste agreeable agreeable
4 Tuberdity 5 10
5 pH value 6.5 to 8.5 No relaxation
6 Total hardness 300 600
7 Iron 0.3 1
8 Chlorides 250 1000
9 Residual free 0.2 -
chlorine
Desirable characteristics

Sr no characteristics Requirements Permissible limit in

(desirable) the absence of
In mg/1 alternative source
10 Dissolved solids 500 2000
11 Calcium 75 200
12 Copper 0.05 1.5
13 Manganese 0.10 0.3
14 Sulphate 200 400
15 Nitrate 45 100
16 Fluoride 1.5 1.9
16 Phenolic 0.001 0.002
compoumds
18 Mercury 0.001 No relaxation
19 Cadmium 0.01 No relaxation
20 Selenium 0.01 No relaxation
21 Arsenic 0.01 No relaxation
Desirable characteristics

Sr no characteristics Requirements Permissible limit in

(desirable) the absence of
In mg/1 alternative source

22 Cyanide 0.05 No relaxation

23 Lead 0.05 No relaxation
24 Zinc 5 No relaxation
25 Anionic detergents 0.2 1.0
26 Chromium 0.05 No relaxation
27 Polynuclear - -
28 Mineral oil 0.01 0.03
29 Pesticides absent 0.001
30 Alkalinity 200 600
31 Aluminium 0.03 0.2
32 Boron 1 5
 Choosing a water treatment system based on contaminants
In order to ensure safe drinking water, it needs to be treated before use to bring it to desirable drinking water
standards. The choice for selecting technology for treatment depends on several factors such as the following.
1. Kind of contaminant,
2. Extent of contamination
3. Simplicity of the system and durability
4. Low maintenance,
5. Power consumption
6. Affordability.

Precautionary note:
Only when the TDS levels in water crosses the 500 mg/litre mark, one should opt for Reverse Osmosis (RO) water
purifier. RO systems should otherwise be avoided as such systems waste water at the rate of 2-3 litres for every litre of
purified water. Also, they reduce essential mineral content in drinking water, which is otherwise required for good
health.
List of various treatment systems that could be used for each type of contaminant

Physical parameters

• Slow sand filter • Aeration • Charcoal

• Candle system • Activated carbon filter • Activated carbon filter
• Coagulation • Chalcoal • Slow sand filter
• sedimentation • Resin • Resins
• Boiling

turbidity odour colour

 chemical parameters
• Activated alumina • Reverse osmosis • Chlorine
• Ion exchange • boiling
• distillation

fluoride nitrate ammonia

• Oxidationand • Boiling and settling • Reverse osmosis

settling • Reverse osmosis • Activated carbon
• boiling • Resin filter
• Ion exchange

iron hardness chloride

 Bacteriological contamination
• Slow sand filteration
• Boiling
• Chlorination
• Uv radiations
• Resins
• ozonation
 Water quality criteria for irrigation
Total Salt Concentration .
It is expressed as the electrical conductivity (EC). In relation to hazardous effects of the total salt concentration, the
irrigation water can be classified into four major groups as given in Table
S no class Range of EC
(micromhos/cm)
1 Low Below 1500
2 medium 1500-2000
3 high 3000-6000
4 Very high Above 6000

Water quality rating based on the total salt concentrarion

Boron content
Boron, though a nutrient, becomes toxic if present in water beyond a particular level In relation to boron toxicity"
the irrigation water quality rating is given in Table
 S no class Boron (ppm)

1 Low Below 1
2 medium 1.0 - 2.0
3 high 2.0 – 4.0
4 Very high Above 4.0

Water quality rating based on boron content

Residual sodium carbonate

S no class Rsc range

1 Low Below 1.5

2 medium 1.5 - 3.0
3 high 3.0 – 6.0
4 Very high Above 6.0
Sodium Adsorption Ratio

S no class Rsc range

1 Low Below 10
2 medium 10 - 18
3 high 18 - 26
4 Very high Above 26

Cooling tower
• Provision for make-up water tank to the cooling tower shall be made. Make-up water tank to the
cooling tower shall be separate from the tank serving drinking water.

• Make-up water having contaminants or hardness, which can adversely affect the refrigeration plant
life, shall be treated.
 Compliance
• Provide water optimization plan (water flow diagram giving the complete collection,
treatment, and distribution for different applications).

• Provide the water quality details from various sources before and after treatment.

• Report/certificate from the local municipal authority for municipal water.

• Provide the specification details indicating the capacity and components of the treatment
plant along with drawings (product details from the manufacturer).

• Quality checking frequency and sampling plan for potable water (as per given standard).
Thank you