Quality of water

Impurity                                                                Causes

Suspended impurities

a) Silt, Clay                                                          -Turbidity

b) Bacteria                                                                             

i) Pathogenic                                                        -Typhoid, Paratyphoid, Cholera, Bacillary, Dysentery        

ii) Non-Pathogenic                                                 1.Slim forming bacteria

                                                                                2.Iron Bacteria-cause pitting, turbidity

                                                                                3.sulpher bacteria-acidity, corrosion

c) Virus                                                                   1.infectious hepatitis (Jaundice)

                                                                                2.Poliomylities

d) Algae and Protozoa                                           -  Colour, turbidity, odour, taste, acidity, 

                                                                                   and amoebic dysentery  

e) Helminthes                                                         -Tape worm, Round worm

Dissolved Impurities         

a) Ca(HCO₃)₂, Mg(HCO₃)₂                                            Alkalinity, Hardness, Laxative effect,

                                                                                   Corrosion

   CaSO₄, MgSO₄, CaCl₂, MgCl₂                                                                                                                                                        

b) Na₂SO₄                                                                 -Foaming in boilers

c) NaF                                                                        -Fluorosis

d) Iron and Manganese                                              -Red,Brown/Black Colour, Taste Corrosion

e) Lead                                                                       -Cumulative Poison, Plumbo solveny

f) Nitrates                                                                   -Methamogloninemia (Blue Babies)

g) CO₂                                                                        -Acidity, Corrosion

h) H₂S                                                                        -Acidity, Corrosion and foul smell