WATER QUALITY

I. MEASURES OF WATER QUALITY

II. ASSESSING WATER QUALITY
III. WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
IV. LAW
Water quality refers to the chemical,
physical, biological, and radiological
characteristics of water. It is a measure of
the condition of water relative to the
requirements of one or more biotic species
and or to any human need or purpose.
Environmental engineers protect water
quality. Although we can take any quality of
water and improve it, it may not be worth
the cost.
I. MEASURES OF WATER QUALITY
Although there are many water quality
parameters, this discussion is restricted to the
following:
1. Dissolved oxygen
 Itis major determinant of water quality in
streams, lakes, and other watercourses.
 ismeasured with an oxygen probe and meter.
One of the simplest (and historically oldest)
meters operates as a galvanic cell, in which
lead and silver electrodes are put in an
electrolyte solution with a micro ammeter
between.
 The reaction at the lead electrode is:
Pb + 20H−→PbO + H2O + 2e−
Dissolved oxygen
2. Oxygen demand
 inparticular biochemical oxygen demand
is a major parameter indicating the
pollution potential of various discharges
to watercourses.
 Perhaps even more important than the
determination of dissolved oxygen is the
measurement of the rate at which this oxygen
is used by microorganisms decomposing
organic matter.
There are three types of or methods to
determine oxygen demand:
theoretical oxygen demand

biochemical oxygen demand

chemical oxygen demand.

Theoretical Oxygen Demand
 The oxygen demand for the decomposition of
pure materials can be estimated from
stoichiometry, assuming that all the organic
material completely decomposes.
Example:
If the compound is a hydrocarbon, which contains
only carbon and hydrogen, or an alcohol, which also
has oxygen, then the decomposition products are
CO2 and H2O. If the compound is an amine, which
contains carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, then the
decomposition products are CO2, H2O, and NH3.
 Once the chemical reaction is known and
balanced, the theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD)
can be calculated as:
ThOD = C−ThOD + N−ThOD
Where:
C-ThOD is due to the decomposition of the
carbonaceous (organic) material and
N-ThOD is due to the stabilizationa of the
nitrogenous material (NH3 to NO−3.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
 It is
not a measure of some specific pollutant, but
rather a measure of the amount of oxygen required
by aerobic bacteria and other microorganisms to
stabilize decomposable organic matter.
 If the microorganisms are brought into contact with
a food supply (such as human waste), oxygen is
used by the microorganisms during the
decomposition.
A very low rate of use would indicate:
 (1) Contamination is absent,
 (2) The available microorganisms are uninterested
in consuming the available organics, or
 (3)The microorganisms are dead or dying.
(Nothing decreases oxygen consumption by aquatic
microorganisms quite so well as a healthy slug of
arsenic.)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
 The third method for determining the
oxygen demand of a water sample.
 Itis a laboratory method that essentially
determines the ThOD.
3. Solids
It is include suspended solids, which are
unsightly in natural waters, and total
solids, which include dissolved solids,
some of which could be detrimental to
aquatic life or to people who drink the
water.
 The separation of solids from water is one of
the primary objectives of wastewater
treatment.
 Strictly speaking, inwastewater anything other
than water or gas is classified as solid, which
means that much of the wastewater is actually
solids. The usual definition of solids, however, is
the residue on evaporation at 103 ◦C . These
solids are known as total solids.
The test is conducted by placing a known
volume of sample in a large evaporating
dish and allowing the water to evaporate.
 Total solids can be divided into two fractions:
 Dissolved solids
 Suspended solids
A Gooch crucible is used to separate suspended solids from
dissolved solids. The Gooch crucible has holes in the bottom on
which a glass fiber filter is placed.
Solids can be classified in another way:
 Those that are volatilized at a high temperature;
 Those that are not.
The former are known as volatile solids, the latter as fixed
solids.
4. Nitrogen
 Is a useful measure of water quality in
streams and lakes.
It is also an important element in
biological reactions.
 Itcan be tied up in high-energy compounds,
such as amino acids and amines, and in this
form the nitrogen is known as organic
nitrogen. One of the intermediate compounds
formed during biological metabolism is
ammonia nitrogen.
 Together with organic nitrogen, ammonia is
considered an indicator of recent pollution. These
two forms of nitrogen are often combined in one
measure, known as Kjeldahl nitrogen, named
after the scientist who first suggested the analytical
procedure.
5. Bacteriological Measurements
 From a public health standpoint, the bacteriological
quality of water is as important as the chemical quality.
A number of diseases can be transmitted by water,
among them typhoid and cholera. However, it is one
thing to declare that water must not be contaminated by
pathogens (disease-causing organisms) and another to
discover the existence of these organisms.
II. ASSESSING WATER QUALITY
To determine proper design and
treatment of drinking water, analyses are also
commonly conducted for parameters such
as pH, alkalinity, and hardness. Similarly, a
range of wastewater characteristics can be
analyzed to provide information pertinent to
the design and operation of wastewater
treatment plants .
1. pH
 pH valueexpresses the intensity of the acidic or basic
characteristic of water.

Seawater: 8.0- 8.5

Freshwater: 6.5 – 9.0

2. Alkalinity
Alkalinity (50 -150 mg/l as Ca CO3)
Formula Common Name Equivalent Weight
NaOH sodium hydroxide 40
Na2CO3 sodium carbonate 53
NaHCO3 sodium bicarbonate 83
CaCO3 Calcium Carbonate 50
CaO slaked lime 28
Ca(OH) 2 hydrated lime 37
3. Hardness
Classified as:
 soft (0-75 mg/L
 moderately hard (75 – 150 mg/L)
 hard (150-300 mg/L)
 very hard (> 300 mg/L)

RECOMMENDED RANGE: 20 TO 300 MG/L CACO3

 However, the seven principal components
are SS, BOD, pathogens, TDS, heavy metals,
nutrients, and priority organic pollutants.
The first three components drive the design of
most wastewater treatment systems. In addition
to impacting the aesthetic qualities of the effluent,
SS impact the amount of sludge produced and the
potential for anaerobic conditions to develop.
III. WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
But what use is the quantitative analysis of
water quality unless there exist some standards
that describe the desired quality for various
beneficial uses of the water? There are, in fact,
three main types of water quality standards:
 Drinking water standards,
 Effluent standards,
 Surface water quality standards.
1. Drinking Water Standards
Based on public health and epidemiological evidence
and tempered by a healthy dose of expediency, the
national drinking water standards for many physical,
chemical, and bacteriological contaminants have been
established by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA).
The normal standard is presently less than 1
coliform per 100mL of treated drinking
water.
 One example of a physical standard is
turbidity, or the interference with the passage of
light. A water that has high turbidity is cloudy, a
condition caused by the presence of colloidal solids.
Turbidity does not in itself cause a health problem,
but the colloidal solids may prove to be convenient
vehicles for pathogenic organisms.
2. Effluent Standards
 TheClean Water Act (CWA) is used to reduce the flow of
pollutants into natural water courses. All point source
dischargers to natural watercourses are required to
obtain a National Pollution Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit (40CFR122).
 (Businesses discharging to a sewer system rather than a natural
watercourse are not required to obtain an NPDES permit; however,
they must obtain permits from the municipal treatment plants
receiving the waste.)

Typical effluent standards for a domestic

wastewater treatment plant range from 5 to
20 mg/L BOD.
3. Surface Water Quality Standards
 Tiedto the effluent standards are surface
water standards, often called “stream
standards.”
 Allsurface waters in the United States are
classified according to a system of standards
based on their greatest beneficial use.
 The highest classification is usually reserved for pristine
waters, which are often used as sources of drinking water.
 The next highest classification includes waters that have
had wastes discharged into them but that nevertheless
exhibit high levels of quality.
 The categories continue in order of decreasing quality, with
the lowest water quality useful only for irrigation and
transport.
IV. LAW

Republic Act No. 9275

(March 22, 2004)

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE WATER

QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Known as the "Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004."
Declaration of Policy.
The State shall pursue a policy of economic
growth in a manner consistent with the protection,
preservation and revival of the quality of our fresh,
brackish and marine waters. To achieve this end, the
framework for sustainable development shall be
pursued. As such, it shall be the policy of the State:
a) To streamline processes and procedures in the
prevention, control and abatement of pollution of the
country's water resources;
b) To promote environmental strategies, use of
appropriate economic instruments and of control
mechanisms for the protection of water resources;
c) To formulate a holistic national program of water
quality management that recognizes that water
quality management issues cannot be separated from
concerns about water sources and ecological
protection, water supply, public health and quality of
life;
d) To formulate an integrated water quality
management framework through proper delegation
and effective coordination of functions and activities;
e) promote commercial and industrial processes and
products that are environment friendly and energy
efficient;
f) To encourage cooperation and self-regulation
among citizens and industries through the application
of incentives and market-based instruments and to
promote the role of private industrial enterprises in
shaping its regulatory profile within the acceptable
boundaries of public health and environment;
g) To provide for a comprehensive management
program for water pollution focusing on pollution
prevention;
h) To promote public information and education
and to encourage the participation of an informed
and active public in water quality management and
monitoring;
i) To formulate and enforce a system of
accountability for short and long-term adverse
environmental impact of a project, program or
activity.
THE END…
 THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!!!!!

GROUP 2 MEMBERS:
 Doromal, John Dearhic D.
 Espuerta, Rhoren d.
 Palma, Rod Joseph d.
 Peniranda, Jovil Jann c.