Chemical Test of Water

 Chemical Test of  Water

Water is essential for life and it is important to ensure that the water we consume is safe for use. One way to ensure this is by performing chemical tests on the water. The Indian Standard (IS) 10500:2012 provides guidelines for drinking water quality in India and specifies the chemical tests that should be performed to ensure the safety of drinking water. 

In this blog, we will discuss the chemical tests that are included in IS 10500:2012.

·       pH: pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water. The acceptable range for pH in drinking water is between 6.5 and 8.5.

·       Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): TDS is a measure of the total amount of dissolved solids in water, including minerals, salts, and metals. The acceptable range for TDS in drinking water is 500 mg/l.

·       Alkalinity: Alkalinity is the capacity of water to neutralize acids. The acceptable range for alkalinity in drinking water is between 100 and 600 mg/l.

·       Chlorides: Chlorides are a measure of the amount of chloride ions in water. The acceptable range for chlorides in drinking water is 250 mg/l.

·       Sulphates: Sulphates are a measure of the amount of sulfate ions in water. The acceptable range for sulphates in drinking water is 200 mg/l.

·       Calcium: Calcium is a measure of the amount of calcium ions in water. The acceptable range for calcium in drinking water is 75 mg/l.

·       Magnesium: Magnesium is a measure of the amount of magnesium ions in water. The acceptable range for magnesium in drinking water is 30 mg/l.

·       Fluorides: Fluorides are a measure of the amount of fluoride ions in water. The acceptable range for fluorides in drinking water is 1.5 mg/l.

·       Nitrate: Nitrate is a measure of the amount of nitrate ions in water. The acceptable range for nitrates in drinking water is 45 mg/l.

·       Iron: Iron is a measure of the amount of iron ions in water. The acceptable range for iron in drinking water is 0.3 mg/l.

·       Manganese: Manganese is a measure of the amount of manganese ions in water. The acceptable range for manganese in drinking water is 0.1 mg/l.

·       Copper: Copper is a measure of the amount of copper ions in water. The acceptable range for copper in drinking water is 0.05mg/l.

·       Zinc: Zinc is a measure of the amount of zinc ions in water. The acceptable range for zinc in drinking water is 5 mg/l.

·       Arsenic: Arsenic is a measure of the amount of arsenic ions in water. The acceptable range for arsenic in drinking water is 0.01 mg/l.

·       Lead: Lead is a measure of the amount of lead ions in water. The acceptable range for lead in drinking water is 0.01 mg/l.

·       Mercury: Mercury is a measure of the amount of mercury ions in water. The acceptable range for mercury in drinking water is 0.001 mg/l.

·       Cadmium: Cadmium is a measure of the amount of cadmium ions in water. The acceptable range for cadmium in drinking water is 0.003 mg/l.

These chemical tests are important for ensuring the safety of drinking water. If any of the values fall outside of the acceptable range, steps should be taken to treat the water before it is consumed. This may involve adding chemicals or using filtration systems to remove harmful substances from the water. 

By following the guidelines set out in IS 10500:2012, we can ensure that our drinking water is safe and healthy to consume.