IS 10500:1991 Table 1 Test Characteristics For Drinking Water (Clause 3.

1) Permissible Requirement Limit in the Undesirable effect Method of test absence of (Desirable outside the (Ref to IS) alternate Limit) desirable limit source (3) (4) (5) (6)

S.No

Substance or Characteristic

Remarks

(1) (2) Essential characteristics 1 Colour Hazen Units, Max

(7)

Above 5, consumer acceptance decreases

25

3025 (Part 4):1983

Odour

Unobjectionable

--

--

3025 (Part 5):1983

Taste

Agreeable

--

--

Turbidity NTU, Max pH Value

6.5 to 8.5

Total hardness ( as CaCO3) mg/L, Max Iron (as Fe) mg/L, Max

300

0.3

Chlorides (as Cl) mg/L, Max

250

Residual, free chlorine mg/L, Max

0.2

Above 5, consumer acceptance decreases Beyond this range water will affect the mucous membrane and/or water supply system Encrustation in water supply structure and adverse effects o domestic use Beyond this limit taste/appearance are affected, has adverse effect on domestic uses and water supply structures, and promotes iron bacteria Beyond this limit, taste, corrosion and palatability are affected --

10

No relaxation

3025 (Part 7 and 8) :1984 3025 (Part 10) :1984 3025 (Part 11) :1984

Extended to 25 only if toxic substances are not suspected in absence of alternate source a). Test cold and when heated b). Test at several dilutions Test to be conducted only after safety has been established --

--

600

3025 (Part 21) :1983 3025 (Part 32) :1981

--

1.0

--

1000

3025 (Part 32) :1988 3025 (Part 26) :1986

--

--

To be applicable only when water is chlorinated. Tested at consumer end. When protection against viral infection is required, it should be Min 0.5 mg/L. --

Desirable Characteristics 10 Dissolved solids mg/L, Max

500

Beyond this palatability decreases and may cause gastro intestinal irritation

2000

3025 (Part 16) :1984

IS 10500:1991 Table 1 Test Characteristics For Drinking Water (Contd.) (Clause 3.1) Permissible Requirement Limit in the Undesirable effect Method of test absence of (Desirable outside the (Ref to IS) alternate Limit) desirable limit source 75 Encrustation in water 200 3025 supply structure and (Part 40) adverse effects on :1991 domestic use 1.5 3025 0.05 A stringent taste, (Part 36) discoloration and :1964 corrosion of pipes, fitting and utensils will be caused beyond this 0.1 Beyond this limit 0.3 3025 taste/appearance are (Part 35) affected, has adverse :1964 effect on domestic uses and water supply structures 200 Beyond this causes 400 3025 gastro intestinal (Part 24) irritation when 1986 magnesium or sodium are present 50 Beyond this No 3025 methaemoglobinemia relaxation (Part 34) takes place 1988 1.0 Fluoride may be kept 1.5 23 of 3025:1964 as low as possible. High fluoride may cause fluorosis 0.001 Beyond this, it may 0.002 54 of 3025:1964 cause objectionable taste and colour 0.001 Beyond this, the water becomes toxic Beyond this, the water becomes toxic Beyond this, the water becomes toxic Beyond this, the water becomes toxic Beyond this, the water becomes toxic Beyond this, the water becomes toxic No relaxation No relaxation No relaxation No relaxation No relaxation No relaxation (see Note) Mercury ion analyser (see Note)

S.No

Substance or Characteristic Calcium (as Ca) mg/L, Max Copper (as Cu) mg/L, Max

Remarks

11

--

12

--

13

Manganese (as Mn) mg/L, Max

--

14

Sulphate (as SO4) mg/L, Max

May be extended upto 400 provided (as Mg) does not exceed 30 --

15

Nitrate (as NO3) mg/L Fluoride (as F) mg/L, Max

16

--

17

18

19

20

21 22

23

Phenolic compounds (as C6H5OH) mg/L, Max Mercury (as Hg) mg/L, Max Cadmium (as Cd) mg/L, Max Selemium (as Se) mg/L, Max Arsenic (as As) mg/L, Max Cyanide (as CN) mg/L, Max Lead (as Pb) mg/L, Max

--

To be tested when pollution is suspected To be tested when pollution is suspected To be tested when pollution is suspected To be tested when pollution is suspected To be tested when pollution is suspected To be tested when pollution/plumbosolvency is suspected To be tested when pollution is suspected

0.01

0.01

28 of 3025:1964

0.05 0.05

37 of 3025:1988 27 of 3025:1988

0.05

(see Note)

24

Zinc (as Zn) mg/L, Max

Beyond this limit it can cause astringent taste and on opalescence in water

15

39 of 3025:1964

IS 10500:1991 Table 1 Test Characteristics For Drinking Water (Contd.) (Clause 3.1) Permissible Requirement Limit in the Undesirable effect Method of test absence of (Desirable outside the (Ref to IS) alternate Limit) desirable limit source 0.2 Beyond this limit it 1.0 Methylene blue can cause a light extraction froth in water method 0.05 May be carcinogenic above this limit May be carcinogenic No relaxation -38 of 3025:1964

S.No

Substance or Characteristic Anionic Detergents (as MBAS) mg/L, Max Chromium 6+ (as Cr ) mg/L, Max Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (as PAH) g/L, max Mineral Oil mg/L, Max

Remarks

25

To be tested when pollution is suspected

26

To be tested when pollution is suspected --

27

--

--

28

0.01

29 30

31

Pesticides mg/L, Max Radioactive materials a). Alpha emitters Bq/L. Max b). Beta emitters Bq/L Max Alkalinity mg/L. Max Aluminium (as Al) mg/L, Max Boron, mg/L, Max

Absent

Beyond this limit undesirable taste and odour after chlorination take place Toxic

0.03

Gas Chromatographic method

To be tested when pollution is suspected

0.001

-58 of 3025:1964

--

--

--

0.1

--

--

--

--

--

--

200

32

0.03

33

Beyond this limit taste becomes unpleasant Cumulative effect is reported to cause dementia --

600

13 of 3025:1964

--

0.2

31 of 3025:1684

--

29 of 3025:1964

--

NOTE: Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Method may be used.