Turbidity

What is turbidity?

Turbidity is a measure of the degree to which the water loses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates.
The more total suspended solids in the water, the murkier it seems and the higher the turbidity.
Turbidity is considered as a good measure of the quality of water.

What causes turbidity?

There are various parameters influencing the cloudiness of the water. Some of these are:
- Phytoplankton
- Sediments from erosion
- Resuspended sediments from the bottom (frequently stir up by bottom feeders like carp)
- Waste discharge
- Algae growth
- Urban runoff

Which is the maximum allowed turbidity in drinking water?

The WHO (World Health Organization), establishes that the turbidity of drinking water shouldn't be more than 5 NTU, and should id

What are the consequences of high turbidity?

The suspended particles absorb heat from the sunlight, making turbid waters become warmer, and so reducing the concentration o
The suspended particles scatter the light, thus decreasing the photosynthetic activity of plants and algae, which contributes to lowe
As a consequence of the particles settling to the bottom, shallow lakes fill in faster, fish eggs and insect larvae are covered and suf

What are the impacts of turbidity?

The main impact is merely esthetic: nobody likes the look of dirty water.
But also, it is essential to eliminate the turbidity of water in order to effectively disinfect it for drinking purposes. This adds some ext
The suspended particles also help the attachment of heavy metals and many other toxic organic compounds and pesticides.

How do we measure turbidity?

Turbidity is measured in NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. The instrument used for measuring it is called nephelometer or turbid
The unit used in the ancient times was JTU (Jackson Turbidity Units), measured with the Jackson candle turbidimeter. This unit is n
 In lakes the turbidity is measured with a secchi disk (in the picture).
This is a black and white disk that is dropped in the water attached to a rope.
The depth that the disk reaches before it disappears from sight is recorded.
This provides an estimation of the turbidity level in the lake.

A turbidity measurement could be used to provide an estimation of the TSS (Total Suspended Solids) concentration, which is other

Propertie Effect on the Direction of Instrument designs

s of water measurement effect on the to compensate for
matrix measurement effect
Colored Absorption of light Negative • Near IR (780-900 nm)
particles beam light source
• Multiple detectors
Color, Absorption of light Negative • Near IR (780-900 nm)
dissolved beam (if the incident light source
(in the light wavelengths • Multiple detectors
matrix) overlap the absorptive
spectra within the
sample matrix)
Particle Wavelength
size: dependent.
Large • Scatter long • Positive (for • White light (broad
particles wavelengths of light near IR light spectrum) light source
more readily than source, ~820-
small particles 900 nm)
Small • Scatter short • Positive (for • Near IR (780-900 nm)
particles wavelengths of light broad spectrum light source
more efficiently than light source,
long wavelengths such as white
light)
Particle Increases forward and Negative • Multiple detectors
Density backward scattering • Backscattering
of light at high
densities
 Design Prominent feature and Typical Suggested
application instrument application
capability range (nm)
range (nm)
Nephelometric White light turbidimeters – 0 to 40 0 to 40
non-ratiometric Complies with EPA 180.1 for low- Regulatory
level monitoring.
Ratiometric Complies with EPA 180.1 for low- 0 to 4,000 0 to 40
white-light level monitoring. Uses a Regulatory
turbidimeters nephelometric detector as the 0 to 4,000
primary detector, but contains other
detectors to minimize effects of
color and noise. Can be used for
both low- and high-level
measurement.
Nephelometric, Complies with ISO 7027 – The 0 to 1,000 0 to 11
near-IR wavelength (780-900 nm) is less Regulatory
turbidimeters, susceptible to effects of color. (non-US)
non-ratiometric Good for samples with color and 0 to 1,000
good for low-level monitoring.
Nephelometric Complies with ISO 7027. Contains 0 to 4,000 0 to 40
near-IR a ratio algorithm to monitor and Regulatory
turbidimeters, compensate for variability and 0 to 4,000
ratiometric color.
Surface-scatter Not applicable for regulatory 10 to 10,000 10 to 10,000
turbidimeters purposes. Turbidity is determined
through light scatter from or near
the surface of a sample. The
detection angle is still
nephelometric, but interferences are
not as substantial as nephelometric
non-ratiometric measurements. This
is primarily used in high-level
turbidity applications.
Backscatter/ratio Not applicable for regulatory 10 to 10,000 10 to 10,000
metric purposes. Backscatter detection for
technology high levels and nephelometric
detection for low levels.
Backscatter is common with probe
technology and is best applied in
high turbidity samples.
Light attenuation Not applicable for regulatory 20 to 1,000 20 to 1,000
(spectro- purposes. Wavelength 860 nm.
photometric) Highly susceptible to interferences;
best applied at low to medium
turbidity levels.
Multiple-beam Multiple light sources and multiple 0 to 40 0 to 40
turbidimeters detectors are used to provide both Regulatory
reference and active signals, with at 0 to
least four independent
measurements being made. The
final signal is determined with a
ratio algorithm.