IMPORTANCE OF WATER QUALITY MONITORING

(1) Agricultural production

One of the highest uses of water Irrigation and watering animals in the farm Farmers could better manage their land and crops using the water quality monitoring information. E.g. depending on vulnerability of vegetation, water salinity is one of the important data since irrigation with high salt concentration (over 500mg/dm3 Cl) is not good for soil and vegetations. Influence by certain metals are also noticed.

(2) Diseases and health risk

All organisms on earth need water for survival. Clean water is very crucial to every aspect of our daily lives. E.g. Hepatitis A is an infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), usually spread by ingestion of contaminated food or water.

(3) Pollution control

Monitoring the quality of surface water helps to protect our waterways from getting polluted. Related local, state and national governments use these information to help control pollution levels and to understand exactly how we affect our water supply and the important role we all play in water management and conservation.

(4) Food safety

fulfill the requirements of drinking water. However, in certain branches of food industry, comparing to drinking water, it have different criteria. E.g.in fermentation or diary industry, the water used should be bacteriologically safe, disinfection-free and free of oxidation by-products. In breweries, chemical composition of water determines the quality and taste of beer. In canned food industry, water used should be bacteriologically safe, without iron and manganese and softer.

(5) Textile industry

In textile industry, water used must be of certain acceptable turbidity, hardness , colour and must not contain iron and manganese. Since if says bleaching agent which is strong oxidation agents is used, oxidation of iron and manganese gives precipitates causing stains.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TOXIC COMPOUNDS IN DRINKING WATER

(i) Arsenic and many of its compounds are especially potent poisons. Many water supplies close to mines are contaminated by these poisons. There are links show that Arsenic in very low concentration is associated with a higher incidence of lung and bladder cancer. (ii) Lead in very high amount may impact human health especially small children. Lead damages the nervous connections and causes brain and blood disorder

 (iii)Cyanides is an extremely dangerous substances which exist as HCN, a very weak acid, in water. Large amount of cyanide are used in industry (e.g. in metal cleaning and electroplating) Its a main pollutant and its presence indicates a serious pollution problem. Besides, in terms of human health, tissues which depends on aerobic respiration (e.g. Central Nervous System and heart) are affected

 (iv)Radioactive compounds exist in the form of dissolved ions or complexes or in insoluble form, depending on pH, redox potential and water composition. Radioactive substances are absorbed by aquatic lives, which directly or enter humans indirectly through food chains. The most common isotopes found in water are uranium, radon and radium. Usually the radioactive compounds originates from human activities like the exploitation of nuclear reactions. To protect people from this dangerous radioactive radiation, the water level and sewage radioactivity can be continuously monitored if necessary

 (V) Persistent Organic pollutants (POPs) Organic chemical substances which persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chains, and posing adverse effects to human health and environment. these organic compounds are resistant to degradation through chemical, biological or photolysis. Examples of POPs includes pesticides and dioxins. In serious case, it might causes cancer , disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune system and even death.