SUB CODE & NAME: : 15CE407L ENVIRONMENTAL ENGG.

LAB
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : DETERMINATION OF TURBIDITY

NAME OF THE CANDIDATE : AJIT KUMAR

REGISTER NUMBER : RA1711001010005
DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 28/08/2020

SI.NO MARKS SPLIT UP MAXIMUM MARKS

MARKS(40) OBTAINED

1 Attendance 5

2. Pre Lab Questions 5

3. Conduction Of Experiment & 15

Tabulation

4. Calculation & Evaluation Of Result 10

5. Post Lab Questions 5

Total 40

Staff Signature

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PRE LAB QUESTIONS
1. What are the causes of turbidity in water?

Ans – The causes of turbidity in water are:

a) Suspended matter such as clay, silt, finely divided organic and inorganic matter, soluble
coloured organic compounds
b) Phytoplankton
c) Sediments from erosion
d) Resuspended sediments from the bottom (frequently stir up by bottom feeders like carp)
e) Waste discharge
f) Algae growth
g) Urban runoff

2. What are the units generally used to measure turbidity?

Ans- Turbidity is expressed in terms of parts of suspended matter per million parts of water (ppm).
The units generally used to measure turbidity are:
a) FNU (Formazine Nephelometric Unit)
b) NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit)
c) JTU (Jackson Turbidity Unit)
d) Silica unit (mg/L SiO2)

3. What is the basic difference in principle involved in Jackson Turbidimeter and Nephelo
turbidimeter?

Ans- The basic difference in principle involved in Jackson Turbidimeter and Nephelo
turbidimeter is that in case Jackson Turbidimeter the measurement of turbidity is based on
the intensity of light scattered as it passes straight through the water sample, whereas in the
case of Nephelo Turbidimeter the measurement of turbidity is based on the intensity of light
scattered at right angles to the incident light. Thus, a nephelometer consists of a source of
light for illuminating the water sample and one or more photoelectric detectors with a read
out device to indicate intensity of light scattered at 90 degree to the path of incident light.

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 Experiment No. 3 DETERMINATION OF TURBIDITY

Date: 28/08/2020

AIM
To determine the turbidity of the given sample of water using Nephelo - Turbidity meter.
REQUIREMENT
Nephelo -Turbidity water meter operates on the principle that light, passing through a
substance, is scattered by matter suspended in the substance. In this a strong light beam is passed
upward through a tube containing a sample. As the beam passes through the liquid, the light is
scattered is sensed by the photo to give turbidity readings.
ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE
The term turbid is applied to water containing suspended matter that interferes with
passage of light through the water or in which visual depth is restricted. The turbidity may be
caused by wide variety of suspended materials, which range in size from colloidal to coarse
dispersions.
The Turbidity test is an important consideration in public water supplied from the point
of view of aesthetics, filterability and disinfection. Any turbidity in the drinking water is
associated with possible waste water pollution and health hazards. Filtration becomes difficult
because high turbidity shorter filter runs and increases cleaning costs. Satisfactory operation of
rapid sand filters depends on effective removal of turbidity by chemical coagulation before water
is admitted to the filters. Disinfection in public water supplies is usually accomplished by means
of chlorine or ozone. In non-turbid water, most of the harmful organisms are exposed to the
action of the disinfection. However when the turbidity is caused by sewage solids many of the
pathogenic organisms may be encased in the particles and protected from the disinfectant.
Because of the all these reasons the turbidity of the water should be removed or controlled to the
maximum extent.
PROCEDURES
i) Insert the three pin plug in to 230V.AC main socket.
ii) Switch on the instrument and give 15-20 minutes warm-up time.
iii) Select the appropriate “RANGE”.iv) Set the “CAL IB” control knob to maximum
clockwise position.
v) Insert the flat bottom test tube with distilled water in to cell holder and cover it with the
light shield.

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TABULATION: -

SI SAMPLES RANGE (NTU) TURBIDITY (NTU)

.NO
1 Sample 1 0-100 15

2 Sample 2 0-100 36

3 Sample 3 0-100 54

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vi) Adjust “SET ZERO” control knob to get zero on the display i.e,by adjusting the fine
knob for fine adjustment and the coarse knob for coarse adjustments.
vii) Remove the test tube and replace the test tube with standard solution.
viii) Adjust “CAL IB” control knob such that display indicates as follows.

STANDARD
SI.NO RANGE DISPLAY
SOLUTION

01. 0 to 10 NTU 10 NTU 10.00

02. 0 to 100 NTU 100 NTU 100.00

03. 0 to 1000 NTU 400 NTU 400.00

ix) Remove the standard solution and insert the test tube containing unknown solution in the
cell.
x) The display directly shows the turbidity in NTU of the unknown solution.

RESULT
The turbidity of the given samples are:
a) Sample 1 = 15 NTU
b) Sample 2 = 36 NTU
c) Sample 3 = 54 NTU

INFERENCE

Since by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), IS 10500: 2012 ,the permissible limit
of turbidity for drinking water should be not more than 5 NTU. Therefore the given
samples is not suitable for use.

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POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. What is the general coagulant used to remove turbidity in water?

Ans- The general coagulant used to remove turbidity in water are inorganic coagulants (e.g.,
aluminum and ferric salts) and synthetic organic polymers (e.g., polyacryl amide derivatives
and polyethylene imine), Natural coagulants (e.g., polysaccharides and proteins)

2. What is the permissible limit of turbidity for drinking water by various organizations?

Ans- The permissible limit of turbidity for drinking water by various organizations are as follows:
a) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), IS 10500: 2012 – not more than 5 NTU
b) World Health Organization – not more than 5 NTU
c) European standards for turbidity – not more than 4 NTU
d) EPA Standards – not more than 1 NTU

3. What are turbidity standards for packaged mineral water?

Ans- Turbidity standards for packaged mineral water are as follows:

a) LIMITS IS 14543 – 2 NTU max.
b) LIMITS IS 13428 – 2 NTU max.

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