WATER QUALITY
- As defined by RA 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act
(CWA) of 2004, water quality is “the characteristics of
water which define its use in terms of physical, chemical,
biological, bacteriological or radiological characteristics
by which the acceptability of water is evaluated.”  3. Alkalinity
CLASSIFICATION OF WATER  bases.
 On source:  - Necessary in determining the amount of lime or soda for
1) Ground Water  - that portion of rainwater w/c has percolated
into the earth to form underground deposits called aquifer
(water-bearing soil formation)
2) Surface Water - mixture of surface run-off and groundwater.
Surface sources includes lakes, rivers, ponds and
impounding reservoirs.
 On quality: 
1) Potable water – safe to drink, with pleasant taste, and may use
for domestic purposes. 
2) Palatable water – esthetically pleasing but may contain
chemicals that may not harm  human health  - Amount of chlorine maintained in water distribution system
3) Contaminated (polluted) water – contains unwanted physical,
chemical, biological, or radiological substances, and
unfit for domestic use as well as for human
consumption.
4) Infected water – contaminated with pathogenic organisms  6. Sulfate
A. PHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER QUALITY
1. Turbidity
- A measure of the degree of cloudiness and muddiness of
water.
- Describes the clarity of water
- Maximum level: 5 NTU
2. Temperature
- Degree of hotness or coldness of a thing
- 10-15 deg. celcius – palatable for most people
3. Color
- Objectionable for esthetic reasons, not for health reason
- Maximum level: 10 CU
4. Taste and Odor
- Foreign matter such as organic materials, inorganic
compounds, or dissolved gases.
- May come from natural, domestic, or agricultural sources
- Allowable level: No objectionable taste and odor
5. Solids
- May occur in water either in suspension or solution which
can be identified by using a glass fiber filter that the water
samples pass through.
- TDS Maximum level: 600 mg/L
6. Electrical Conductivity (EC)
- Measure of the ability of solution to conduct or carry an
electrical current.
CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER QUALITY
1. pH
- Negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration
- Measure of how acidic or basic water is
- Safe range of pH in drinking water 6.5-8.5
2. Acidity
- Measure of acids in solution
- It is the quantitative capacity of water to neutralize a strong
base to a selected pH level
- Level of acidity 0.02 N
- Acid-neutralizing capacity comprised of total of all titratable
softening (ex. For corrosion control)
- H2SO4 of 0.02 N
4. Chloride 
- Naturally occurs in groundwater, lakes, and streams but the
presence of very high chloride (about 250 mg/L) in fresh
water may indicate pollution.
- Maximum allowable concentration: 250 mg/L
5. Chlorine Residual
to ensure safe quality of water.
- Allowable amount of chlorine residual in water is 0.2 to 0.5
mg/L
 
- Sulfate ions (SO42-) are naturally occurring in water and
wastewater.
- Usually caused by leaching  of natural deposits of
Magnesium Sulfate (Epson Salt) or sodium sulfate (Glauber’s
Salt) 
- Maximum level is 250 mg/L
7. Nitrogen
- Most of Nitrogen is in the form of Organic and Ammonia if
the water is contaminated with  sewage and then, transformed
to nitrites and nitrates by microbes.  
- MAL for Nitrate: 50 mg/L , Nitrite: 3 mg/L
8. Fluoride 
- Fluoride ions (F-) in drinking water are beneficial to dental
health. 1It is effective in preventing tooth decay.
- Maximum level allowed: 1.0 mg/L
9. Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) 
- Both do not cause health problems but may cause bitter taste
to drinking water even at low concentration. 
- Maximum level: Iron: 1 mg/L, Manganese: 0.5 mg/L
10. Copper and Zinc 
- Both are nontoxic at small concentration. 
- Beneficial for plants, animals and human health. 
- May cause undesirable taste in drinking water.
- Maximum Level Copper: 1.0 mg/L, Zinc: 5.0 mg/L 
11. Hardness
- Term used to express highly mineralized waters
- Maximum level: 300 mg/L as CaCO3
12. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 
- One of the most important parameters of water quality in
streams, rivers and lakes.
- Key test for water pollution 
 - The higher the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water,
the better the water quality is.
13. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
-  The need for oxygen is called Biochemical Oxygen
Demand.
4. Protozoa
- Single-celled microscopic animal
- They consume solid organic particles, bacteria and algae for
food
- Zooplankton is aquatic protozoa floating freely in water.

14. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)  MAXIMUN ALLOWABLE LEVEL OF DIFFERENT

- Parameter that measures all organics that includes the PARAMETERS
biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances. 
- A chemical test using strong oxidizing chemicals (potassium PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL QUALITY FOR
dichromate), sulfuric acid and heat. Results are available in ACCEPTABILITY ASPECTS OF DRINKING WATER
just 2 hours.  PARAMETERS MAXIMUM
- Compared to BOD, COD Values are always higher. ALLOWABLE LEVEL
Taste No Objectionable Taste
15. Toxic Inorganic Substances  Odor No Objectionable Odor
- May be found in water in trace or very small amounts but Color (Apparent) 10 CU
Turbidity 5 NTU
still can danger health.
Aluminum 0.02 mg/L
- May occur naturally but many occur due to improper Chloride 250 mg/L
hazardous waste management or industrial activities. Copper 1.0 mg/L
- 2 groups: Metallic Compounds and Nonmetallic Compounds Total Hardness 300 mg/L
Hydrogen Sulfide 0.05 mg/L
16. Toxic Organic Substances  Iron 1.0 mg/L
- Not naturally found in water but usually man-made pH 6.5-8.5
pollutants  Sodium 200 mg/L
- Includes the following:  Sulfate 250 mg/L
 Insecticides  Total Dissolved 600 mg/L
 Pesticides  Solids
 Solvents 
 Detergents  INORGANIC CHEMINCAL PARAMETERS
 Disinfectants  PARAMETERS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE
LEVEL
Antimony (Sb) 0.002 mg/L
17. Radioactive Substances 
Arsenic (As) 0.01 mg/L
- Sources include wastes from nuclear power plants, industries,
Barium (Ba) 0.70 mg/L
or medical research using radioactive chemicals and mining of Boron (B) 2.00 mg/L
uranium ores or other radioactive materials. Cadmium (Cd) 0.003 mg/L
Chromium (Cr) 0.05 mg/L
BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER QUALITY Cyanide (CN-) 0.50 mg/L
- The presence or lack or living organisms and is one of the Fluoride (F-) 1.50 mg/L
most helpful indicators of water quality.  Lead (Pb) 0.01 mg/L
Manganese (Mn-) 0.4 mg/L
- Bodies of water with large number of well-balanced species
Mercury (Hg) 0.001 mg/L
is considered as  healthy system 
Nickel (Ni-) 0.07 mg/L
- Other organisms are used as indicators of the presence of Nitrate (NO3-) 50.00 mg/L
pollutants. Nitrite (NO2-) 3.00 mg/L
Selenium (Se) 0.04 mg/L
1. Bacteria 
- Considered as single-celled plant cells due to their structure ORGANIC CHEMINCAL PARAMETERS FROM
and how they ingest food.  INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION OF DRINKING-WATER
PARAMETERS MAXIMUM
ALLOWABLE LEVEL
Benzene 0.01 mg/L
2. Algae
Benzo(a)pyrene 0.0007 mg/L
- Microscopic plants that contains photosynthetic pigment Carbon Tetrachloride 0.004 mg/L
such as chlorophyll. 1,2 - Dichlorobenzene 1 mg/L
- Creates taste and odor problems to drinking water. 1,4 - Dichlorobenzene 0.3 mg/L
1,2 - Dichloroethane 0.03 mg/L
3. Viruses 1,2 - Dichloroethene 0.05 mg/L
- Considered as the smallest biological structures and can only Dichloromethane 0.02 mg/L
be seen by a powerful electronic microscope. Di(2-ethylhexyl) 0.008 mg/L
- They pass through filters which do not permit the passage of phthalate
bacteria. Ethylbenzene 0.3 mg/L
Styrene 0.02 mg/L
- Most waterborne viruses can be killed by disinfection
Tetrachloroethene 0.04 mg/L
process in water treatment plants.
 Toluene 0.7 mg/L aquatic resources and intended for
Vinyl Chloride 0.0003 mg/L commercial and sustenance fishing
Xylenes (total) 0.5 mg/L 2. Recreational Water Class II - For boating,
fishing, or similar activities
3. Marshy and/or mangrove areas declared as
TABLE 1. WATER BODY CLASSIFICATION AND fish and wildlife sanctuaries
USAGE OF FRESHWATER Class SD Navigable waters
Classificati Intended Beneficial Use
on
Class AA Public Water Supply Class I - Intended
primarily for waters having watersheds, which
are uninhabited and/or otherwise declared as
protected areas, and which require only approved
disinfection to meet the latest PNSDW
Class A Public Water Supply Class II - Intended as
source of water supply requiring conventional
treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration
and disinfection) to meet the latest PNSDW
Class B Recreational Water Class I - Intended for
primary contact recreation (bathing, swimming,
etc.)
Class C 1. Fishery Water for the propagation and
growth of fish and other aquatic resources
2. Recreational Water Class II - For boating,
fishing, or similar activities
3. For agriculture, irrigation, and livestock
watering
Class D Navigable waters

TABLE 2: WATER BODY CLASSIFICATION AND

USAGE OF MARINE WATERS
Classification Intended Beneficial Use
Class SA 1. Protected Waters - Waters designated as
national or local marine parks, reserves,
sanctuaries, and other areas established by law
(Presidential Proclamation 1801 and other
existing laws), and/or declared as such by
appropriate government agency, LGUs, etc.
2. Fishery Water Class I - Suitable for
shellfish harvesting for direct human
consumption
Class SB 1. Fishery Water Class II - Water suitable for
commercial propagation of shellfish and
intended as spawning areas for milkfish
(Chanos chanos) and similar species
2. Tourist Zones - For ecotourism and
recreational activities
3. Recreational Water Class I - Intended for
primary contact recreation (bathing,
swimming, skin diving, etc.)
Class SC 1. Fishery Water Class III - For the
propagation and growth of fish and other