|
Parameter
|
BIS Guideline value (maximum allowable)
|
General & Health effect
|
| Total dissolved solids |
2000 mg/L
|
Undesirable taste; gastro intestinal
irritations; corrosion or incrustation |
| PH |
6.5-8.5
|
Affects mucous membrane; bitter taste;
corrosion; affects aquatic life |
| Alkalinity |
600 mg/L
|
Boiled rice turns yellowish |
| Hardness |
600 mg/L
|
Poor lathering with soap; deterioration
of the quality of clothes; scale forming; skin irritation; boiled
meat and food become poor in quality |
| Calcium |
200
|
Poor lathering and deterioration of
the quality of clothes; incrustation in pipes; scale formation |
| Magnesium |
100
|
Poor lathering and deterioration of
clothes; with sulfate laxative |
| Iron |
1.0
|
Poor or sometimes bitter
taste, color and turbidity; staining of clothes materials; iron bacteria
causing slime |
| Manganese |
0.3
|
Poor taste, color and turbidity; staining;
black slime |
| Aluminum |
0.2
|
Neurological disorders; Alzheimer's
disease |
| Copper |
1.5
|
Liver damage; mucosal irritation,
renal damage and depression; restricts growth of aquatic plants |
| Zinc |
15
|
Astringent taste; opalescence in water;
gastro intestinal irritation; vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain,
nausea and dizziness |
| Ammonia |
-
|
Indicates pollution; growth of algae |
| Nitrite |
-
|
Forms nitrosoamines which are carcinogenic
|
| Nitrate |
100
|
Blue baby disease (methemoglobineamia);
algal growth |
| Sulfate |
400
|
Taste affected; laxative
effect; gastro intestinal irritation |
| Chloride |
1000
|
Taste affected; corrosive |
| Fluoride |
1.5
|
Dental and skeletal fluorosis; non-skeletal
manifestations |
| Phosphate |
-
|
Algal growth |
| Arsenic |
0.05
|
Toxic; bio-accumulation; central nervous
system affected; carcinogenic |
| Mercury |
0.001
|
Highly toxic; causes 'minamata' disease-neurological
impairment and renal disturbances; mutagenic |
| Cadmium |
0.01
|
Highly toxic; causes 'itai-itai' disease-painful
rheumatic condition; cardio vascular system affected; gastro intestinal
upsets and hyper tension |
| Lead |
0.05
|
Causes plumbism-tiredness, lassitudes,
abdominal discomfort, irritability, anaemia; bio-accumulation; impaired
neurological and motor development, and damage to kidneys |
| Chromium |
0.05
|
Carcinogenic; ulcerations, respiratory
problems and skin complaints |
| Pesticide |
0.001
|
Affects central nervous system |
| Detergent |
-
|
Undesirable foaming |
