| Parameter | BIS Guidelinevalue
(maximum allowable) Maximum Permitted |
General & Health effect
If it exceeds the parameters, the following side effects are felt |
|
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 |