2 WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS & MANAGEMENT PHILIPPINE WATER RESOURCE REGION

RA 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act (CWA) of 2004

defines water quality as “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.”

Class AA

Public Water Supply Class I:
This class is intended primarily for waters having watersheds which are uninhabited and otherwise protected and which require only approved disinfection in order to meet the National Standards for Drinking Water (NSDW) of the Philippines.

Class A

Public Water Supply Class II:
For sources of water supply that will require complete treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection) in order to meet the NSDW.

Class B

Recreational Water Class I:
For primary contact recreation such as bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc. (particularly those designated for tourism purposes).

Class C

1) Fishery Water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources;

2) Recreational Water Class II (Boatings, etc.)

3) Industrial Water Supply Class I (For manufacturing processes after treatment).

Class D

1) For agriculture, irrigation, livestock watering, etc.

2) Industrial Water Supply Class II (e.g. cooling, etc.)

3) Other inland waters, by their quality, belong to this classification.

Solids

In physical characteristics of water, this is determined by evaporating a sample and weighing the dry residue.

Inorganic Solids

Solids typically include ____________, such as silt, sand, gravel, and clay from riverbanks

Organic Matter

Solids typically include _________, such as plant fibers and microorganisms from natural or manmade sources.

Siltation

This describes the suspension and deposition of small sediment particles in water bodies.

Filtration

In water treatment, the most effective means of removing solids (except for colloids and other dissolved solids), from water is by ___________.

Turbidity

This is a physical characteristics of water. This is used to measure the clarity of water.

Secchi Disk Method

This is a method for measuring turbidity. This involves lowering a special black and white disk called a Secchi disk into the water and determining the maximum depth at which it is visible. Results are reported in meters.

Chemical Titration Method

This is a method for measuring turbidity. This involves titrating a turbidity solution into a sample until an equilibrium point is reached. The results are reported in Nephlometer Turbidity Units (NTU) or Jackson Turbidity Units (JTU). In general, a turbidity value of > 40 NTU for at least twenty-four hours indicates a problem.

Turbidemeter

This is a method for measuring turbidity. This involves measuring the interferance to the passage of light through a water sample.

True color

Where water whose color is partly due to dissolved solids that remain after removal of suspended matter. (In water treatment, this is the most difficult to remove).

Apparent color

Where water whose color contributed by suspended matter

Temperature

This is a physical characteristics of water. Increasing of this affects the solubility of oxygen in water, the rate of bacterial activity, and the rate at which gases are transferred to and from the water. This has an effect on the rate at which chemicals dissolve and react. This also determines which fish species can survive. This also removes impurities and its transport.

10-15 C

Most individuals find that water having a temperature between ______ is most palatabl

Taste and Odor

This is a physical characteristics of water. This can also result as a byproduct of chlorine disinfection. Drinking water should be free from any objectionable taste or odor at the point of use.

pH

In chemical characteristics of water, this is an important factor that influences the corrosiveness of the water, chemical dosages necessary for proper disinfection, and the ability to detect contaminants either an acid or a base.

pH = 0

What is the pH of this: Battery acid, Strong Hydrofluoric Acid

pH = 1

What is the pH of this: Hydrochloric acid secreted by stomach lining

pH = 2

What is the pH of this: Lemon Juice, Gastric Acid, Vinegar

pH = 3

What is the pH of this: Grapefruit, Orange Juice, Soda

pH = 4

What is the pH of this: Acid rain, Tomato Juice

pH = 5

What is the pH of this: Soft drinking water, Black Coffee

pH = 6

What is the pH of this: Urine, Saliva

pH = 7

What is the pH of this: "Pure" water

pH = 8

What is the pH of this: Sea water

pH = 9

What is the pH of this: Baking soda

pH = 10

What is the pH of this: Great Salt Lake, Milk of Magnesia

pH = 11

What is the pH of this: Ammonia solution

pH = 12

What is the pH of this: Soapy water

pH = 13

What is the pH of this: Bleaches, Oven cleaner

pH = 14

What is the pH of this: Liquid drain cleaner

Neutral

What condition of water that has pH = 7?

Acidic

What condition of water that has pH < 5 ?

Alkaline

What condition of water that has pH > 9 ?

Total Dissolved Solids

This is a chemical characteristic of water. This is the material remaining in water after filtration. Ex: Minerals, Salts, Metals, Cations or Anions dissolved in water). This can be removed from water by distillation, electrodialysis, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange.

Alkalinity

This is a chemical characteristic of water. It is a measure of water's ability to neutralize acid or really an expression of buffering capacity. The major chemical constituents of this in natural water supplies are the bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxyl ions. The levels this affect the efficiency of certain water treatment processes, especially the coagulation process.

Hardness

This is a chemical characteristic of water. It is due to the presence of multivalent metal ions that come from minerals dissolved in water.

Calcium and Magnesium

In the hardness of freshwater, the primary ions are ____________.

Carbonate Hardness

This is a classification of water’s hardness. This is equal to alkalinity. This is temporary hardness and can be removed by boiling.

Non-carbonate Hardness

This is a classification of water’s hardness. This is equal to alkalinity but a fraction of this may include nitrates and chlorides. This can not be removed by boiling and it is classified as permanent.

Fluoride

This is a chemical characteristics of water. This is seldom found in appreciable quantities in surface waters and appears in groundwater in only a few geographical regions. This is sometimes found in a few types of igneous or sedimentary rocks. This is toxic to humans in large quantities and is also toxic to some animals.

Metals

This is a chemical characteristics of water. This is dissolved in groundwater and surface water when the water is exposed to rock or soil containing these. This can also enter with discharges from sewage treatment plants, industrial plants, and other sources. This is most often found in the highest concentrations in natural waters are calcium and magnesium.

Organics

This is a chemical characteristics of water. The source of this in water is from decaying leaves, weeds, and trees; the amount of these materials present in natural waters is usually low.

Biodegradable

This is a category of dissolved organics. These consists of organics that can be utilized for nutrients (food) by naturally occurring microorganisms within a reasonable length of time. (alcohols, acids, starches, fats, proteins, esters, and aldehydes result from domestic or industrial wastewater discharges)

Non-Biodegradable

This is a category of dissolved organics. These are resistant to biological degradation.

Nutrients

This is a chemical characteristics of water. These are essential building blocks for healthy aquatic communities, but excess nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorous compounds) overstimulate the growth of aquatic weeds and algae.

Bacteria

This is a biochemical characteristics of waste water. These are present in air, water, earth, rotting vegetation, and the intestines of animals. Human and animal waste are the primary source of these in water. This is cannot be seen by naked eye.

Viruses

This is a biochemical characteristics of waste water. This is the smallest biological structures known, so they can only be seen with the aid of an electron microscope.

Protozoa

This is a biochemical characteristics of waste water. Most of this are harmless; only a few cause illness in humans. Entamoeba histolytica (amebiasis) being an exception.

Worms (Helminths)

This is a biochemical characteristics of waste water. This pose hazards primarily to those persons who come into direct contact with untreated water.