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Water quality refers to the suitability of water for various uses, based on physical, chemical, biological, and organoleptic properties.
Importance of measuring water quality: impacts human health, industrial and domestic use, and the natural environment.

Regulations such as the EU Drinking Water Directive and agencies like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set water quality standards.
Governments typically act as frontline enforcers of these regulations.

Water quality measurement can be performed using laboratory tests or home kits.
- Laboratory testing: Measures multiple parameters and yields accurate results but is time-consuming and expensive.
- Home test kits: Offer rapid results (e.g., test strips) but are less accurate.
Water suppliers usually publish water quality reports online, adhering to standards influenced by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Definition by US Geological Survey (USGS): "Water quality is a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics."
Categories of water quality parameters:
1. Physical Parameters:
- Determined by senses: temperature, color, taste and odor, turbidity, and dissolved solids.
1. Chemical Parameters:
- Reflect the environment's influence on water, including pH, hardness, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and levels of various minerals.
1. Biological Parameters:
- Measure the presence of bacteria, algae, viruses, and protozoa in water.

Anthropogenic activities and natural factors affecting water quality include:
- Atmospheric pollution
- Runoff
- Erosion and sedimentation

Water for Human Consumption:
- Potable water is defined as safe for drinking and cooking; a fundamental human right.
- WHO statistics show:
  - 785 million lack basic drinking-water service.
  - Over 2 billion consume contaminated water, leading to waterborne diseases (cholera, etc.).
- Annually, approximately 829,000 deaths (297,000 children under 5) are due to unsafe water consumption.
Water for Industrial and Domestic Use:
- Process Water: Used in industries requires stringent quality standards to avoid machinery damage and contamination of produced goods.
- Standards for process water can vary by industry and may rely on those set for potable water in absence of specific regulations.
Environmental Water Quality:
- Crucial for ecosystems; governmental organizations regulate parameters for protecting wildlife and habitats.
- Over 80% of the world’s wastewater returns untreated to the environment, increasing contamination risks.
- Historical context: Japan's Itai-Itai and Minamata diseases caused by heavy metal contamination.

Human Health: Poor quality can lead to diseases (diarrhea, cholera, etc.).
Contamination sources pose long-term health risks (heavy metal exposure, etc.).
Environmental Impact: Contaminants disrupt ecosystems and cause other adverse effects (eutrophication, dead zones, etc.).
Industry: Specific water quality is essential for production; contamination leads to faulty products.

Atmospheric Pollution: Acid rain from environmental gases can contaminate water.
Runoff: Flowing water may carry pollutants from land to water bodies.
Erosion and Sedimentation: Increases sediment; toxic chemicals can attach to sediment, degrading quality.

Turbidity: Measure of cloudiness; indicates suspended materials.
Temperature: Affects solubility and behavior of water constituents.
Color: Reflects concentration of organic and inorganic matter.
Taste and Odor: Aesthetically important, influenced by contaminants.
Total Solids: Includes Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS).
Electrical Conductivity (EC): Indicates ionic concentration.
pH: Measures acidity/basicity; extreme values affect safety and treatment efficacy.
Hardness: Concentration of minerals (calcium & magnesium); can affect usage properties.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Indicator of water pollution; low levels suggest poor quality.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): Measure of microbial contamination.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): Measures the oxygen needed for substance oxidation.
Toxic Inorganic Substances: Presence of harmful compounds poses health risks.
Toxic Organic Substances: Includes pesticides and solvents affecting health.
Radioactive Substances: Monitor for public health due to their harmful effects.
Bio-indicators: Assess biological presence (bacteria, etc.).

Laboratory analysis: Most accurate but time-consuming; requires sterile sample collection.
Home tests:
- Test Strips: Affordable, indicate presence of parameters through color change.
- Colour Disk Kits: Test one parameter at a time through color matching.
- Digital Instruments: More precise but generally expensive.

Access reports from government or NGOs providing data and test results.
Examples of regular reports available in many municipal and international contexts.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR).
Canadian municipalities follow federal guidelines for water quality reporting.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) offers insights into global water quality issues.
Water Quality Association provides data on drinking water parameters.
World Water Council brings attention to global water quality standards and challenges.

Water quality standards set limits on physical, chemical, and biological components.
Examples of key standards include: US Clean Water Act, EU Drinking Water Directive, Australian National Water Quality Management Strategy.

Icelandic public water deemed the best globally for human, industrial, and environmental needs due to high purity, minimal treatment requirements, and effective distribution monitoring.