Understanding the Factors That Determine Water Quality

Over the past two centuries, the world has seemingly discovered more and more ways to pollute the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the forest that we love hiking through so much.

While we may have developed greater technology that has indeed benefited us, pollution still remains a huge issue for many people around the globe. This has given a rise in the number of diseases that you can encounter from water.

It’s important to be aware of this factor so as to not have to deal with the harsh consequences of encountering pathogens and other pollutants down the line. What we’ll try to uncover today is how to determine the quality of water in your area and what you can do to improve it.

When talking about the water’s source, we can classify it as ground or surface water. Groundwater can be contaminated with several different pollutants depending on where it travels throughout the earth.

Similarly, surface water can be contaminated by people who throw trash in the water, dust that settles in from the air, and much more. Either way, all water, regardless of its source, is susceptible to the devastating effects of pollution.

Moving on to water quality classification, there are four main types:

· Potable water (completely safe to drink, wash with it, and pleasant to taste)

· Palatable water (usually cloudy water, but still drinkable)

· Contaminated water (has come in contact with chemicals, biological, or radiological substances and is unsafe to drink)

· Infected water (has come in contact with pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites and other unwanted microorganisms like mold or algae)

The three types of water quality parameters are physical, biological, and chemical. As their name suggests, they refer to the different aspects of water as well as the different pollutants that it can encounter.

The most important physical aspects of water to take into consideration are turbidity, taste, odor, and solids.

Let’s start with turbidity, or as it’s more commonly known cloudiness. In many cases, turbidity doesn’t necessarily make the water unsafe to drink. It depends on what materials are causing said turbidity.

For example, hard water can appear cloudy due to a high concentration of calcium and magnesium, which are beneficial minerals. However, if said cloudiness is caused by mud, clay, plankton, and other materials, you might want to avoid it.

Moving on, taste and odor are usually altered thanks to organic or inorganic compounds, and dissolved gasses. You can measure the value of odor and taste by diluting a sample of the affected water with a sample of regular or purified water. Again, taste and odor don’t necessarily mean the water isn’t safe to drink; it depends on what is causing them.

By far one of the most helpful ways to determine water quality is by looking at its biological components. Microorganisms can be found everywhere, on any surface, and water is no exception.

The main concerns when dealing with biological water quality are pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. One other indicator of the lack of biological water quality is algae. Algae are primarily nuisance organisms in the water supply because of the taste and odor problems they create. Otherwise, they don’t necessarily pose a threat.

Getting a reliable filtration unit will not only help you eliminate physical and biological pollutants, but it will also help you eliminate unwanted chemicals. Of course, it depends on the type of filter you get, as many are designed for different tasks. It’s best to research what are the most common pollutants in your area when making a buying decision. And with that out of the way, let’s go to the final water quality parameter:

This is a pretty long topic to summarize in a few hundred words, but we’ll do our best. There are several key components to take into consideration when analyzing water quality based on this parameter:

· pH (Acidity or Alkalinity)

· Chlorine residue

· Fluoride

· Toxic inorganic or organic substances

The pH of the water is determined by how acidic or alkaline the solution is. Alkaline water contains more hydroxyl ions, while acidic water contains more hydrogen ions. It’s as simple as that.

pH ranges on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being the neutral level. Keep in mind, however, that much like the Richter scale, the pH scale also implies a ten-fold change with each subsequent number. For example, a pH level of 7 is ten times more acidic than a pH level of 8.

Either way, excessively high levels of either acidity or alkalinity can be detrimental. Higher pH levels may make the water taste better, but it reduces the effects of chlorine. Low pH levels, on the other hand, cause metals to corrode much faster when water comes in contact with them. If you want to drink tastier water, it’s best to get an ionizer and use it only after you’ve already filtered the water.

Chlorine is added to water for disinfection. It, on its own, is a toxic gas, but when combined with water it’s not harmful to human health. However, Chlorine can react with organics in water forming toxic compounds called trihalomethanes or THMs, which are carcinogens such as chloroform CHCl3.

As for fluoride, a moderate amount of it is good for dental health. About 1.0 mg/L is effective in preventing tooth decay, particularly in children. But in large quantities, it has the opposite effect, mainly tooth discoloration. However, it’s hard to determine the maximum amount of allowed fluoride in water because it depends on the local climate. In hotter areas of the US, 1.4 mg per liter is the maximum allowed, while in colder regions, the maximum is raised to 2.4 mg.

Water quality is one of the most important factors in keeping up your good health. Wherever you may live, we recommend getting a reliable filtration system, with pre-filters and post-filters, as well as water ionizers and other helpful gadgets.

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