Indian standard for drinking water as per bis specifications (is 10500 2012) - a presentation by arghyam 23rd feb. This presentation highlights the BIS standards for drinking water

1. WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
WATER QUALITY
Indian Standard for
Drinking Water- Specification
(Second Revision)
IS 10500: 2012

2. Technical terms
• BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)
• Desirable limits
• Permissible limit
• PPM
• NTU
• Hazen Units

3. Organoleptic and physical parameters
Colour, Hazen Units
IS 10500-2012 Acceptable: 5 Hz., Permissible: 15 Hz
Risks or effects Visible tint, acceptance decreases
Sources Suspended material, soil runoff,
presence of tannins and lignins,
minerals like iron, copper, manganese,
and organic wastes
Treatment Filtration, Distillation, Reverse Osmosis,
Ozonisation

4. Odour
IS 10500: 2012 Agreeable
Risks or Effects Rotten egg, musty, chemical smell
Sources Chlorine, hydrogen sulphide,
presence of iron, manganese,
chlorides, sulphates, aluminium,
copper, contamination due to
sewage and organic matter,
methane gas
Treatment Activated carbon, Air stripping,
Oxidation, Filtration, Distillation, Ion
Exchange

5. pH
IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 6.5-8.5, Permissible: No
relaxation
Risks or effects Low pH – corrosion leading to metallic
taste
High pH – bitter/soda taste, leads to
deposits
Sources Natural
Treatment Increase pH by soda ash Decrease pH with
white vinegar / citric acid

6. Total dissolved solids, mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 500 mg/l
Permissible: 2000 mg/l
Risks or effects Hardness, scaly deposits, sediments, cloudy
coloured water, salty or bitter taste,
corrosion of pipes and fittings
Sources Salts, heavy metals and organic compounds
found in agricultural and urban runoff,
wastewater from households, industries,
sewage from urban and rural areas,
hazardous wastes from landfills
Treatment Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, deionization by
Ion Exchange

7. Turbidity NTU Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable unit: 1 NTU
Permissible limit: 5 NTU
Risks or effects Cloudiness or haziness
Sources High sediment deposition due to
pollution and industrial activities like
construction, mining, quarrying,
agriculture, due to presence of organic
matter such as phytoplankton
Treatment Settling or filtration processes using
sand filtration, settling tanks, and
clarifiers.

8. Substances undesirable in excessive amounts
Aluminium (as Al),
mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.03 mg/l
Permissible limit: 0.2 mg/l
Risks or effects High risk associated with dialysis
patients
Sources Rock and soil leaching
Treatment Portable Cation Exchange***
Distillation, Reverse Osmosis

9. Ammonia (as total
ammonia-N), mg/l,
Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.5 mg/l
Permissible limit: No relaxation
Risks or effects None proposed for human, but toxic for
aquatic life
Sources Disinfection with chloramines, wastes,
fertilisers and natural processes
Treatment Ion Exchange with zeolite
Sodium alumino silicate zeolites
Distillation

10. Barium (as Ba), mg/l,
Max
IS 10500:2012 Acceptable limits: 0.7 mg/l
Permissible limits: No relaxation
Risks or effects Difficulties in breathing, increased blood
pressure, changes in heart rhythm, stomach
irritation, brain swelling, muscle weakness, and
damage to the liver, kidney, heart, and spleen.
Source Mineral deposits
Disposal of drilling wastes
Smelting of copper
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing
Treatment
Point-of-Entry (POE)
Point-of-Use (POU)
Cation Exchange
Reverse Osmosis
Distillation

11. Iron (as Fe), mg/l,
Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.3 mg/l
Permissible limit: No relaxation
Risks or effects Brackish color, rusty sediment, bitter
or metallic taste, brown-green stains,
iron bacteria, discoloration of
beverages
Sources Leaching of cast iron pipes in water
distribution systems
Natural
Treatment Oxidizing Filter, Green-sand Mechanical
Filter

12. Manganese (as Mn),
mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.1 mg/l
Permissible limit: 0.3 mg/l
Risks or effects Can stain laundry and fixtures at 0.2 mg/l,
cause discolouration and leave an
unpleasant taste to water. May affect brain
development in infants and young children
Sources Landfills, deposits in rock and soil
Treatment Ion Exchange, Chlorination, Oxidising filters
Green-sand mechanical filters

13. Sulphate (as SO4), mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 200 mg/l
Permissible limit: 400 mg/l
Risks or effects Bitter, medicinal taste, scaly deposits,
corrosive, laxative effects, "rotten-
egg" odour from hydrogen sulphide
gas formation
Sources Urban and rural sewage, industrial
wastes, bye-product of coal mining,
natural deposits or salts
Treatment Ion Exchange , Distillation , Reverse
Osmosis

14. Nitrate (as NO3), mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 45 mg/l
Permissible limit: No relaxation
Risks or effects Methemoglobinemia or blue baby disease
in infants
Sources Human sewage and livestock manure,
fertilisers, erosion of natural deposits
Treatment Anion exchange, Nitrate ‘Sélective’ Anion
Exchange Resins, Distillation,
Electrodialysis

15. Chloride (as Cl),
mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 250 mg/l
Permissible limit: 1000 mg/l
Risks or effects High blood pressure, salty taste,
corroded pipes, fixtures and
appliances, blackening and pitting of
stainless steel
Sources Fertilisers, Industrial wastes, Minerals
in soil, seawater
Treatment Reverse Osmosis , Distillation,
Activated Carbon

16. Fluoride (as F),
mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 1.0 mg/l
Permissible limit: 1.5 mg/l
Risks or effects Brownish discoloration of teeth, bone
damage, skeletal damage
Sources Contamination due to industrial
wastes.
Geological or natural
Treatment Activated Alumina, Distillation,
Reverse Osmosis, Anion Exchange

17. Total arsenic (as As), mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.01 mg/l
Permissible limit: 0. 05 mg/l
Risks or effects Skin problems, endocrine disruptor,
carcinogenic, affects cardiovascular
and nervous system
Sources Leaching from natural deposits,
pesticides, industrial deposits, coal
mining, improper waste disposal
Treatment Activated Alumina Filtration, Reverse
Osmosis, Distillation, Chemical
Precipitation, Anion exchange, lime
softening, Manganese greensand

18. Total chromium (as Cr),
mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.05
Permissible limit: No relaxation
Risks or effects Nausea, gastrointestinal distress,
stomach and skin ulcers, allergic
reactions, kidney and liver damage,
reproductive problems, lung and nasal
cancer
Sources Septic systems, industrial discharge,
mining sites, geological
Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis,
Distillation, Activated carbon

19. Cadmium (as Cd), mg/l,
Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.003
Permissible limit: No relaxation
Risks or effects Short term –nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea,
muscle cramps, sensory disturbances, liver
injury, convulsions, shock and renal failure.
Long term –kidney, liver, bone and blood
damage
Sources Corrosion of galvanised pipes, from natural
deposits, discharge from metal refineries,
runoff from waste batteries and paints
Treatment Coagulation/Filtration, Ion Exchange, Lime
softening, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

20. Copper (as Cu), mg/l, Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.05
Permissible limit: 1.5
Risks or effects Acute copper poisoning causing nausea,
vomiting, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal
irritation.
Severe cases can lead to anaemia and liver
and kidney damage
Sources Leaching from copper water pipes and tubing,
copper salts used for algae control in
reservoirs, industrial and mining discharges,
erosion from natural sources
Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

21. Cyanide (as CN ), mg/l,
Max
IS 10500: 2012 Acceptable limit: 0.05 mg/l
Permissible limit: No relaxation
Risks or effects Thyroid, nervous system damage,
can cause Vitamin B 12 deficiency
Sources Fertilisers, electronics, steel,
plastics and mining industries
Treatment Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis,
Chlorination

22. Lead (as Pb), mg/l, Max
IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 0.01 mg/l
Permissible: No relaxation
Risks or effects Poisonous, can affect central nervous system and
red blood cells, interferes with kidney and
neurological functions, leads to hearing loss, blood
disorders, hypertension, death at high levels.
Children more vulnerable than adults
Sources Household plumbing systems, discarded batteries,
paints, leaded gasoline, natural deposits
Treatment Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon , Reverse
Osmosis, Distillation

23. Mercury (as Hg),
mg/l, Max
IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 0.001 mg/l
Permissible: No relaxation
Risks or effects Damage to brain, kidney, developing foetus,
death at high levels
Sources Fungicides, batteries, sewage, metal
refining operations, mining, electrical
equipment, chloralkali plant, erosion from
natural sources
Treatment Reverse Osmosis, Distillation

24. Zinc (as Zn), mg/l,
Max
IS 10500-2012 Acceptable limit: 5 mg/l
Permissible: 15 mg/l
Risks or effects Metallic taste, toxic, can be poisonous in
large doses, can lead to copper deficiency
Sources Leaching of galvanized pipes and fittings,
paints, dyes, natural deposits
Treatment Ion Exchange Water Softeners, Reverse
Osmosis, Distillation

25. Total coliform
bacteria
IS 10500-2012 Nil/100ml
Risks or effects Gastrointestinal tract infections
Sources Contaminated animal waste, sewage
contaminated with faecal matter,
household wastewater, polluted storm
water and agricultural runoffs Naturally
occurring
Treatment Chlorination, Ultraviolet light, Distillation,
Ozonation

26. E coliform
bacteria
IS 10500-2012 Nil/100ml
Risks or effects Gastrointestinal tract infections
Sources Contaminated animal waste, sewage
contaminated with faecal matter,
household wastewater, polluted storm
water and agricultural runoffs, Naturally
occurring
Treatment Chlorination, Ultraviolet light, Distillation,
Ozonation,

27. Parameter BIS Guideline
value (maximum
allowable)
General and health effect
Total dissolved
solids
2000 mg/l Undesirable taste, gastro intestinal problems,
corrosion or incrustation
pH 6.5-8.5 Affects mucous membrane, bitter taste, affects
aquatic life
Alkalinity 600
Hardness 600 Poor lathering with soap, deterioration of the quality
of clothes, scale forming, can lead to skin irritation,
affects the quality of food
Health effects of chemical parameters

28. value (maximum
allowable)
Calcium 200 mg/l Poor lathering and deterioration of the quality of clothes,
incrustation in pipes, scale formation
Magnesium 100 mg/l Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes
Iron 0.3 mg/l Poor taste, colour and turbidity, stains clothes, iron
bacteria can cause slime, chronic iron overload could lead
to haemochromatosis
Manganese 0.3 mg/l Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes
Aluminium 0.2 mg/l High risk associated with dialysis patients
Copper 1.5 mg/l Anaemia, digestive disturbances, liver and kidney damage,
gastrointestinal irritation,
Can cause bitter or metallic taste and blue-green stains on
plumbing fixtures
Zinc 15 mg/l Metallic taste, toxic and can be poisonous in large doses,
can lead to copper deficiency

29. Parameter BIS Guideline
value
(maximum
allowable)
General and health effect
Ammonia 0.5 mg/l None proposed for human, but toxic for aquatic life
Nitrite 45mg/l Forms nitrosoamines which are carcinogenic, can
cause toxicity
Nitrate Can cause Blue baby disease
(methemoglobineamia)
Sulphate 400mg/l Taste affected, can have a laxative effect, may
cause gastrointestinal irritation
Chloride 1000 mg/l Can lead to high blood pressure
Fluoride 1.5mg/l Dental and skeletal fluorosis

30. Parameter BIS Guideline value
(maximum
allowable)
General and health effect
Arsenic 0.05 mg/l Skin problems, endocrine disruptor,
carcinogenic, affects cardiovascular and
nervous system
Mercury 0.001 mg/l Damage to brain, kidney, developing foetus, leads
to death at high levels
Cadmium 0.003 mg/l Short term – nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea,
muscle cramps, sensory disturbances, liver
injury, convulsions, shock and renal failure.
Long term –kidney, liver, bone and blood damage.
Lead 0.01 mg/l Reduces mental capacity (mental retardation),
interferes with kidney and neurological functions,
leads to hearing loss, blood disorders,
hypertension, death at high levels

31. Parameter BIS guideline
value (Maximum
allowable)
General and health
effects
Chromium 0.05 mg/l Nausea, gastrointestinal
distress, stomach ulcers,
skin ulcers, allergic
reactions, kidney and liver
damage, reproductive
problems, lung and nasal
cancer
Detergent Undesirable foaming

32. Pesticide residue limits
Parameter Limit General and health effects
Alachlor 20 µg/l Skin or eye irritation in short term. Long term
exposure can damage the liver, kidneys, eyes and
spleen
Atrazine 2 µg/l Carcinigenic and endocrine disruptor
Aldrin/Dieldrin 0.03 µg/l Dizziness, vomiting, irritability in short term,
Convulsions and kidney damage in the long term
Alpha HCH 0.01 µg/l Blood disorders, dizziness, headaches, changes in
the levels of sex hormones
Beta HCH 0.04 µg/l Blood disorders, dizziness, headaches, changes in
the levels of sex hormones
Butachlor 125 µg/l Severe neurological and cardiovascular impacts on
ingestion

33. Parameter Limit General and health effects
DDT 1 µg/l Vomiting, tremors or shakiness, and
seizures. Carcinogenic
Endosulfan (alpha,
beta and sulphate)
0.4 µg/l Neurotoxic, haemotoxic, genotoxic,
nephrotoxic and carcinogenic. Linked to
congenital physical disorders, mental
disabilities and deaths in farm workers
Malathion 190 µg/l Exposure can lead to skin and eye
irritation, cramps, nausea, diarrhoea,
excessive sweating, seizures and even
death.

34. Parameter Limit General and health effects
Chlorpyriphos 30 µg/l Vomiting, abdominal and muscle cramps,
muscle twitching, tremors and
weakness, and loss of coordination
Methyl parathion 0.3 µg/l Neurotoxic
Phorate 2 µg/l Nausea, dizziness, confusion, respiratory
paralysis and death.