Water Analysis

Water

Water Analysis

Water is life. It directly sustains humankind and its developmental needs. Water plays infinite roles in our day to day life with abundant applications. According to the specific end use of water, one needs to set its desirable characteristics. Here we enlist a few applications that need certain quality parameters to be tested. Boiler water

Boiler water

To ensure that a boiler runs properly over its lifetime, treating the water that circulates within the system is important. In absence of desired quality of boiler water and feed water, boiler's useful life will be significantly shortened. Resulting from untreated water, the boiler overheats and fails to produce hot water or steam in requisite quantity and results in overall loss of efficiency.

Unconditioned boiler feed water even though coming from a municipal water supply, can contain dissolved salts and form scale on the heat transfer surfaces as the water is heated. This deposited scale drastically reduces the heat transfer of the boiler and leads to overheating, tube failure and efficiency loss. Scale also reduces the flow area, which increases the pressure drop in boiler tubes and piping, resulting in low steam volume and downstream equipment failure. For an effective water treatment programme, one needs to check the boiler water quality from time to time from an outside lab.

Caustic alkalinity
Chlorides
Conductivity
Dissolved oxygen (DO)
Iron
Manganese
pH
Reactive silica

Sulphites
Total alkalinity
Total dissolved solids
Total hardness
Copper
Iron
Total suspended solids
Turbidity

Phosphates
Scales
Calcium
ChloridesMagnesium
Sulphates
Zinc

Construction water

It is recommended that water from each source shall be got tested before the commencement of construction work and with appropriate frequency thereafter till the completion of the work. Water used for mixing and curing of concrete needs to be clean and free from detrimental contaminants of alkalis, acids, oils, salts, organic materials, vegetative growth or other substance that may be deleterious to bricks, stone, concrete or steel. Generally potable water is considered satisfactory for mixing. Here are some parameters that are required to be tested as per the standard.

0.02 N H2SO4/100ml
0.02 N NaOH/100ml
Chlorides
Fixed residue

pH
Sulphates
Total suspended solids
Volatile residue

Cooling tower water

Cooling towers use evaporative cooling system for controlling process heat. Proper water treatment program is essential for safe operation and life extension of equipment. For an efficient operation of a cooling tower, generally three main factors need to be controlled

Corrosion
Scale Formation
Biological Fouling

As the water evaporates, the dissolved solids originally present in the water remain behind and need to be meticulously controlled, besides bio-contamination. This can lead to corrosion, scale or biological fouling which may negatively affect heat transfer as well as the longevity of system components.

Calcium hardness
Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
Chlorides
Conductivity
Iron
Legionella

Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)
pH
Reactive silica
Sulphates
Sulphides
Total alkalinity

Total dissolved solids
Total hardness
Total plate count
Total suspended solids
Turbidity

Drinking water

Sometimes we face problems with usable water. Water appears cloudy or coloured, plumbing starts corroding faster, water has foul smell or tastes odd, clothes washing starts giving stains or the soap does not foam much. It is the time we must get water checked. More importantly, when the health related problems, especially gastrointestinal illness, are visible, we need to rush water for testing. Here are a few important tests that Polytest Laboratories offer serving all the practical purposes.

Aluminium
Ammonical nitrogen
Arsenic
Barium
Boron
Cadmium
Calcium
Chlorides
Colour
Detergents
E.coli
Fluorides
Free residual chlorine

Iron
Lead
Magnesium
Manganese
Mercury
Mineral oil
Molybdenum
Nickel
Nitrates
Odour (generic)
Pesticides
pH
Phenolic compounds

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Selenium
Silver
Sulphates
Sulphides
Total alkalinity
Total chromium
Total coliform
Total dissolved solids
Total hardness
Turbidity
Zinc

Haemodialysis water

The quality of dialysis fluids is too often a neglected problem at many renal healthcare centers. Every week, haemodialysis patients are exposed to about 400 lit water for the production of dialysis fluids which come into direct contact with the bloodstream. It is, therefore, clearly vital to monitor the chemical and microbiological purity of dialysis water. Not only the final dialysis water quality but also the quality of water at various stages of purification system needs to be monitored. As there is always a risk of chemical contamination due to primary pollution of municipal water, whereas the problem of microbiological contamination lies across the stages of entire treatment, distribution and point of use.

Aluminium
Arsenic
Barium
Cadmium
Calcium
Copper
E.coli
Fluorides
Lead

Magnesium
Manganese
Mercury
Nitrates
Potassium
Residual chlorine
Selenium
Silver
Sodium

Standard plate count
Sulphates
Total chromium
Total coliform
Total dissolved solids
Total hardness
Zinc

Industrial grade water

Calcium
Carbonate hardness
Chlorides
Copper
Fluorides

Iron
Langelier saturation index (LSI)
Magnesium
Nitrates
Non-carbonate hardness

Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)
pH
Ryznar stability index (RSI)
Sulphates
Total dissolved solids

Packaged drinking water

Packaged drinking water is treated and disinfected water through various treatment and disinfection processes using water from any source. This water is commonly available in jars, bottles and pouches and is sold in retail.

General parameters

Alkalinity
Aluminium
Anionic surface active agents
Barium
Boron
Calcium
Chlorides
Copper
Fluorides
Free residual chlorine
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Mineral oil
Nitrates
Nitrites
Phenolic compounds
Selenium
Sodium
Sulphates
Sulphides
Zinc

Organoleptic & physical parameters

Colour
Total dissolved solids
Turbidity

Toxic substances

Arsenic
Cadmium
Cyanide
Lead
Mercury
Pesticides
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Total chromium

Microbiological paramters

E.coli
Faecal streptococci
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Salmonella
Shigella
Staphylococcus aureus
Sulphite reducing anaerobes
Total coliform
Total viable count
Vibrio cholera
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Yeast

Packaged natural mineral water

Water obtained (and packed at natural site) directly from natural source containing natural composition of mineral salts in relative proportions and presence of trace elements. This water is obtained directly from underground sources protected from pollution risks. It is not subjected to any treatment except for mentioned in BIS standards and is packaged close to its emergence of source. BIS standard specifies the composition and levels of minerals, microbiology, organoleptic & physical requirements, toxic, radioactive substances and pesticides. This is a premium quality off the shelf water available in the market.

General parameters

Alkalinity
Anionic surface active agents
Barium
Boron
Calcium
Chlorides
Copper
Fluorides
Magnesium
Manganese
Mineral oil
Nitrates
Nitrites
Nitrites
Phenolic compounds
Selenium
Sodium
Sulphates
Sulphides
Zinc

Organoleptic & physical parameters

Colour
Odour (generic)
pH
Total dissolved solids
Turbidity

Toxic substances

Arsenic
Cadmium
Cyanide
Lead
Mercury Pesticides
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Total chromium

Microbiological paramters

E.coli
Faecal streptococci
Mould
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Salmonella
Shigella
Staphylococcus aureus
Sulphite reducing anaerobes
Total coliform Vibrio cholera
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Yeast

Recycled wastewater

Water recycling is a key to the sustainable future. It indirectly conserves drinking water used for non-critical applications. Recycled water is effectively used for non-potable purposes, most commonly for agriculture, landscape, parks, industrial cooling and process water, toilet flushing, dust suppression, construction activities, concrete mixing and recharging of artificial lakes.

Wastewater recycling pays as it addresses two problems simultaneously:

ONE: Treatment for compliance and arresting the environmental pollution; and
TWO: utilization of same after purification for a lot many gainful applications saving freshwater costs.

Typical tests for recycled wastewater are those required for statutory compliance with a few additional ones to ensure enhanced quality for recycling purpose.

Ammonical nitrogen
Arsenic
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
Boron
Cadmium
Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
Chlorides
Copper
Cyanide

Fluorides
Lead
Mercury
Nickel
Percent sodium
Pesticides
pH
Phenolic compounds
Selenium
Sulphates

Sulphides
Temperature
Total chromium
Total dissolved solids
Total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN)
Total oil & grease
Total residual chlorine
Total suspended solids
Zinc

RO water

The majority of drinking water at home is derived from various filters and purifiers. Most of the high end purifiers being RO type, the question arises is: Is the purifier removing microorganisms and harmful contaminants? The identification of problem starts with thoroughly testing of RO water. Also RO systems are extensively used in industries for their need of high grade water. Here are some parameters which can be tested for establishing the quality of process water.

Aluminium
Arsenic
Barium
Cadmium
Calcium Copper
E.coli
Fluorides
Lead

Magnesium
Manganese
Mercury
Nitrates
Potassium
Residual chlorine
Selenium
Silt density index (SDI)
Silver

Sodium
Standard plate count
Sulphates
Total chromium
Total coliform
Total dissolved solids
Total hardness
Zinc

Swimming pool water

Pool water sanitation is utterly important to ensure healthy conditions in swimming pools or similar recreational water bodies. Proper sanitation is needed to maintain the visual clarity of water and to prevent the transmission of infectious waterborne diseases. Contaminants added up swimmers can influence the pool water management.

Typical contaminants that decrease the water quality include microorganisms from infected users and body oils including sweat, cosmetics, suntan lotion, urine, saliva and fecal matter.

Additionally, the complex reactions between disinfectants and water contaminants can produce a mixture of chloramines and other byproducts. Pathogenic contaminants, i.e. microbes pose greatest hazard to the users leading to recreational water illnesses. Typical pathogens are viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi. Diarrhea, Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis are the most commonly reported illness associated with pathogenic contaminants, while ear, skin rashes and respiratory infections are also common.

Key to a well maintained pool is timely and thorough testing of feed and pool water.

Aluminium
Chlorides
Coliform MPN
Colour
Heavy metals Iron
Odour (generic)
Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)

Oxygen absorbed
pH
Residual chlorine
Standard plate count
Total alkalinity
Total dissolved solids
Turbidity

Water for metalworking fluid

The primary functions of metalworking fluids are to reduce the friction between the tool and the material being cut, to dissipate the heat created and to transport chips and swarf away from the cutting zone. Secondary requirements include corrosion protection for the machine and components, controlling foaming, low evaporation and misting, good skin compatibility, high flash point and high stability, etc.

Here are some parameters that indicate the health of the fluid when tested periodically.

Bacterial

Chlorides
Copper strip corrosion
Electrical conductivity
Floating oil
Fungal count
Nitrites
pH
Reserve alkalinity
Total hardness

Chlorides

Conductivity
pH
Reactive silica
Standard plate count
Sulphates
Total dissolved solids
Total hardness
Total solids

Grey Water

Ammonia
Conductivity
Faecal coliforms
Nitrites
pH
Sodium
Sulphates
Total hardness
Total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN)
Total phosphorus
Total suspended solids
Turbidity
BOD

Distilled Water

Conductivity
pH
Reactive silica
Total solids
Colour retention of KMnO4
Nonvolatile residue

Water Analysis

Water

Water Analysis

General parameters

Organoleptic & physical parameters

Toxic substances

Microbiological paramters

General parameters

Organoleptic & physical parameters

Toxic substances

Microbiological paramters

Bacterial

Chlorides

Grey Water

Distilled Water

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