Water Analysis Guide

Water Analysis Guide

Test Performed Limit Explanation Health & Aesthetic Effects
Aluminium 0.200mg/l Al Aluminium is the most abundant metallic element in the earth’s crust. Different chemical forms of aluminium are commonly used as coagulants and for removal of colour, turbidity and micro-organism during water treatment. High aluminium content may pose a threat to people with kidney disorders and it may causes neurological problems.
Ammonium 0.30mg/l Ammonium is derived from ammonia and is widely used as cleaning agents and food additives. Ammonium in water supplies can originate from agricultural and industrial processes, sewage systems and animal waste. Ammonium is not a health risk itself but it serves as a valuable indicator of source pollution. Ammonia in water can result in corrosion of pipes and fittings which can cause copper stains and sanitary ware.
Apparent Colour Acceptable to customers and no abnormal change Colour in water is caused by the interaction of light with suspended and dissolved particles. As suspended particles (turbidity) are likely to be coloured themselves, the more turbid the water the more colour will appear. The impact is mainly aesthetic and is deemed acceptable to the customer themselves but it is important to note that if high colour can get through the water treatment process, microorganisms may also be getting through the water supply.
Conductivity Less than 2,500 µS/cm@ 20oC Conductivity is the measure of the ability of an aqueous solution to carry and electric current. Conductivity is a good indicator of hardness and alkalinity and also used to estimate dissolved solids in a water sample. There are no direct health effects.
Fluoride Less than 0.8mg/l F in fluoridated Supplies Fluoride present in the majority of water samples is through fluoridation (addition of fluoride) by local authorities. The fluoride limit in Ireland is more stringent than the remainder of Europe. Studies have shown that fluoride levels above 0.6mg/l leads to a reduction in tooth decay in growing children. Further studies have also shown that levels above 1.5mg/l cause an inverse effect and mottling of teeth. Supplies with naturally occurring fluoride levels should not exceed 1.5mg/l F.
Iron Less than 0.20mg/l Fe Iron is present in high concentrations in soil and rock and this enters the water in a soluble form as it passes through these formations. There will be reddish-brown staining of laundry, sinks, cisterns etc. It can impart a taste also in water supply
Manganese Less than 0.050mg/l Mn Manganese is similar to iron in that there are no harmful health effects but more staining of appliances. The source of manganese is also from soils and rocks. The staining associated with manganese is more severe than iron and will tend to be a black-brown staining. It can have a more detrimental effect regarding imparting a taste on the water.
Nitrite 0.151mg/l Nitrite formation is part of the nitrogen cycle and is formed from microbiological activity. It normally exists in low concentrations. High nitrite levels indicate more recent pollution of the water than high nitrate levels, as the production of nitrite is an intermediate stage in the conversion of ammonia to nitrate. Chloramination of water systems during treatment may also give rise to the formation of nitrite. High levels of nitrite act as a toxicant and are known to cause ‘Blue Baby Syndrome’ (methaemoglobinaemia). In addition, nitrites can give rise to the presence of nitrosamines by reacting with organic compounds giving possible carcinogenic effects.
pH (Hydrogen Ion) ≥6.5 and ≤9.5 pH units pH is a measurement of the alkalinity or acid content in water. The optimum range for drinking water is between 6.5 and 9.5. Below 6.5 would likely cause corrosion of water supply pipes leading to higher amounts of metals in the water supply. Water with high or low pH values may impart unusual taste into the water supply. It has no direct health effects.
Total Hardness No Limit Applies
Soft Up to 50 mg/lCaCO3
Moderately Soft 51 – 100mg/lCaCO3
Slightly Hard 101-150mg/lCaCO3
Different areas of the country willhavevarying degrees of hardness.Hardness can be temporary (can be removed by boiling) or permanent (cannot be removed by boiling). Total hardness (temporary + permanent hardness) is combined amounts of calcium and magnesium hardness expressed as CaCO3(Calcium Carbonate).
Moderately Hard 151 – 250 mg/lCaCO3
Hard 251-350 mg/lCaCO3
Excessively Hard Over 350 mg/lCaCO3
Hardness can actually improvethe taste of water and make it more acceptable.
Water with high hardness levels willtend to cause scaling of kettles,pipes, irons etc. It willalso reduce the lathering formation from soaps and shampoos.
Turbidity No limit applies, but there is a
recommended value ≤1 NTU 		Turbidity is the measure of finely divided solids and suspended particles in the water. In general terms it can be described as the cloudiness of a water sample. The health effects depend on the composition of the turbidity particles, as it is possible that the particles are of sewage origin. The E-Coli test will confirm the presence of sewage. Generally “acceptable to consumers” applies as a limit.
Total Coliforms 0 cfu/100ml Total coliform bacteria indicate the general level of microbial contamination of a water sample. Total Coliforms include both bacteria of faecal origin and also those which originate in the soil and are non-faecal. They may be present in a water supply where the well is not properly capped and screened letting in animals and insects. Drinking water with total coliforms present can cause health issues as they indicate that other pathogenic bacteria may be present.
E-coli 0 cfu/100ml E-coli bacteria are present in warm blooded mammals. They enter the water supply from sewage contamination and their presence indicates recent heavy pollution by human or animal waste. The consumption of water with E-coli present would possibly cause risk to human health as there are potentially other pathogenic bacteria present in the water supply.
Clostridium Perfringens 0 cfu/100ml Clostridium Perfringensis an anaerobic bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals and in the environment in soil, sewage, crops, dust and decaying vegetation. The presence of these spore-forming anaerobes is an indicator of faecal contamination. Clostridium Perfringens are particularly resistant to chlorination and unfavorable conditions in the environment and can survive in water much longer than organisms of the coliform group. Their presence, especially in well water and borehole supplies, can indicate remote or intermittent contamination. The ingestion of the bacteria through drinking water does not appear to pose a direct health affect but their presence may indicate that other more harmful bacteria are present in the water.
Nitrate 11.0mg/l Nitrate is a tasteless, colourless and odourless compound found naturally occurring in the soil. It is present in water in elevated levels due to human interference such as fertiliser run-off, septic tank contamination etc. Nitrate in excessive levels can cause Blue Baby Syndrome. This is as a result of aninfant’s stomach acid not being as robust as an adult and therefore allows certain bacteria to develop. These bacteria convert nitrate to nitrite which binds the oxygen in the blood. It eventually leads to lack of oxygen to vital organs.
Langelier Saturation Index No Limit Applies The Langelier Saturation Index (LI) is a measure of a solution’s ability to dissolve or deposit calcium carbonate, and is used as an indicator of the corrosivity of water. Waters that deposita calcium scale provide a protective insulation for pipes against corrosion. Waters that don’t provide this protection for pipes are deemed to be corrosive. Highly corrosive waters can dissolve other metals such as lead or copper and potentially damage water systems.
Corrosive Characteristics LI Result
Highly Aggressive -2.0 or lower
Moderately Aggressive Between 0.0 and -2.0
Not Aggressive 0.0 or higher
No direct health effects are caused by corrosive waters, but they may cause potentially harmful metals to be pulled off pipework and entered into the water supply. Corrosive water can cause pipe corrosion and system failures.
Lead 10 µg/l Lead can be present in ores, effluent discharges and used in pipework. Lead may be present in the pipework of older houses, and water with corrosive properties can force the lead to be brought into solution. Levels can be markedly higher in the morning when water has been standing in pipes for up to 12 hours. Long term exposure to lead can affect the development of a child’s brain leading to problems with learning, behaviour and attention. It is also linked to kidney harm, high blood pressure and cancer.
Copper 2.0 mg/l Copper can be present in ores, soil and industrial waste. It may also be present in waters that pass through copper pipework. There are no particular toxic effects of copper on humans, although may cause dietary discomfort in infants. It is associated with discolouring bleached hair. May also affect the taste of water in levels above 1.0mg/l
Legionella No limit applies, investigations and actions to occur on samples >1000cfu/L Legionella is a family of pathogenic bacteria which is associated with several diseases. It thrives in warm water systems such as showers, spas and swimming pools and infects through inhaled water droplets. Legionella Pneumophila sg 1 is a bacterial strain that causes 90% of cases of Legionnaire’s disease. Other strains, such as Legionella Pneumophilasg 2-15 and other Legionella species (cumulatively referred to asLegionella spp), can cause Legionnaire’s disease in lesser cases and cause other diseases such as Pontiac fever. Legionnaire’s disease presents as a severe pneumonia, which includes a fever, chills, severe cough, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting.