Principles of Water Quality

Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, determining its suitability for various uses (drinking, agriculture, recreation, and ecology). Key parameters include pH, electrical conductivity (EC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD).

1. Suspended and Dissolved Solids

Suspended Solids (SS): These are undissolved particles (silt, clay, sand, organic matter) suspended in water.
- Measurement: Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in milligrams per liter (mg/L).
- Impact: Cause turbidity, reducing light penetration and harming aquatic life. Can carry pollutants.
- Example: Construction or agricultural runoff.
Dissolved Solids (DS): These are substances completely dissolved in water, forming ions (salts, minerals, gases).
- Measurement: Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in mg/L, often estimated by conductivity.
- Impact: Affect taste, aquatic life, irrigation, and industrial use. Can indicate pollution (high salt/metal concentrations).
- Example: Salinity in coastal areas, mineral leaching from rocks.

2. Electrical Conductivity (EC)

Definition: Measures water's ability to conduct electricity, reflecting the concentration of dissolved ions. Higher ion concentration, higher EC.
Units: Microsiemens per centimeter (µS/cm) or millisiemens per centimeter (mS/cm).
Factors: Primarily influenced by dissolved salts, minerals, and metals.
Example: High in seawater, low in pure water.
Significance: Indicates potential salinity issues, industrial contamination, or high nutrient levels (leading to eutrophication).

3. pH of Water

Definition: Measures water acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 0-14 (7 is neutral).
Significance: Affects solubility and toxicity of chemicals (e.g., heavy metals, nutrients). Most aquatic life thrives in a pH range of 6.5-8.5.
Impact:
- Acidic water (pH < 6): Can leach heavy metals (lead, copper) from pipes, harmful to humans and aquatic life.
- Basic water (pH > 8.5): Affects nutrient availability, causes scale formation in pipes.
Example: Acid rain (pH < 5.6) from fossil fuel burning acidifies water bodies.

4. Trace Constituents

Definition: Elements or compounds (heavy metals, trace nutrients, organic pollutants) present in small amounts but with significant impacts.
Significance: Can be toxic to aquatic life, harm human health, and disrupt ecosystems.
Example: Mercury accumulation in the food chain.

5. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Definition: Amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water (typically measured over 5 days at 20°C).
Units: Milligrams per liter (mg/L).
Significance: Indicates organic pollution level. High BOD suggests high levels of biodegradable material (sewage, food waste), depleting oxygen and harming aquatic life.
Example: Untreated sewage discharge in a river.

6. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Definition: Total oxygen required to oxidize both biodegradable and non-biodegradable organic substances in water.
Units: Milligrams per liter (mg/L).
Significance: Measures total oxygen demand, including non-biodegradable substances (COD is usually higher than BOD).
Example: Industrial effluents containing organic chemicals.

Comparison of BOD and COD

Parameter	BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)	COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
Definition	Oxygen demand from microbial activity	Oxygen demand from both biological and chemical processes
Purpose	Measures biodegradable organic matter	Measures total organic matter
Typical Range	1-300 mg/L for natural waters	20-500 mg/L for polluted waters
Usage	Indicator of organic pollution and oxygen depletion	Estimates pollution load, especially when BOD is impractical
Decomposition	Biologically degraded by microorganisms	Can be chemically oxidized, including non-biodegradable compounds
Example	Sewage water, food waste	Industrial effluents, chemical runoff

Summary

Water quality is assessed through various parameters. Understanding these principles is crucial for assessing water suitability, implementing effective water treatment, and promoting sustainable water management.

Comments

KSHEC Scholarship 2024-25

KSHEC Scholarship 2024-25 Alert! First-Year UG Students Only, Don't Miss This Golden Opportunity! 💡✨ Are you a first-year undergraduate student studying in a Government or Aided College in Kerala? Do you need financial assistance to continue your education without stress? The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) Scholarship is here to support YOU! This scholarship is a lifeline for deserving students, helping them focus on their studies without worrying about financial burdens. If you meet the criteria, APPLY NOW and take a step towards a brighter future! 🌟 ✅ Simple Online Application – Quick & easy process! 📌 Who Can Apply? ✔️ First-year UG students ONLY ✔️ Must be studying in an Arts & Science Government or Aided college in Kerala ✔️ Professional Course students are not eligible 🔹 Scholarship Amounts Per Year: 📌 1st Year FYUGP – ₹12,000 📌 2nd Year FYUGP – ₹18,000 📌 3rd Year FYUGP – ₹24,000 📌 4th Year FYUGP – ₹40,000 📌 5th Year PG – ₹60,000 Great News...

Disaster Management

1. Disaster Risk Analysis → Disaster Risk Reduction → Disaster Management Cycle Disaster Risk Analysis is the first step in managing disasters. It involves assessing potential hazards, identifying vulnerable populations, and estimating possible impacts. Once risks are identified, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies come into play. DRR aims to reduce risk and enhance resilience through planning, infrastructure development, and policy enforcement. The Disaster Management Cycle then ensures a structured approach by dividing actions into pre-disaster, during-disaster, and post-disaster phases . Example Connection: Imagine a coastal city prone to cyclones: Risk Analysis identifies low-lying areas and weak infrastructure. Risk Reduction includes building seawalls, enforcing strict building codes, and training residents for emergency situations. The Disaster Management Cycle ensures ongoing preparedness, immediate response during a cyclone, and long-term recovery afterw...

Pre During and Post Disaster

Disaster management is a structured approach aimed at reducing risks, responding effectively, and ensuring a swift recovery from disasters. It consists of three main phases: Pre-Disaster (Mitigation & Preparedness), During Disaster (Response), and Post-Disaster (Recovery). These phases involve various strategies, policies, and actions to protect lives, property, and the environment. Below is a breakdown of each phase with key concepts, terminologies, and examples. 1. Pre-Disaster Phase (Mitigation and Preparedness) Mitigation: This phase focuses on reducing the severity of a disaster by minimizing risks and vulnerabilities. It involves structural and non-structural measures. Hazard Identification: Recognizing potential natural and human-made hazards (e.g., earthquakes, floods, industrial accidents). Risk Assessment: Evaluating the probability and consequences of disasters using GIS, remote sensing, and historical data. Vulnerability Analysis: Identifying areas and p...

Role of Geography in Disaster Management

Geography plays a pivotal role in disaster management by facilitating an understanding of the impact of natural disasters, guiding preparedness efforts, and supporting effective response and recovery. By analyzing geographical features, environmental conditions, and historical data, geography empowers disaster management professionals to identify risks, plan for hazards, respond to emergencies, assess damage, and monitor recovery. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) serve as crucial tools, providing critical spatial data for informed decision-making throughout the disaster management cycle. Key Concepts, Terminologies, and Examples 1. Identifying Risk: Concept: Risk identification involves analyzing geographical areas to understand their susceptibility to specific natural disasters. By studying historical events, topography, climate patterns, and environmental factors, disaster management experts can predict which regions are most vulnerable. Terminologies: Hazard Risk: The pr...

GIS Concepts

S patial Data Components Location or Position This defines where a spatial object exists on the Earth's surface. It is represented using coordinate systems , such as: Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) – Uses latitude and longitude (e.g., WGS84). Projected Coordinate System (PCS) – Converts Earth's curved surface into a flat map using projections (e.g., UTM, Mercator). Example: The Eiffel Tower is located at 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E in the WGS84 coordinate system. Attribute Data (Descriptive Information About Location) Describes characteristics of spatial features and is stored in attribute tables . Types of attribute data: Nominal Data – Categories without a numerical value (e.g., land use type: residential, commercial). Ordinal Data – Ranked categories (e.g., soil quality: poor, moderate, good). Interval Data – Numeric values without a true zero (e.g., temperature in °C). Ratio Data – Numeric values with a true zero (e.g., population count, rainfall amoun...

Vineesh V, Geography

Search This Blog