Since most of the time, we find a clear glass of water that is safe to drink, you must be asking how we can test the quality of the water. However, this is not always the case; there may be many invisible harmful bacteria present in it, that could be harmful to your health. Therefore, when evaluating water, experts don’t rely on a single test but we have made it easier for you to understand water quality standards. There are 3 parameters that we have categorized that are Physical, biological and chemical.

1. Physical Parameters: 

The First level of the water quality measure indicator must be a physical overview of water quality that can be measured by viewing it and observing:

• • Turbidity (Cloudiness in Water):  This parameter showcases how visually clear the water is. If water has High turbidity it means it indicates the high presence of suspended solids which may give the water a cloudy colour, which can carry harmful microorganisms that can be dangerous to health.  Non electric water purifiers can clean such water, but when turbidity is too high, even purifiers may struggle to work properly.
  • Temperature (Hot or Cold Water): You may not think this matters, but it does. Warm water holds less oxygen and can help germs grow faster. It can also cause a bad smell or strange taste. If your tap water is always warm, it might be a sign that there’s a problem with your pipes or water storage.
  • Colour (Changes in Water Colour): Clean water has no colour; it’s Transparent. If you see brown, yellow, or greenish water, it could mean something is wrong. Rust from old pipes, algae, or dirty water from outside might be getting into your supply.
  • Taste and Odour (How Water Tastes and Smells): Water should taste fresh and clean. But sometimes, it has a metallic taste or a bad smell like damp earth. This can happen because of extra minerals, chemicals like chlorine, or dirt in the water.

• Solids (TDS – Total Dissolved Solids): Some things dissolve in water that we can’t see. Is called TDS. A mixture of a little bit of salt and minerals like Ca & Mg can be good for health. When TDS is balanced, a non-electric purifier is a good choice as it keeps the minerals while making the water safe to drink. 

• Electrical Conductivity(Saltiness in Water): Measuring this will tell you how well water conducts electricity, which depends on the number of dissolved salts & minerals. High conductivity often means excess salts, which can affect the taste and may signal that the water needs treatment to make it safer for drinking.

1. Chemical Parameters

Clear Water should be free from all the harmful chemicals. The below chemical parameters will help you to measure your water’s chemical properties to decide its safe for drinking or not.

• pH (Acidity or Alkaline Nature): pH is the first thing to check when you check the chemical properties of water. A PH of water is calculated on a scale of 0 -14. If your water has a PH between 0 – 6 is acidic and from 8-14 it means water is basic. Ideally, the PH of safe water for drinking should always be 7. 
• Chlorine: Chlorine is added to water to kill germs. It is often used in municipal water supplies. While a small amount is safe, too much chlorine can cause skin irritation and a bleach-like taste.
• Hardness (Minerals in Water): Hard water has extra minerals like calcium and magnesium. You may notice white stains on taps or soap not forming bubbles easily. Hard water leads to Hair Fall and skin damage. So, treating hard water is compulsory.
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Oxygen is also present in water. It is important for fish and plants, but also shows that water is fresh. Low oxygen levels may mean pollution.

1. Biological Parameters

Sometimes, dangerous things in the water are too small to see. These are microorganisms, and they can make us very sick. That’s why biological water quality parameters check for living organisms in water.

• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): BOD measures how much oxygen is needed to break down waste in water. If BOD is high, it usually means the water is dirty and has a lot of waste or pollution.
• Bacteria: Bacteria are tiny germs that live in dirty water. Some are harmless, but others like E. coli can cause diarrhoea, stomach infections, or cholera. Drinking water from lakes, rivers, or unsafe taps may carry bacteria if it is not treated properly.
• Algae: Algae are small plants that grow in water. They are often seen in ponds, tanks, or stagnant water. Algae make water green and can produce toxins that are dangerous to health. They also cause a bad smell and poor taste.
• Viruses: Viruses are even smaller than bacteria. They cause diseases like hepatitis A, which affects the liver. Water that looks clear can still have viruses if it has been polluted with human or animal waste.