Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological characteristics

of water.[1] It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic
species and or to any human need or purpose.[2] It is most frequently used by reference to a set of
standards against which compliance, generally achieved through treatment of the water, can be
assessed. The most common standards used to assess water quality relate to health
of ecosystems, safety of human contact, and drinking water.(Wikepedia

Water quality describes the condition of the water, including

chemical, physical, and biological characteristics, usually
with respect to its suitability for a particular purpose such as
drinking or swimming
https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/ocean/waterquality.html

What is water quality?

Water is essential to human life and the health of the environment. As a valuable natural
resource, it comprises marine, estuarine, freshwater (river and lakes) and groundwater
environments that stretch across coastal and inland areas. Water has two dimensions that
are closely linked: quantity and quality. Water quality is commonly defined by its physical,
chemical, biological and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. A healthy
environment is one in which the water quality supports a rich and varied community of
organisms and protects public health.

Water quality in a body of water influences the way in which communities use the water for
activities such as drinking, swimming or commercial purposes. More specifically, the water
may be used by the community for:
 supplying drinking water
 recreation (swimming, boating)
 irrigating crops and watering stock
 industrial processes
 navigation and shipping
 production of edible fish, shellfish and crustaceans
 protection of aquatic ecosystems
 wildlife habitats
 scientific study and education.

Why is water quality important?

Our water resources are of major environmental, social and economic value to NSW, and if
water quality becomes degraded this resource will lose its value. Water quality is important
not only to protect public health: water provides ecosystem habitats, is used for farming,
fishing and mining, and contributes to recreation and tourism.

If water quality is not maintained, it is not just the environment that will suffer. The
commercial and recreational value of our water resources will also diminish.

What affects the quality of our water?

Water quality is closely linked to the surrounding environment and land use. Other than in
its vapour form, water is never pure and is affected by community uses such as agriculture,
urban and industrial use, and recreation. The modification of natural stream flows by dams
and weirs can also affect water quality. The weather, too, can have a major impact on water
quality, particularly in a dry country like Australia which is periodically affected by droughts.

Groundwater is a major source of water in NSW, with reserves estimated to be 200 times
more than the water in dams. Groundwater is an integral part of our water supply. At times
of low river flow, groundwater enters the rivers, maintaining river flow. Although data on
groundwater quality is limited, it is clear that, like other bodies of water, groundwater close
to urban or industrial development is vulnerable to contamination.

Generally the water quality of rivers is best in the headwaters, where rainfall is often
abundant. Water quality frequently declines as rivers flow through regions where land and
water use are intense and pollution from intensive agriculture, large towns, industry and
recreation areas increases.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule and water quality may improve downstream,
behind dams and weirs, at points where tributaries or better quality groundwater enter the
main stream, and in wetlands.

Rivers frequently act as conduits for pollutants by collecting and carrying wastewater from
catchments and, ultimately, discharging it into the ocean. Stormwater, which can also carry
heavy loads of nutrients, organic matter and pollutants, finds its way into rivers and oceans,
mostly via the stormwater drain network. Beach water quality in NSW may also be affected
by bacteria from sewer overflows or other runoff into stormwater drains.
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How is water quality measured?

The presence of contaminants and the characteristics of water are used to indicate the
quality of water. These water quality indicators can be categorised as:
 Biological: bacteria, algae
 Physical: temperature, turbidity and clarity, colour, salinity, suspended solids, dissolved
solids
 Chemical: pH, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, nutrients (including nitrogen
and phosphorus), organic and inorganic compounds (including toxicants)
 Aesthetic: odours, taints, colour, floating matter
 Radioactive: alpha, beta and gamma radiation emitters.
Measurements of these indicators can be used to determine, and monitor changes in, water
quality, and determine whether it is suitable for the health of the natural environment and
the uses for which the water is required.

The design of water quality monitoring programs is a complex and specialised field. The
range of indicators that can be measured is wide and other indicators may be adopted in
the future. The cost of a monitoring program to assess them all would be prohibitive, so
resources are usually directed towards assessing contaminants that are important for the
local environment or for a specific use of the water.

This water quality information can then be used to develop management programs and
action plans to ensure that water quality is protected.

How does water quality affect aquatic

ecosystems?
An ecosystem is a community of organisms – plants, animals, fungi and bacteria –
interacting with one another and the environment in which they live. Protecting aquatic
ecosystems is in many ways as important as maintaining water quality, for the following
reasons:
 Aquatic ecosystems are an integral part of our environment. They need to be maintained if
the environment is to continue to support people. World conservation strategies stress the
importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and genetic diversity.
 Aquatic ecosystems play an important role in maintaining water quality and are a valuable
indicator of water quality and the suitability of the water for other uses.
 Aquatic ecosystems are valuable resources. Aquatic life is a major source of protein for
humans. In most countries, including Australia, commercial and sport fishing is
economically important.

How does water work?

This diagram illustrates the variety of physical processes related to the movement and
storage of water within the environment.
 What can be done to improve water
quality?
The NSW Government participated in developing the National Water Quality Management
Strategy (NWQMS). This strategy provides a framework for action and a series of
guidelines and scientific criteria that will help improve water quality.

As part of the NSW Government's water reform, water quality objectives for each catchment
in the state were developed. The objectives use the method developed by the NWQMS.

The NSW Government has also established other processes to coordinate water quality
management programs across all State Government agencies. Some of the key initiatives
that OEH is involved with are:
 providing information to the public on the quality of water through the Beachwatch,
Harbourwatch and Hawkesbury-Nepean water quality programs and the State of the
Environment reports
 developing environmental education programs that help the community understand how
their actions affect water quality
 supporting total catchment management programs, as well as providing financial resources
to communities through grants programs such as the NSW Environmental Trust
 developing pollution reduction programs and regulating industrial activities, as well as
controlling diffuse sources, to prevent water pollution
 working with the community to tackle difficult water quality problems, such as stormwater
pollution and urban runoff
 working together with other government agencies, water boards and local councils to
develop and implement effective water quality management strategies.
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/water/waterqual.htm

May 12, 2017

Water quality
Managing the state's water resources requires a significant focus on water quality.
We use the term 'water quality' to refer to the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of both water
and sediment. Our understanding of how these water quality parameters behave is integral to our management
of their effects. For instance, understanding the types and effects of salinity enables us to manage its effects.
Managing the quality of both surface water and ground-water is vital for sustaining aquatic ecosystems, which
is important to protect the considerable diversity of waterway types in Western Australia, the unique biodiversity
they support, and the social and economic services they provide to our community.
These characteristics are balanced with the requirements for various human uses and environmental needs
including:

 domestic use including drinking water

 commercial use including agriculture and industry
 municipal use such as maintaining sports grounds and parks
 recreational use such as swimming, boating and fishing
 safety of shell fish consumption
 conditions needed to sustain aquatic ecosystems and their associated services.

The following pages describe how we:

 Monitor and assess water quality

 Manage water quality

Monitoring and Assessing Water

Quality
The Department of Water measures the quality of groundwater and surface water (including sediment quality)
across Western Australia. This information helps us to manage the state's water resources now and into the
future.
The information collected depends on the management question, but may include:

 physical characteristics – e.g. temperature, colour, light, sediment suspended in the water
 chemical characteristics – e.g. dissolved oxygen, acidity (pH), salinity, nutrients and other
contaminants
 biological characteristics – e.g. bacteria and algae.

Water quality can be measured by collecting water samples for laboratory analysis or by using probes which
can record data at a single point in time, or logged at regular intervals over an extended period.
We use water quality information to assess current condition and patterns over time and space in order to
understand and manage the influence of factors such as land use and climate change. This is a complex task
requiring consideration of numerous factors. Data collected is compared to a range of guidelines for various
human uses and environmental needs
Assessing water quality to manage water resources
The Department of Water uses water quality information to underpin decisions about water resource
management. For example, surface water quality is measured weekly in the Swan and Canning estuaries by
the Department of Water and the Swan River Trust. This helps us to understand how the levels of nutrients,
dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and phytoplankton change over time and how best to manage these
conditions. An example is the use of oxygenation plants to provide dissolved oxygen to prevent fish deaths

and the associated loss of recreational use of the waterway.

The information also underpins the development of management strategies such as the Swan Canning water
quality improvement plan.
Similar water quality monitoring programs are conducted in many rivers and estuaries in the state – see estuary
water quality and river water quality.
Water quality has a direct relationship with water quantity - the flow in a waterway or the volume in a water
body – hence the department assesses these characteristics together. For example, in the Harvey River below
Stirling Dam water quality was analysed in relation to the volume of water released from the dam during hot dry
weather. This information helped the department to determine the minimum amount of flow needed to maintain
the health of the river downstream from the dam. This helped us to maximise the water available for human use
whilst sustaining the river ecosystem and its associated services to our community. See ""Assessment of
ecological health and environmental water provisions in the Harvey River" for further information.
Water quality measurement forms part of our assessment of waterway health – for further information
see estuary water quality assessment and river water quality assessment.

anaging Water Quality

Managing the state's water resources requires a significant focus on water quality.

Managing the quality of both surface water and groundwater is vital for sustaining aquatic ecosystems, which is
important to protect the considerable diversity of waterways types in Western Australia, the unique biodiversity
they support, and the social and economic services they provide to our community.
In Western Australia the main water quality issues in waterways are:

 Salinisation of waterways
 Eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) of waterways
 Low dissolved oxygen
 Acidification of waterways and shallow groundwater
 Erosion and sedimentation of waterways.

These water quality issues are managed through different tools and processes, for instance:
Salinity management has been undertaken in WA for many decades and the Department of Water's main focus
has been on Water Resource Recovery Catchments. Additional research has been undertaken to determine
the impact of Wheatbelt Drainage and this underpins the 'Policy framework for inland drainage'.
In the Darling Range, the department is a partner in research carried out under state agreement Acts to
manage the impacts of Mining Hydrologyand has also made commitments under the Forest Management
Plan in conjunction with other agencies.
Water quality improvements plans are developed to improve current water quality in estuaries and the rivers
and streams in their catchments, and to prevent additional deterioration.

Water allocation plans manage water licensing (e.g. abstraction licenses) to maximise the amount of water that
can be abstracted from ground or surface water resources without damaging the integrity of the resource or the
environment. This includes consideration of related factors such as management of shallow acidification or
salinisation.
Catchment models are developed to support water quality improvement plans – they quantify the sources of
nutrients flowing into rivers based on land use in the catchment, and are used to predict the impact of
management practices on nutrient loads.
River action plans and river recovery plans prioritise on-ground works and actions to improve the health of a
waterway, including improving the water quality.
Remediation activities such as oxygenation is used to manage low dissolved oxygen levels in estuaries
while soil amendment is used to treat high nutrient levels in subsoil drainage.
Water management plans are prepared under the Western Australian Planning Commission's Better urban
water management framework. This incorporates water sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles, including all
aspects of water quality and quantity, to enable water sensitive development.
Water source protection plans are used to manage the quality of drinking water.

http://www.water.wa.gov.au/water-topics/water-quality 1 July 2017

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY WATER QUALITY?

Water quality, believe it or not, is a statement not easily defined. Like many things in nature, water change
seasons change. Generally water quality is referenced in a technical manner, meaning the overall 'scientific
of the water. But water quality can also mean something else.

For scientific and legal purposes the following definition is most often used: Water quality is the ability of a
body to support all appropriate beneficial uses.

Beneficial uses are the ways in which water is used by humans and wildlife; drinking water and fish habitat
examples. If water supports a beneficial use, water quality is said to be good or unimpaired. If water does n
support a beneficial use, water quality is said to be poor or impaired.

A key concept is that different beneficial uses have different needs. Most people believe good water quality
the water is pure and clean. This is partly true, especially when you are using water for drinking. However,
wildlife have lots of other requirements. Fish must get all of their oxygen and food from water, and therefor
water that has enough oxygen and nutrients. Thus, good water quality implies that harmful substances (po
are absent from the water, and needed substances (oxygen, nutrients) are present.

Water quality can often be defined in terms of the chemical, physical, and biological content of water. The w
quality of rivers and lakes changes with the seasons and geographic areas, even when there is no pollution
present. Oddly enough, there is no single measure that constitutes good water quality. For instance, water
for drinking can be used for irrigation, but water used for irrigation may not meet drinking water guidelines

Water quality guidelines provide basic scientific information about water quality parameters and ecologically
relevant toxicological threshold values to protect specific water uses. Now that we can define water quality
general terms, we need to have parameters we can measure to describe the water quality of a river, stream
lake. Parameters that are measured include physical, chemical, and biologic properties. Physical measurem
those that include water temperature, depth, flow velocity, flow rate, and turbidity. These are all useful in
analyzing how pollutants are transported and mixed in the water environment, and can be related to habita
requirements for fish and other aquatic wildlife. For instance, many fish have very specific temperature
requirements, and cannot tolerate water that is either too cold or too hot.

Chemical measurements include a wide range of chemicals and chemical properties. Most water chemistry t
measure concentration , defined as milligrams of chemical per liter of water (mg/l). Even the purest water
countless chemicals, and it would be impossible to measure all of them. Water quality studies therefore foc
the chemicals that are most important for the problem at hand. In agricultural areas, studies measure chem
found in manure, fertilizers, and pesticides. In an industrial area studies focus on measuring chemicals used
nearby industries.

Water quality as you now know can be measured in a variety of ways. While this article is by no means and
inclusive list of the parameters of water quality measurement, it does describe that water is a changeable
substance which involves constant diligence and research to most effectively treat it and make it safe. Next
you have a drink of water, remember that the water you are drinking once had a very different appearance
overall quality.
https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_quality/quality2/j-20-08-what-is-water-quality.htm

The complexity of water quality as a subject is reflected in the many types of measurements of water
quality indicators. The most accurate measurements of water quality are made on-site, because
water exists in equilibrium with its surroundings. Measurements commonly made on-site and in
direct contact with the water source in question include temperature, pH, dissolved
oxygen, conductivity, oxygen reduction potential (ORP), turbidity, and Secchi disk depth.

Sample collection[edit]
See also: Environmental monitoring § Sampling methods

An automated sampling station installed along the East Branch Milwaukee River, New Fane, Wisconsin. The
cover of the 24-bottle autosampler (center) is partially raised, showing the sample bottles inside. The
autosampler was programmed to collect samples at time intervals, or proportionate to flow over a specified
period. The data logger (white cabinet) recorded temperature, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen
levels.

More complex measurements are often made in a laboratory requiring a water sample to be
collected, preserved, transported, and analyzed at another location. The process of water sampling
introduces two significant problems:

 The first problem is the extent to which the sample may be representative of the water source of
interest. Many water sources vary with time and with location. The measurement of interest may
vary seasonally or from day to night or in response to some activity of man or natural
populations of aquatic plants and animals.[12] The measurement of interest may vary with
distances from the water boundary with overlying atmosphere and underlying or confining soil.
The sampler must determine if a single time and location meets the needs of the investigation,
or if the water use of interest can be satisfactorily assessed by averaged values with time and
location, or if critical maxima and minima require individual measurements over a range of times,
locations or events. The sample collection procedure must assure correct weighting of individual
sampling times and locations where averaging is appropriate.[13]:39–40 Where critical maximum or
minimum values exist, statistical methods must be applied to observed variation to determine an
adequate number of samples to assess probabilityof exceeding those critical values.[14]
 The second problem occurs as the sample is removed from the water source and begins to
establish chemical equilibrium with its new surroundings – the sample container. Sample
containers must be made of materials with minimal reactivity with substances to be measured;
and pre-cleaning of sample containers is important. The water sample may dissolve part of the
sample container and any residue on that container, or chemicals dissolved in the water sample
may sorb onto the sample container and remain there when the water is poured out for
analysis.[13]:4 Similar physical and chemical interactions may take place with any pumps, piping,
or intermediate devices used to transfer the water sample into the sample container. Water
collected from depths below the surface will normally be held at the reduced pressure of the
atmosphere; so gas dissolved in the water may escape into unfilled space at the top of the
container. Atmospheric gas present in that air space may also dissolve into the water sample.
Other chemical reaction equilibria may change if the water sample changes temperature. Finely
divided solid particles formerly suspended by water turbulence may settle to the bottom of the
sample container, or a solid phase may form from biological growth or chemical
precipitation. Microorganisms within the water sample may biochemically
alter concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and organic compounds. Changing carbon
dioxide concentrations may alter pH and change solubility of chemicals of interest. These
problems are of special concern during measurement of chemicals assumed to be significant at
very low concentrations.[12]

Filtering a manually collected water sample (grab sample) for analysis

Sample preservation may partially resolve the second problem. A common procedure is keeping
samples cold to slow the rate of chemical reactions and phase change, and analyzing the sample as
soon as possible; but this merely minimizes the changes rather than preventing them.[13]:43–45 A useful
procedure for determining influence of sample containers during delay between sample collection
and analysis involves preparation for two artificial samples in advance of the sampling event. One
sample container is filled with water known from previous analysis to contain no detectable amount
of the chemical of interest. This sample, called a "blank", is opened for exposure to the atmosphere
when the sample of interest is collected, then resealed and transported to the laboratory with the
sample for analysis to determine if sample holding procedures introduced any measurable amount of
the chemical of interest. The second artificial sample is collected with the sample of interest, but then
"spiked" with a measured additional amount of the chemical of interest at the time of collection. The
blank and spiked samples are carried with the sample of interest and analyzed by the same methods
at the same times to determine any changes indicating gains or losses during the elapsed time
between collection and analysis.[15]

Testing in response to natural disasters and other emergencies[edit]

Inevitably after events such as earthquakes and tsunamis, there is an immediate response by the
aid agencies as relief operations get underway to try and restore basic infrastructure and provide the
basic fundamental items that are necessary for survival and subsequent recovery.[16] Access to clean
drinking water and adequate sanitation is a priority at times like this. The threat of disease increases
hugely due to the large numbers of people living close together, often in squalid conditions, and
without proper sanitation.[17]
After a natural disaster, as far as water quality testing is concerned there are widespread views on
the best course of action to take and a variety of methods can be employed. The key basic water
quality parameters that need to be addressed in an emergency are bacteriological indicators of fecal
contamination, free chlorine residual, pH, turbidity and possibly conductivity/total dissolved solids.
There are a number of portable water test kits on the market widely used by aid and relief agencies
for carrying out such testing.[18][19]
After major natural disasters, a considerable length of time might pass before water quality returns to
pre-disaster levels. For example, following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami the Colombo-
based International Water Management Institute (IWMI) monitored the effects of saltwater and
concluded that the wells recovered to pre-tsunami drinking water quality one and a half years after
the event.[20] IWMI developed protocols for cleaning wells contaminated by saltwater; these were
subsequently officially endorsed by the World Health Organization as part of its series of Emergency
Guidelines.[21]

Chemical analysis[edit]

A gas chromatograph-
mass spectrometer measures pesticides and other organic pollutants

The simplest methods of chemical analysis are those measuring chemical elements without respect
to their form. Elemental analysis for oxygen, as an example, would indicate a concentration of 890
g/L (grams per litre) of water sample because oxygen (O) has 89% mass of the water molecule
(H2O). The method selected to measure dissolved oxygen should differentiate
between diatomic oxygen and oxygen combined with other elements. The comparative simplicity of
elemental analysis has produced a large amount of sample data and water quality criteria for
elements sometimes identified as heavy metals. Water analysis for heavy metals must consider soil
particles suspended in the water sample. These suspended soil particles may contain measurable
amounts of metal. Although the particles are not dissolved in the water, they may be consumed by
people drinking the water. Adding acid to a water sample to prevent loss of dissolved metals onto
the sample container may dissolve more metals from suspended soil particles. Filtration of soil
particles from the water sample before acid addition, however, may cause loss of dissolved metals
onto the filter.[22] The complexities of differentiating similar organic molecules are even more
challenging.

Atomic fluorescence spectroscopyis used to measure mercury and other heavy metals

Making these complex measurements can be expensive. Because direct measurements of water
quality can be expensive, ongoing monitoring programs are typically conducted by government
agencies. However, there are local volunteer programs and resources available for some general
assessment.[23] Tools available to the general public include on-site test kits, commonly used for
home fish tanks, and biological assessment procedures.

Real-time monitoring[edit]
Although water quality is usually sampled and analyzed at laboratories, since the late 20th century
there has been increasing public interest in the quality of drinking water provided by municipal
systems. Many water utilities have developed systems to collect real-time data about source water
quality. In the early 21st century, a variety of sensors and remote monitoring systems have been
deployed for measuring water pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and other parameters.[24] Some remote
sensing systems have also been developed for monitoring ambient water quality in riverine,
estuarine and coastal water bodies.[25][26]

Drinking water indicators[edit]

An electrical conductivity meter is used to measure total dissolved solids

The following is a list of indicators often measured by situational category:

 Alkalinity
 Color of water
 pH
 Taste and odor (geosmin, 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB), etc.)
 Dissolved metals and salts (sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium)
 Microorganisms such as fecal coliform bacteria (Escherichia coli), Cryptosporidium, and Giardia
lamblia; see Bacteriological water analysis
 Dissolved metals and metalloids (lead, mercury, arsenic, etc.)
 Dissolved organics: colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
 Radon
 Heavy metals
 Pharmaceuticals
 Hormone analogs
Environmental indicators[edit]
See also: Environmental indicator, Wastewater quality indicators, and Salinity

Physical indicators[edit]
 Water temperature  Total dissolved solids (T
 Specific conductance or electrical conductance (EC) or conductivity  Odour of water
 Total suspended solids (TSS)  Color of water
 Transparency or turbidity  Taste of water
Chemical indicators[edit]
 pH  Heavy metals
 Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)  Nitrate
 Chemical oxygen demand (COD)  Orthophosphates
 Dissolved oxygen (DO)  Pesticides
 Total hardness (TH)  Surfactants
Biological indicators[edit]
See also: Biological integrity and Index of biological integrity

 Ephemeroptera  Coliform bacteria

 Plecoptera  Pimephales promelas (f
 Mollusca  Americamysis bahia (M
 Trichoptera  sea urchin
 Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Biological monitoring metrics have been developed in many places, and one widely used measure is
the presence and abundance of members of the insect
orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (common names are, respectively, mayfly,
stonefly and caddisfly). EPT indexes will naturally vary from region to region, but generally, within a
region, the greater the number of taxa from these orders, the better the water quality. Organisations
in the United States, such as EPA. offer guidance on developing a monitoring program and
identifying members of these and other aquatic insect orders. Many US wastewater dischargers
(e.g., factories, power plants, refineries, mines, municipal sewage treatment plants) are required to
conduct periodic whole effluent toxicity (WET) tests.[27][28]
Individuals interested in monitoring water quality who cannot afford or manage lab scale analysis
can also use biological indicators to get a general reading of water quality. One example is the
IOWATER volunteer water monitoring program of Iowa, which includes
a benthic macroinvertebrate indicator key.[29]
Bivalve molluscs are largely used as bioindicators to monitor the health of aquatic environments in
both fresh water and the marine environments. Their population status or structure, physiology,
behaviour or the level of contamination with elements or compounds can indicate the state of
contamination status of the ecosystem. They are particularly useful since they are sessile so that
they are representative of the environment where they are sampled or placed. A typical project is the
U.S. Mussel Watch Programme,[30] but today they are used worldwide.
The Southern African Scoring System (SASS) method is a biological water quality monitoring system
based on the presence of benthic macroinvertebrates. The SASS aquatic biomonitoring tool has
been refined over the past 30 years and is now on the fifth version (SASS5) which has been
specifically modified in accordance with international standards, namely the ISO/IEC
17025 protocol.[31] The SASS5 method is used by the South African Department of Water Affairs as a
standard method for River Health Assessment, which feeds the national River Health Programme
and the national Rivers Database.
Wikepedia

Water Quality
PSS Agency:
PSA

Definition:
The characteristics of water which define its use in terms of physical,
chemical, biological, bacteriological or radiological characteristics by which
the acceptability of water is evaluated

Notes:
Some parameters being used to monitor water quality are: Biological Oxygen
Demand (BOD) which is a measure of the approximate quantity of oxygen
required by bacteria to decompose organic matter in water; Electrical
Conductivity which is a measure of salt water intrusion in ground water;
Total Colliform Count which indicates fecal contamination in water.
https://psa.gov.ph/content/water-quality Phil Stat authority