WATER QUALITY

ANALYSIS

R. K. SINGH

INTRODUCTION
Groundwater Quality
Sampling Plan
Field Measured Parameters
pH
Alkalinity
Conductance
Salinity
Dissolved Oxygen
Turbidity
Chemical Equivalence
Laboratory QA/QC

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

PROCESS
Identify
Problem
Indicators
Target Values
Assess source(s)
Determine linkages
Sources Targets
Allocate permissible loads
Monitor and evaluate
Implement

GROUNDWATER QUALITY
Helps us understand the hydrogeologic system
Indicates comingling of groundwater and surface water
Helps us interpret groundwater flow dynamics
Delineates groundwater contamination

SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS PLAN

Document written in advance of sampling that defines:
Sampling locations and frequency
How field parameters are measured
How samples are collected
Quality control and assurance measures
Do NOT go to the field without a plan!

BASIC WATER QUALITY

PARAMETERS
pH
Specific conductance (EC)
Salinity
Total dissolved solids (TDS)
Turbidity
Dissolved oxygen (DO)
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
Temperature

pH
Measures hydrogen ion concentration
Ranges from 0 to 14 std. units
pH
7 neutral
0 - 7 acidic
7 - 14 alkaline

SOLUBILITY OF SPECIFIC IONS

BASED ON WATER pH

Toxic metals less available in water at pH 6 to 8.

ALKALINITY
Acid neutralizing capacity
Important because it buffers the water against changes in pH
For most waters, alkalinity includes the bicarbonate ion (HCO3-)
Other ions such as orthophosphate (HPO4-), borates, may contribute to alkalinity but in small
amounts

CONDUCTIVITY
Measures electric conductivity (EC) of water
Higher value means water is a better electrical conductor
Increases when more salt (e.g., sodium chloride) is dissolved in
water
Indirect measure of salinity
Units are mhos/cm at 25o C or siemens/cm

Thanks to Phil Brown

SALINITY
Classification of Ground Water
Composition Based on Total Dissolved Solids Content

Type of Water

Dissolved salt content

(mg/l)

Fresh water

< 1,000 mg/l

Brackish water

1,000 - 3,000 mg/l

Moderatly saline
water

3,000 - 10,000 mg/l

Highly saline
water

10,000 - 35,000 mg/l

Sea water

> 35,000 mg/l

DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Amount of gaseous oxygen (O2) dissolved
in water
Oxygen gets into water by diffusion from
the surrounding air, by aeration, and
through photosynthesis
DO range from 0-18 mg/l
Need 5-6 mg/l to support a diverse
population
DO < 2 mg/l - Hypoxia

CBOD AND NBOD

The carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, or the CBOD, is defined
as the amount of the BOD that is used by microbial and chemical
processes that breakdown organic carbon.
Generally, the process of breaking down organic compounds begins
immediately once the microbes, sewage, and oxygen interact.
Organic Carbon + Microbes
CO2 + H2O + more microbes

The portion of the BOD that breaks down the nitrogenous

compounds, such as protein and ammonium, is called the
nitrogenous biochemical oxygen demand or NBOD. The oxygen is
used, generally by microbes we call nitrifiers, in the nitrification of
compounds that are hydrolysis products of the natural breakdown
of such compounds urea, protein, etc (organic nitrogen) to nitrate.
NH4 + O2 + Nitrosomonas
NO2 + H+ ...
NO2 + O2 + Nitrobacter
NO3 + H+...

ABUNDANCE OF DISSOLVED CONSTITUENTS IN

SURFACE AND GROUND WATER
Major Constituents
(> 5 mg/L)
Ca
Mg
Na
Cl
Si
SO42- - sulfate
H2CO3 - carbonic acid
HCO3- - bicarbonate

ABUNDANCE OF DISSOLVED CONSTITUENTS IN

SURFACE AND GROUND WATER
Minor Constituents
(0.01-10 mg/L)
B
K
F
Sr
Fe
CO32- - carbonate
NO3- - nitrate

ABUNDANCE OF DISSOLVED CONSTITUENTS IN

SURFACE AND GROUND WATER
Trace Constituents
(< 0.1 mg/l)
Al
As
Ba
Br
Cd
Co
Cu

Pb
Mn
Ni
Se
Ag
Zn
others

WATER CLASSIFICATION
How ?
Compare ions with ions using chemical equivalence
Making sure anions and cations balance
Use of diagrams and models
Why?
Helps define origin of the water
Indicates residence time in the aquifer
Aids in defining the hydrogeology
Defines suitability

WHAT IS CHEMICAL EQUIVALENCE?

Chemical analysis of groundwater samples
Concentrations of ions are reported by
weight (mg/L)
chemical equivalence (meq/L)
Takes into account ionic charge
Equivalent Concentration

FORMULA WEIGHT
Formula weight
Multiply atomic weight by No. of atoms and add together
e.g.,
Formula weight of water
H2O = 2 x (Atomic Wt of H) + 1 x (Atomic Wt of O)
2 x (1.008) + 1 x (16) = 18.01

ION BALANCE
If all ions are correctly determined by a lab
sum of cations should equal sum of anions (all in meq/L)
Errors in analysis and chemical reactions in samples
5% difference is considered acceptable
> 5%, question the lab results

CALCULATING EQUIVALENCE
Parameter

For instance:
mg/L

Meq/L

Na+

19

0.827

The atomic wt. of Sodium (valence of

one) = 22.989

Cl-

13

0.367

And its charge is one

0.146

Ca2+

88

4,391

Mg2+

7.3

0.6

Dividing the concentration of sodium in

the sample (19 mg/L) by its combining
wt. = 0.827 meq/L or its equivalent
concentration.

HCO3-

320

5.245

SO42-

Total Anions
Total Cations
% Difference

5.758
5.818
1%

DRINKING WATER CRITERIA

(USA EPA GUIDELINES)
Criteria

Recommended Standard

Reason

Coliform Bacteria

0 colonies/ml

Health

pH

6.5-8.5

Aesthetic

Barium

2 mg/L

Nitrate

10 mg/L

Health

500 mg/L

Taste

Total Dissolved Solids

Health

GROUNDWATER SAMPLING
Important Points
Be sure to take a representative sample
Make sure sample bottles are properly rinsed
Filter and preserve samples in the field
Take field measurements with proper equipment
Store on ice
Send to a certified water chemistry laboratory within 24 hours of sampling
Have a quality control program with duplicates, blanks, field blanks.

ANALYSIS OF WATER SAMPLES

Field:
pH, specific conductance, temperature,

dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity

Laboratory:
Cations: sodium, calcium magnesium, potassium, and iron
Anions: bicarbonate, carbonate, sulfate, and chloride
Trace Metals

SUMMARY
Sampling Plan
Field Measured Parameters
pH
Alkalinity
Conductance
Salinity
Dissolved Oxygen
Turbidity
Chemical Equivalence
Laboratory QA/QC