Surface water quality criteria for different uses
(specified by CPCB, 1979 and the Bureau of Indian Standards, 1982)
S. Water quality Characteristic of water body
No parameter A* B* C* D* E*
1 Dissolved Oxygen (DO) mg/l 6 5 4 4 3
(minimum)
2 Biochemical Oxygen Demand 2 3 3 - -
(BOD), mg/l (max)
3 Total Coliform organisms ** 50 ** 500 500 - -
MPN/100ml (max)
4 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 500 - 1500 - 2100
mg/l (max)
5 Chlorides (as Cl-) mg/l (max) 250 - 600 - 600
6 Colour, Hazen units (max) - 10 300 300 -
7 Sodium Absorption Ratio - - - - 20
(max)
8 Boron (as B), mg/l (max) - - - - -
9 Sulphates (as SO4-2), mg/l 400 - 400 - 1000
(max)
10 Nitrates (as NO3-) mg/l (max) 20 - 50 - -
11 Free Ammonia (as NH3) mg/l - - - 1.2 -
(max)
12 Conductivity at 25oC micro - - - 1000 2500
mhos/cm (max)
13 pH value 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5 6.0-8.5
14 Arsenic (as As), mg/l (max) 0.05 0.2 0.2 - -
15 Iron (as Fe), mg/l (max) 0.3 - - 0.5 -
16 Fluoride (as F), mg/l (max) 1.5 1.5 1.5 - -
17 Lead (as Pb), mg/l (max) 0.1 - 0.1 - -
Note: * Classes of water use:
A Drinking water source without conventional treatment but after disinfection
B Out door bathing (organised)
C Drinking water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfection.
D Propagation of wild life, fisheries.
E Irrigation, industrial cooling, controlled waste disposal.
** If the coliform is found to be more than the prescribed tolerance limits, the criteria for
coliforms shall be satisfied if not more than 20 percent of samples show more than the
tolerance limits specified and not more than 5 percent of samples show values more than 4
times the tolerance limits. There should be no visible discharge of domestic and industrial
waste into class A waters. In case of classes B and C the discharge shall be so regulated
/ treated as to ensure maintenance of the stream standards.