• Guideline Values – CPCB Standards

• WHO Guideline Values

• CPHED, Ministry of Urban Development, Govt of India

• Bureau of Indian Standard/Specification for Drinking Water (BIS: 10500 – 1991)

Guideline value for chemicals from industrial resources and human dwellings that are of health significance in drinking water

Guideline value for naturally occurring chemicals that are of health significance in drinking water.

^a  P = provisional guideline value, as there is evidence of a hazard, but the available information on  health effects is limited; T = provisional value because calculated guideline values is below the level that can be achieved through practical treatment methods, source protection, etc; C = Concentrations of the substance at or below the health – based guideline value may affect the appearance, taste or odour of the water, resulting in consumer complaints.

Bacteriological quality of drinking water ^a

^a   Immediate investigation action must be taken if either or total coliform are detected. the minimum action in the case total coliform bacteria reaccept sampling; if these bacteria detected in the repeat samples, the cause must be determined by immediate further investigation.

^b  Although E. coli is the precise indicator of faecal pollution count of thermotolerant coliform bacteria is an acceptable alternative. If necessary, proper confirmatory tests must be carried out. Total coliform bacteria are not acceptable indicators of the sanitary quality of rural water samples, particularly in tropical areas where many bacteria of no sanitary signification occur in almost untreated supplies.

^c   It is recognized that, in the great majority of rural water supplies in developing countries faecal contamination is widespread. Under these condition, the national surveillance agency should set medium – term targets for progressive improvement of water supplies, as recommended in volume 3 of Guidelines for drinking quality.

Naturally occurring chemicals for which guideline values have not been established

Guideline values for pesticides used in water for public health purposes that are of health significance in drinking water

^a Only Pyriproxyfen is recommended by WHOPES for addition to water for public health purposes.

Guideline values for chemicals from agricultural activities that are of significance in drinking water

^a   P = Provisional guideline value, as there is evidence of a hazard, but the available information on health effects limited

 ^b   For substance that are considered to be carcinogenic, the guideline value is the concentration in drinking water associated with an upper – bound excess cancer risk of 10 – 5. Concentrations associated with estimated upper – bound excess lifetime cancer risk of 10 – 5 can be calculated by multiplying and dividing, respectively, the guideline value by 10.