REPORT OUTLINE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND 5

2. THE NEED FOR SURFACE WATER CLASSIFICATIONS 6

3. METHODOLOGY ADOPTED 7

4. LITERATURE REVIEW 7

5. TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY CRITERIA IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES 9

a. Physical Parameters 12
b. Chemical Parameters 12
c. Biological Parameters 13

6. PROPOSED SURFACE WATER CLASSIFICATIONS 14

a. Class AA: Public Water Supply Class I 14

b. Class A: Public Water Supply Class II 14
c. Class B: Recreational Waters 15
d. Class C: Waters for Propagation of Fish and aquatic Life 15
e. Class D: Irrigation Water
15

7. PROPOSED WATER QUALITY CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES 15

a. Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines 15

b. Surface Water Quality Criteria 15

REFERENCES

TABLES
Table 1a Proposed Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines 19
Table 1b - Conditions of Water Use and Irrigation Water Quality 20
Table 2 - Class AA: Criteria for Public Water Supply I 21
Table 3 - Class A: Criteria for Public Water Supply II 23
Table 4 - Class B: Criteria for Recreational Water
25
Table 5 - Class C: Criteria for Propagation of Fish and aquatic Life
27
Table 6 - Class D: Criteria for Irrigation Water
29
 Executive Summary
Surface Water Classifications are designations applied to surface water bodies, such as streams, rivers and
lakes, which define the best uses to be protected within these waters (for example irrigation, drinking water
supply, fishing, etc.). They contain statements and numeric limits that are adopted through administrative
rule-making procedures and usually devised by the State and/or federal agencies to manage and protect
all streams, rivers, lakes, and other surface waters. WWF - P has adopted a consultative approach to involve
relevant stakeholders from various departments to develop a set of draft guidelines, which could be
proposed to the Ministry of Environment for its notification and implementation.

Water quality and quantity are the major environmental concerns of Pakistan. During the last two decades,
large volumes of effluents were discharged into surface water bodies from municipal, industrial and
agriculture sources, causing pollution of both surface and ground waters. The largest sources of point
source pollution were municipal waste-waters, which polluted rivers, drains and streams downstream of
large cities with organic matter, suspended solids and surfactants etc. Industrial waste-water discharges
were also high, polluting surface waters with heavy metals, oil products, phenols and other hazardous
substances. Hudiara is one example of drastically polluted drains of the country, which is a trans-boundary
water channel between India and Pakistan. Agriculture run-off discharged heavy loads of nutrients,
suspended solids and pesticides into surface water bodies, causing eutrophication of rivers and lakes and
the loss of biota.
Many countries initially focused on a fixed emission standards approach wherein all wastewater are
required to be treated to the same quality of effluent. Pakistan is currently taking this approach for the
control of pollution from municipal and industrial wastewaters. National Environmental Quality Standards
(NEQS) have been established for municipal and liquid industrial effluents that limit the concentration of a
number of quality parameters for discharge into the national waters. This approach was adopted due to its
simple administrative implications. Such standards do not bear a direct relationship with the quality of the
receiving body of water and may be too restrictive in certain situations and may lead to excessive pollution in
other cases.
WWF - Pakistan process for developing surface water classifications started with literature review and
secondary research on surface water classification criteria & irrigation water quality guidelines that have
been developed and are being followed throughout the world with a focus on developing/South-Asian
countries. This was followed by a detailed review work on the current status of such guidelines/standards in
Pakistan (public and private sector) and the future plans regarding their development and enforcement in
the country. A close liaison with the relevant stakeholders of public and private sectors was developed to
incorporate their expertise and concerns/suggestions while devising the standards. Then draft guidelines
were developed and shared with a technical review group of major stakeholders. This draft was presented in
a stakeholder workshop organized by WWF - P in November 2006, to disseminate the devised guidelines
where relevant stakeholders from government departments (irrigation, agriculture and environment),
industry, Water Management Institutes, NGOs/CBOs working on water issues were invited to review the
criteria and guidelines in detail and voice their comments. Their comments/suggestions have been
incorporated in the proposed criteria/guidelines.

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Water quality criteria are based on scientific information about the effects of water pollutants on a specific
water use. They describe water quality requirements for protecting and maintaining an individual use. Many
water quality criteria set a maximum level for the concentration of a substance in water which will not be
harmful when the specific medium is used continuously for a single, specific purpose. For some other water
quality variables, such as dissolved oxygen, water quality criteria are set at the minimum acceptable
concentration to ensure the maintenance of biological functions. The protection and maintenance of the
water uses usually impose different requirements on water quality and, therefore, the associated water
quality criteria are often different for each use.
The review of the local and international practices reveals that the toxicity affects of trace metals, FAO
guidelines have commonly been used for irrigation water quality evaluation. These have been thus
proposed as guideline values with the exception of lead and mercury for which the guideline values are
adopted considering the affect on livestock health. The proposed guidelines are given in Table 1.
Keeping in view the various uses of surface waters in Pakistan and the surface water classification system
being adopted in different countries with focus on developing/South Asian Countries, WWF-Pakistan has
proposed a surface classification system with 5 classes of fresh waters on the basis of their existing or
intended use. These are as follows:

a. Class AA: Public Water Supply Class I

b. Class A: Public Water Supply Class II
c. Class B: Recreational Waters
d. Class C: Waters for Propagation of Fish and aquatic Life
e. Class D: Irrigation Water

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 Development of Surface Water Classification Criteria
&
Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines
A study report prepared by WWF - Pakistan

1. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND:

WWF - Pakistan, a leading conservation NGO in the country has initiated a consultative process for the
development of Surface Water Classification Criteria & Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines under Hudiara
Drain Project Phase ll. Surface Water Classifications are designations applied to surface water bodies, such
as streams, rivers and lakes, which define the best uses to be protected within these waters (for example
irrigation, drinking water supply, fishing, etc.). They contain statements and numeric limits that are adopted
through administrative rule-making procedures and usually devised by the State and/or federal agencies to
manage and protect all streams, rivers, lakes, and other surface waters. WWF - P has adopted a
consultative approach to involve relevant stakeholders from various departments to develop a set of draft
guidelines, which could be proposed to the Ministry of Environment for its notification and implementation
The goal of the surface water classification criteria or guidelines is to “restore and maintain chemical,
physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters”. The interim goal is to have water quality which
provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife, provides for recreation in and
on the water, agricultural and industrial supply, wherever attainable. The standards represent a level of
water quality that will support designated use of waters.
Water quality criteria and guidelines apply to ambient waters as opposed to discharges. These ambient
standards form the basis for water quality improvement policies and strategies such as pollution permit
limitations, pollution taxes or charges that regulate the discharge of pollutants into surface waters.

Water quality and quantity are the major environmental concerns of Pakistan. During the last two decades,
large volumes of effluents were discharged into surface water bodies from municipal, industrial and
agriculture sources, causing pollution of both surface and ground waters. The largest sources of point
source pollution were municipal waste-waters, which polluted rivers, drains and streams downstream of
large cities with organic matter, suspended solids and surfactants etc. Industrial waste-water discharges
were also high, polluting surface waters with heavy metals, oil products, phenols and other hazardous
substances. Agriculture run-off discharge heavy loads of nutrients, suspended solids and pesticides into
surface water bodies, causing eutrophication of rivers and lakes and the loss of biota.
Diffused sources of pollution, other than agriculture runoff, drainage waters from legal landfills, illegal
dumpsites and urban run-off also posed high threat to surface and ground waters. Unaccounted and
untreated heavy pollution loads from these sources have deteriorated the water quality of our rivers and
streams. Hudiara is one example of drastically polluted drains of the country, which is a trans-boundary
water channel between India and Pakistan.

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Hudiara Drain is 63.3 Km stretched from the point of entry into Pakistan to River Ravi with approximately
112 industrial units located right on its banks while it takes heavy loads of municipal sewage from India as
well. The polluted water of the drain is contaminating the ground water, becoming a source of skin
infectious diseases, and contaminating human food chain through the accumulation of heavy metals and
other toxic chemicals in soil, crops (vegetables) and livestock. WWF - P, in its Fresh Water and Toxics
st
Programme, started a project on Hudiara drain in 2001. The project was divided into two phases. The 1
phase of the project was to measure and monitor the pollution loads of the drain while considering the
seasonal flow variations. While the second phase of the project was “Reducing the Pollution Load of
Hudiara Drain”.
nd
During 2 phase of the project WWF - P staff faced some hurdles in reducing the pollution loads of the
drain. As the surface water classification criteria, guidelines, or standards were not available in the country
therefore, Hudiara drain was still to be categorized as storm water channel, industrial effluent drain, a
municipal sewer or a tributary of river Ravi. As the class of this drain was not identified then how its water
quality could be monitored against NEQS OR FAO/WHO Standards OR Irrigation Guidelines OR other
standards? Status of this drain was yet to be determined for designing of pre-feasibility to improve its water
quality.
Similar problems were faced by WWF - P staff in the “Environmental Monitoring of Taunsa Barrage
Emergency Rehabilitation and Modernization Project”. This project was on Indus River and Indus is the
major source of freshwater in the country so its quality could not be compromised. Therefore the
quality of the river could not be monitored against National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS),
which are designed for effluent discharges from industries and municipalities. But no other standards or
guidelines were available against which the quality of the river water could be monitored.

2. THE NEED FOR SURFACE WATER CLASSIFICATIONS

Due to the importance of water to protect human health and other development sectors, the control of water
pollution is receiving high priority in developed and a number of developing countries. Many countries
initially focused on a fixed emission standards approach wherein all wastewaters are required to be treated
to the same quality of effluent. Pakistan is currently taking this approach for the control of pollution from
municipal and industrial waste waters. National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) have been
established for municipal and liquid industrial effluents that limit the concentration of a number of quality
parameters for discharge into the national waters. This approach was adopted due to its simple
administrative implications. Such standards do not bear a direct relationship with the quality of the receiving
body of water and may be too restrictive in certain situations and may lead to excessive pollution in other
cases.
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Water quality standards define the water quality goals for a water body by assigning the use to be made of
the water and then protecting the use through appropriate control measures. A major advantage of the
water quality standards approach to protect water source quality is that it focuses on solving problems
caused by conflicts between the various demands placed on water resources, particularly in relation to their
ability to assimilate pollution. This approach is sensitive not just to the effects of an individual discharge, but
to the combined effects of the whole range of different discharges into a water body. It enables an overall
limit on levels of contaminants within a water body to be set according to the required uses of the water. For
this purpose, the surface waters are classified according to the designated use and water quality standards
are established for each class. The surface water classification system with associated water quality
standards thus brings objectivity to pollution control activities.
To bring objectivity to water pollution control in the country, and due to the problems faced by WWF - P staff
in Hudiara Drain Project and the Environmental Monitoring of Taunsa Barrage Emergency Rehabilitation
and Modernization Project, it was thought by WWF - P authorities that surface water classification criteria
and use specific guidelines (such as drinking water supplies, irrigation, recreation, fisheries, etc.) are
needed urgently to solve the problems faced in projects as mentioned above. The other reason to develop
these classification criteria and guidelines was that the surface water classification criteria and use specific
guidelines of other countries cannot be applicable to the waters of Pakistan because of different climatic
conditions and natural background quality of the water. The criteria and guidelines are also needed to force
polluters to reduce their pollution discharges into the inland waters of the country. Therefore, it was decided
that these criteria and guidelines should be developed on urgent basis and submitted to the concerned
Government Authorities for their approval and implementation to protect the waters of the nation.

3. METHODOLOGY ADOPTED

Methodology adopted by WWF - Pakistan for classification criteria and guidelines development process
was started with literature review and secondary research on surface water classification criteria & irrigation
water quality guidelines that have been developed and are being followed throughout the world with a
focus on developing/South-Asian countries. This was followed by a detailed review work on the current
status of such guidelines/standards in Pakistan (public and private sector) and the future plans regarding
their development and enforcement in the country. A close liaison with the relevant stakeholders of public
and private sectors was developed to incorporate their expertise and concerns/suggestions while devising
the standards. Then draft guidelines were developed and shared with a technical review group of major
stakeholders.
A stakeholder workshop was organized by WWF - P in November 2006, to disseminate the devised
guidelines where relevant stakeholders from government departments (irrigation, agriculture and
environment), industry, Water Management Institutes, NGOs/CBOs working on water issues were invited
to review the criteria and guidelines in detail and voice their comments. Their comments/suggestions have
been incorporated in the proposed criteria/guidelines (given in the tabular form).

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4. LITERATURE REVIEW

According to a report, Environmental Indicators South Asia, UNEP Regional Resource centre for Asia and
Pacific, rivers are the main source of drinking water for most of South Asia. Water quality in rivers across
South Asia has been consistently deteriorating. Most South Asian cities lack adequate treatment facilities to
pre-treat the river water prior to distribution.

Rivers in South Asia are being polluted because of a variety of reasons: urbanization, industrialization,
agricultural run-off and improper agricultural practices, and excessive withdrawal of water. Though laws
exist in certain South Asian cities against dumping of waste in rivers, enforcement is a problem. The BOD
levels in all major South Asian rivers exceed the standards with the river Bagmati (Nepal) having the highest
levels.

The quality of fresh water is vitally important. We depend on surface and groundwater sources for our
drinking water. We also need water to generate energy, to grow our crops, to harvest fish, to run machinery,
to carry wastes, to enhance the landscape and for a great deal more. We use water for washing and
cleaning, industrial abstraction, recreation, cooking, gardening and angling, as well as simply to enjoy it.
Water is also vital as a habitat for both freshwater and marine plants and animals.
Declining water quality is also a common feature in the South Asian region due to contamination from both
untreated sewage and industrial effluents. In India, the total sewage treatment capacity is a mere 10% of the
present wastewater generation. A survey of some of the major Indian rivers showed that while most can
support aquatic life, the water they provide is totally unfit for drinking or even for bathing. In Pakistan,
chemical pollution of the Ravi results in an annual estimated loss of Rs. 10 million in income from fisheries.
Since the causes of declining water quality are common to all the countries in the region, there are
significant opportunities for cooperation in the search for remedial and regulatory responses within the
region. Regional cooperation is needed to resolve the problem. (Environmental Security in South Asia,
Romir Chatterjee, Meeta Mehra and Shilpi Banerjee, February 2000)
In some countries, it's a legal requirement to restore and maintain nation's water. In Idaho the federal Clean
Water Act requires states and tribes to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity
of the nation's waters. Water quality standards have been established by the Idaho legislature and
approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These standards are designed to protect,
restore, and preserve water quality in areas designated for specific uses such as cold, cool, or warm water
fisheries; agricultural water supply, recreation, wildlife habitat, and aesthetics. Uses have been designated
for most, but not all, water bodies within Idaho.
UK developed a Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) in 1976 to protect public health and the
environment from faecal pollution at bathing waters. Water quality standards (2005) for inland bathing
waters were also developed in this regard for parameters like Total and Faecal Coliforms, pH, Transparency,
Salmonella, Entero-viruses, Colour, Mineral oil, Surface active substances and Phenols.

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A number of countries both developed and developing have developed water classifications and
associated quality standards in relation to various uses. In the United States water quality standards are
adopted to protect public health, enhance water quality, and serve the purposes of the Clean Water Act. As
per requirements of the Clean Water Act various states have developed use based water classification
systems and related water quality standards. Such standards not only establish water quality goals for a
specific water body but also serve as the regulatory basis for establishing water quality-based treatment
controls and other strategies.
Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria enacted regulations in 1988 to set water quality
standards to protect public health and to enhance the quality of its national waters. These standards address
drinking water, recreational use of water, freshwater aquatic life, agricultural (irrigation and livestock
watering) and industrial water uses.
In Papua New Guinea, the Water Resources Act outlines a set of water quality requirements for fisheries and
recreational use of water. The Public Health Drinking Water Quality Regulation specifies water quality
requirements and standards relating to raw water and drinking water. In Viet Nam, the water management
policy of the Government highlights the need for availability of water, adequate in quantity and quality for all
beneficial uses, as well as for the control of point and non-point pollution sources. A set of national water
quality criteria for drinking-water use as well as criteria for fish and aquatic life, and irrigation have been
established.
The water quality management in India is performed under the provision of Water Act, 1974. The basic
objective of this Act is to maintain and restore the wholesomeness of national aquatic resources by
prevention and control of pollution. The Central Pollution Control Board of India has defined the
wholesomeness in terms of protection of human uses and has taken it as a base for identification of water
quality objectives for different water bodies. A concept of “designated best use” has been developed for the
purpose and use based classification system has been introduced.
Water pollution control in Bangladesh is covered under the Environmental Conservation Act 1995 and
Environmental Conservation Rules 1997. Under schedule-3, best practice based classification system has
been introduced for inland surface waters and water quality standards have been established for each class.
Surface water classifications in different countries in relation to the classifications proposed by WWF - P are
briefly presented below:

India classifies Surface Water Quality Standards into class A, class B, class C, class D and class E
which according to the criteria proposed by WWF - P are Class AA, A, B, C and D respectively.
There are total 43 parameters for surface water quality standards in India. These include 1
biological, 5 physical and 37 chemical parameters.
China sets standards only for 7 parameters for class AA, A, B, C and D. Of these only one is
physical and 6 are chemical parameters.
European Communities Surface Water is categorized into A1, A2 and A3 which according to the
criteria proposed by WWF - P, fall into the categories of class AA, class A and class B respectively.
These regulations do not give standards for class C and D. EU regulations about surface water
quality standards cover 39 parameters of which 6 are physical, 4 biological and 29 chemical
parameters.

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 USEPA's compilation of national recommended water quality criteria gives criteria for the protection
of aquatic life and human health in surface water for approximately 150-158 pollutants. These
criteria are published pursuant to Section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and provide
guidance for states and tribes to use in adopting water quality standards. In 2002 EPA published
revisions to many of the ambient water quality criteria for human health as the National
Recommended Water Quality Criteria: 2002 (EPA-822-R-02-047). In 2003 EPA published
additional 15-revised Human Health criteria.
Florida proposes Surface Water Quality Standards for class 1, class 2, class 3, class 4 and class 5.
In these class 1 falls under the category of class AA (Potable Water Supply), class 2 falls under the
category of class C (Shellfish propagation or harvesting), class 3 falls under the category of class B
(Recreation, Propagation and maintenance of Health, Well balanced Population of Fish and
Wildlife) and class 4 falls under the category of class D (Agriculture Water Supplies) according to
WWF-P criteria. Florida mentions total 62 parameters for surface water quality standards. These
include 3 biological, 6 physical and 53 chemical parameters.

5. TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY CRITERIA IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Numerous sets of water quality standards, or guidelines for water quality, have been issued during the
course of time by various agencies and authorities (e.g. United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU), and other countries) intending to define
the maximum acceptable limit of water pollution by various pollutants. Standards for ambient water quality
are commonly designated according to the intended use of the water resource (e.g. drinking water, fishing
water, irrigation etc.).

The concentrations above which water pollutants adversely affect a particular water use may differ widely.
Water quality requirements, expressed as water quality criteria and objectives, are use-specific or are
targeted to the protection of the most sensitive water use among a number of existing or planned uses. In
establishing water quality standards for a given water body, site-specific physical, chemical, hydrological
and biological conditions are taken into consideration. Such conditions may be related to the overall
chemical composition (hardness, pH, dissolved oxygen), physical characteristics (turbidity, temperature,
mixing regime), type of aquatic species and biological community structure, and natural concentrations of
certain substances (e.g. metals or nutrients). These site-specific factors may affect the exposure of aquatic
organisms to some substances or the usability of water for human consumption, livestock watering,
irrigation and recreation.

Water quality criteria are based on scientific information about the effects of water pollutants on a specific
water use. They describe water quality requirements for protecting and maintaining an individual use. Many
water quality criteria set a maximum level for the concentration of a substance in water which will not be
harmful when the specific medium is used continuously for a single, specific purpose.
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For some other water quality variables, such as dissolved oxygen (DO), water quality criteria are set at the
minimum acceptable concentration to ensure the maintenance of biological functions. The protection and
maintenance of the water uses usually impose different requirements on water quality and, therefore, the
associated water quality criteria are often different for each use.

Water quality criteria have been widely established for a number of traditional water quality variables such
as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and
nutrients. Such criteria guide decision makers, especially in countries with rivers affected by severe organic
pollution, in the establishment of control strategies to decrease the potential for oxygen depletion.

In a number of industrialized countries, as well as some countries in transition and other countries of the
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) region, increasing
attention is being paid to the development of water quality criteria for hazardous substances. These are
substances that pose a threat to water use and the functioning of aquatic ecosystems as a result of their
toxicity, persistence, potential for bioaccumulation and/or their carcinogenic, teratogenic or mutagenic
effects.

Water quality criteria for raw water used for drinking-water treatment and supply usually depend on the
potential of different methods of raw water treatment to reduce the concentration of water contaminants to
the level set by drinking-water criteria. Drinking-water treatment can range from simple physical treatment
and disinfection, to chemical treatment and disinfection, to intensive physical and chemical treatment.
Many countries strive to ensure that the quality of raw water is such that it would only be necessary to use
near-natural conditioning processes and disinfection in order to meet drinking-water standards.
Bacteriological quality of water is one of the most important for drinking water supplies. Total coliforms and
Fecal coliforms are used as indicator of fecal contamination of water sources.

Water quality criteria for irrigation water generally take into account, amongst other factors, such
characteristics as crop tolerance to salinity, sodium concentration and phytotoxic trace elements. The effect
of salinity on the osmotic pressure in the unsaturated soil zone is one of the most important water quality
considerations because this has an influence on the availability of water for plant consumption. Sodium in
irrigation waters can adversely affect soil structure and reduce the rate at which water moves into and
through soils. Sodium is also a specific source of damage to fruits. Phytotoxic trace elements such as boron,
heavy metals and pesticides may stunt the growth of plants or render the crop unfit for human consumption
or other intended uses.

Livestock may be affected by poor quality water causing death, sickness or impaired growth. Variables of
concern include nitrates, sulfates, total dissolved solids (salinity), a number of metals and organic micro-
pollutants such as pesticides. In addition, blue-green algae and pathogens in water can present problems.
The purpose of quality criteria for water used for livestock watering is to protect both the livestock and the
consumer.

Recreational water quality criteria are used to assess the safety of water to be used for swimming and other
water-sport activities. The primary concern is to protect human health by preventing water pollution from
faecal material or from contamination by micro-organisms that could cause gastro-intestinal illness, ear,
eye or skin infections. Criteria are therefore usually set for indicators of faecal pollution, such as total
coliforms and faecal coliforms.

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Water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life may take into account only physico-chemical
parameters which tend to define a water quality that protects and maintains aquatic life, ideally in all its
forms and life stages, or they may consider the whole aquatic ecosystem. Water quality parameters of
concern are traditionally dissolved oxygen (because it may cause fish kills at low concentrations) as well as
phosphates, ammonium and nitrate (because they may cause significant changes in community structure if
released into aquatic ecosystems in excessive amounts). Heavy metals and many synthetic chemicals can
also be ingested and absorbed by organisms and, if they are not metabolized or excreted, they may
bioaccumulate in the tissues of the organisms. Some pollutants can also cause carcinogenic, reproductive
and developmental effects.

Numerous studies have confirmed that a pH range of 6.5 to 9 is most appropriate for the maintenance of
fish communities. Low concentrations of dissolved oxygen, when combined with the presence of toxic
substances may lead to stress responses in aquatic ecosystems because the toxicity of certain elements, such
as zinc, lead and copper, is increased by low concentrations of dissolved oxygen. High water temperature
also increases the adverse effects on biota associated with low concentrations of dissolved oxygen. The
water quality criterion for dissolved oxygen, therefore, takes these factors into account. Depending on the
water temperature requirements for particular aquatic species at various life stages, the criteria values
range from 5 to 9.5 mg/L, i.e. a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 5-6 mg l-1 for warm-water
biota and 6.5-9.5 mg/L for cold-water biota. Higher oxygen concentrations are also relevant for early life
stages.

Water quality criteria for phosphorus compounds, such as phosphates, are set at a concentration that
prevents excessive growth of algae. Criteria for total ammonia (NH3) have been established, for example by
the EPA, to reflect the varying toxicity of NH3 with pH. Criteria have been set for a pH range from 6.5 to 9.0
and a water temperature range from 0 to 30 °C.

The establishment of water quality standards requires a critical assessment of national priorities. Such an
assessment is based on economic considerations, present and future water uses, forecasts for industrial
progress and for the development of agriculture, and many other socio-economic factors. It is commonly
recommended that only regulations that can be enforced should be adopted. Water quality standards
applied in developing countries, therefore, are sometimes adjusted to reflect the local (achievable)
economic and technological level. The implication of this approach is that standards may be tightened
along with the rise in economic capability to comply with higher standards.

Many developing countries recognize that priorities need to be established for water quality protection and
remediation because of the inevitable limitations on human and financial resources. Common constraints
of water pollution control in developing countries include the lack of human resources/institutional
capacity, inadequate equipment and poor quality control, and lack of enforceability. Many developing
countries thus address a limiting number of parameters with associated numeric values that can be
implemented.

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It is common to categorize parameters into physical, chemical and biological parameters. The trend in
standards for these parameters in different countries is as follows:

a. Physical parameters:

(i) Total Suspended Solids (TSS):

China gives values for this parameter as less than 25 for class AA and A. Less than 40 and 100 for
class B and C. For class D “no floating material and no oil”. EU Communities give standard value for
this parameter as 50 mg/l only for class AA. Turbidity is another parameter for the indirect measure
of the suspended solids which is based on the light scattering properties of the solids. It is more
sensitive than the TSS measurement and is preferred for drinking water supplies.

(ii) Total Dissolved Solids (TDS):

India gives standards for this parameter as 500 mg/l, 1500mg/l and 2100 mg/l for class AA, B and
D respectively. Alberta (Canada), FAO, Pakistan WAPDA, PCRWR Pakistan and NEQS (Pakistan)
give its standards as 500-3500 mg/l, 450-2000 mg/l, 1000-1500 mg/l, 800-2000 mg/l and
3500 mg/l for irrigation water respectively. Florida gives standard for this parameter as <500
monthly avg., 1000 max. in mg/l only for class AA. Electrical conductivity is sometimes used as a
measure of the total dissolved solids due to its ease in measurement. Electrical conductivity (EC)
measurements can be converted into TDS by applying appropriate conversion factor.

b. Chemical Parameters:

(i) pH:

China's pH values are 6.5-8.5 for class AA and 6.0-9.0 for the rest i.e. Class A, B, C and D. India sets

pH values for all five classes as 8.5. EU communities range pH values from 5.5-8.5 for class AA and

5.5-9.0 for class A and B. They do not give standards for class C and D.

Florida gives statements for class AA's and D's pH value as pH “shall not vary more than one unit

above or below natural back ground provided that the pH is not lowered to less than 6 units or raised

above 8.5 units”. For class B it states that “pH shall not lower to less than 6 units or raised above 8.5

units whereas for class C it states that pH shall not be lowered to less than 6.5 units or raised above

8.5 units.”

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 (ii) BOD5

China's BOD values for surface waters are less than 1 mg/l, 2 mg/l and 4 mg/l for class AA, A and B.
It does not give BOD values for class C and D.
Indian values for this particular parameter are 2 mg/l, 3 mg/l and 3 mg/l for class AA, A and B
respectively.
Florida states that BOD “shall not be increased to exceed values which would cause dissolved
oxygen to be depressed below the limit established for each class and, in no case, shall it be great
o
enough to produce nuisance conditions.” EU Communities sets BOD5 at 20 C without nitrification, 5
mg/l for class AA and A and 7mg/l for class B.
Canada, California, Colorado, New Mexico, EU, India, Bangladesh and FAO do not give standards
for BOD parameter for class D (water quality criteria for irrigation water). NEQS (Pakistan) sets its
value as 80 mg/l.

Trace Elements

(i) Cadmium (Cd):

India proposes 0.01 mg/l cadmium for class AA and B. Canada is more stringent because it

proposes 0.005 mg/l. EU suggests 0.001 mg/l. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of United

Nations), California, Colorado, New Mexico, PCRWR Pakistan give value of 0.01 mg/l. The NEQS

in Pakistan give value of 0.10 mg/l.

FAO recommends a conservative maximum concentration of Cadmium at 0.01 mg/l on the basis of

being toxic to beans, beets and turnips at concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/l in nutrient solutions.

(ii) Chromium (Cr):

India sets 0.05 mg/l for class AA, A and B for chromium. Canada proposes 0.008 mg/l. FAO,

California, Colorado, New Mexico, PCRWR Pakistan suggest 0.10 mg/l whereas EU sets 0.05 mg/l

as standard for irrigation water. FAO gives reason for Chromium's recommended value of 0.10 mg/l

as it is not generally recognized as an essential growth element.

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 (iii) Lead (Pb):

India sets 0.1 mg/l as standard value for this parameter for class AA and B. Alberta (Canada), FAO,
California, Colorado, New Mexico, PCRWR Pakistan and NEQS (Pakistan) give standards for lead
for class D as 0.20, 5.0, 5.0, 0.001, 5.0, 5.0 and 0.50 mg/l. FAO recommends value for lead as
5.0 mg/l because it can inhibit plant cell growth at very high concentrations.
EU gives standards for this parameter as 0.05 mg/l for class AA, A and B. Florida gives standards for
class AA, B, C and D as < e (1.273[lnH]-4.705) µg/l, < e (1.273[lnH]-4.705) µg/l, < 8.5 µg/l and
< 50 µg/l respectively.

c. Biological Parameters:

Biological parameters relate to the presence of microorganisms in water especially those relating to
contamination by human excreta mainly through the discharge of municipal wastewaters.
Bacteriological quality of water is most important in protecting human health from the consumption
of contaminated water or food. Total coliforms and feacal coliforms are commonly used as indicator
organisms for feacal pollution.

(i) Total Coliforms:

Indian standards for Total Coliforms are 50, 500 and 5000 MPN/100 ml for class AA, A and B
respectively. On the contrary the water quality standards in EU Communities set these values as
5000 Total Coliforms per 100ml at 37oC for class AA, 25,000 for class A and 100,000 for class B
respectively.
Florida states that Total Coliform Bacteria < 1000 as a monthly average, nor exceed 1000 in more
than 20% of samples examined during any month, nor exceed 2400 at any time, using either MPN
or MF counts, for class AA. For class C, MPN should not exceed 70 and no more than 10% of the
samples should exceed an MPN of 230. Whereas for class D the Total Coliform Bacteria would be
measured same as class AA but monthly average should be expressed as geometric mean based on
a minimum of 10 samples taken over a 30-day period using MPN or MF counts.
Alberta (Canada) and Bangladesh standards for irrigation water (class D) suggests value for Total
Coliform bacteria as 1000 /100ml.

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 (ii) Feacal Coliforms:

Alberta (Canada) and New Mexico give standards for Irrigation water quality i.e. class D as 100 and
1000 /100ml respectively. EU Communities standards for this parameter are 1000, 5000 and
40,000 /100 ml for class AA, A and B.
Florida's standards for class AA and B state that MPN or MF counts shall not exceed a monthly
average of 200, nor exceed 400 in 10% of the samples, nor exceed 800 on any one day. Monthly
averages shall be expressed as geometric mean based on a minimum of 5 and 10 samples
respectively taken over a 30 day period. Whereas Florida states that for class C that MPN shall not
exceed a median value of 14 with not more than 10% of the samples exceeding 43, nor exceed 800
on any one day. The proposed Surface Water Quality Standards by WWF - P are attached in tables 2
- 6 of this report.

6. PROPOSED SURFACE WATER CLASSIFICATIONS:

Keeping in view the various uses of surface waters in Pakistan and the surface water classification system
being adopted in different countries with focus on developing/South Asian Countries, WWF - Pakistan has
proposed a surface classification system with 5 classes of fresh waters on the basis of their existing or
intended use.

2. Class AA: Public Water Supply Class I

This class will apply to the waters of highest quality. This is intended primarily for waters having
watersheds, which are uninhibited and otherwise, protected. These waters must be of such a quality
that they require only approved disinfection to be suitable for drinking water supplies. There should
be no direct discharges of pollutants into Class AA waters.

3. Class A: Public Water Supply Class II

This class is for sources of water that will require complete treatment (coagulation, sedimentation,
filtration, disinfection, etc.) to make water fit for drinking purposes.

4. Class B: Recreational Waters

Waters for this class are intended to be for primary contact recreation such as bathing, swimming,
skin diving etc.

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 5. Class C: Waters for Propagation of Fish and aquatic Life

This class covers the water for propagation of balance growth of fish and other aquatic resources.
The other uses include industrial process water use after treatment and non-contact recreation such
as boating etc.

6. Class D: Irrigation Water

This class applies to the surface waters that are primarily used for agricultural irrigation and livestock
watering, and industrial cooling waters.

7. PROPOSED WATER QUALITY CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES:

Each water use has associated water quality criteria that define the suitability of the water for the intended
use. The criteria can be translated into guidelines / standards to be implemented in order to protect these
water uses. The water for municipal and industrial water supplies is normally treated before supply whereas
for other uses, the water is used in its natural state. In other words, the water source necessarily doesn't have
to meet the drinking water quality / industrial water quality requirements; for other uses the surface water
must meet the water quality requirements of the intended use. Irrigation is the major water user in Pakistan
accounting for about 96% and municipal and industrial use is around 2% each. In view of the importance of
irrigation water use in the country, irrigation water quality guidelines were first developed which then formed
the basis for the class D surface waters for irrigation.

a. Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines:

Irrigation water quality parameters are commonly selected considering their impact on crop
production, livestock health and human health. The affect on crop production is evaluated by
considering Salinity (total dissolved solids or electrical conductivity), Sodicity (residual sodium
carbonate, sodium adsorption ratio, or adjusted sodium adsorption ratio) and toxicity due to
specifications that affect sensitive crops. Salinity is important as it affects crop water availability and
hence the growth. Sodicity affects soil structure and hence the rate of infiltration thus affecting crop
growth. Since irrigation water is also commonly consumed by livestock and thus affects its health.
There is possibility of uptake of contaminants from irrigation water by crops thus affecting human
health.
The crop production is the main objective of water use in irrigation; as such these parameters receive

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 Human health considerations become important where wastewater reuse in irrigation is considered.
Since the irrigation water quality guidelines being presented herein do not specifically address this
aspect of irrigation water, the related parameters are not evaluated. Extensive work has been done
in Pakistan regarding the evaluation of irrigation water quality in Pakistan. In this regard, work by
Irrigation Department Punjab, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Pakistan
Council of Research in Water Resources is notable. At the international level, Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) guidelines have been extensively used to evaluate
irrigation water quality guidelines.
The formulation of uniform water quality guidelines for irrigation water is complicated due to
various other factors such as soil type, crop to be irrigated, water application method, the
drainage and climate that affect water use in agriculture. It is also common to categorize
irrigation water quality into different types. FAO proposes the evaluation on the basis of degree
of restriction on water use as being (i) non, (ii) slight to moderate and (iii) severe. The local
practice in Pakistan has been on the basis of suitable, marginal and hazardous. PCRWR has
suggested four categories of guidelines based on soil type, irrigation water management, crop
types and climate. The parameters most commonly used for the evaluation purposes in Pakistan
are total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC)
and boron. WWF - Pakistan has taken these parameters as the main parameters for suggesting
the guideline values. The guideline values for these parameters have been proposed in the light
of the local experience under the most stringent case and can be relaxed on the basis of the soil
type. The review of the local and international practices reveals that the toxicity affects of trace
metals, FAO guidelines have commonly been used for irrigation water quality evaluation. These
have been thus proposed as guideline values with the exception of lead and mercury for which
the guideline values are adopted considering the affect on livestock health. The proposed
guidelines are given in Table 1.

b. Surface Water Quality Criteria

Water quality criteria for different water classifications have been proposed to protect the use of water
related to each classification. The protection of human health is the main focus; it may be due to the
direct water consumption in case of drinking water supplies, the consumption of fish obtained from
the surface waters or due to water contact in case of recreational water use. The general ecological
health of the surface water as indicated by dissolved oxygen level to promote a balance aquatic life
has also been a primary criterion for all surface water classifications.

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Since it is neither possible nor desirable to monitor all the parameters as the simultaneous presence of all

substances of concern is rare, a narrative statement that incorporates trace organics and other toxic

elements has been included in all the water classifications to include such parameters whenever desired.

There are no National Drinking Water Quality Standards in Pakistan. Some departments have proposed

water quality guidelines for this purpose but mostly WHO guideline values are used for drinking water

quality evaluation. In selecting the parameter and their values, local conditions as well as the practices in

developing countries including the recommendations as given in WHO guidelines have been the

consideration. Public Water Supply Class I has more stringent water quality requirement as this requires only

disinfection prior to use as drinking water supplies. Public Water Supply Class II has lower water quality

requirements as some of the parameters can be reduced during the treatment before the water is supplied

for human consumption. The practices in various developing and developed countries as presented earlier

in literature review have been used as a guide in this regard.

Water quality criteria for Class B waters are to protect primary contact recreational use. Bacteriological

quality is one of the most important in consideration in this regard. Class C water quality criteria are to

ensure propagation of balance growth of fish and other aquatic resources. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of

the most important parameter in this case. Toxic elements especially those bio-accumulate, are also

important. The practices in various developing and developed countries as presented earlier in literature

review have been used as a guide in this regard also as has been the case for other water classifications.

Water quality criteria for Class D irrigation water has been taken from the water quality guidelines presented

in Table 1. Dissolve oxygen (DO) is included as being the primary criteria for general ecological health of

surface waters. BOD is included due to its inter-relationship with dissolved oxygen depletion. In view of the

influence of domestic waste discharges into surface waters, a fecal coliform criterion of 1000/100ml has

also been included.

The proposed WWF - P's water quality criteria for surface water classification are given in terms of Physical,

Chemical and Biological parameters. For the Five Surface Water Classifications, the water quality criteria

are given in Tables 2-6.

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REFERENCES:

1. Alberta Environment (1999). Surface Water Quality Guidelines for Use in Alberta.
Environmental Assurance Division, Science and Standards Branch. Alberta Environment,
Edmonton Alberta.
2. Ayers, R.S. and Westcot, D.W. (1985). Water Quality for Agriculture. FAO Irrigation and
Drainage Paper 29. Rev. 1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome.
3. EPA Taiwan (1998). Surface Water Classification and Water Quality Standards. Environmental
Protection Agency Taiwan, Republic of China.
4. EU (1989). European Communities (Quality of Surface Water I). S.I. 294/1989. Source, Irish
Statute Book Database.
5. Florida DOE (2006). Criteria for Surface Water Classifications. 62-302-530.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wqssp/classes.htm
6. GOB (1997). Guide to the Environmental Conservation Act 1995 and Environmental
Conservation Rules 1997 of the Government of Bangladesh. Prepared by Bangladesh Centre
for Advanced Studies.
7. National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for Municipal and Liquid Industrial Effluents.
Ministry of Environment Government of Pakistan. http://www.environment.gov.pk/
8. PCRWR (2002). Irrigation Water Quality Manual. Editors M.A. Khalown and A.D. Khan.
Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources. Ministry of Science and Technology,
Government of Pakistan Islamabad.
9. Primary Water Quality Criteria for Designated-Best-Use-Classes. Central Pollution Control Board
of India. http://envfor.nic.in/cpcb/ cpcb.html.
10.UNEP (1997). Global Environment Outlook-1. Global State of the Environment Report. United
National Environmental Programme. www.unep.org/geo.
11.UNEP (2006). Environmental Indicators South Asia. United Nations Environment Programme,
Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific. www.rrcap.unep.org.
12. USEPA (1976). Quality Criteria for Water. The Red Book.
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/wqcriteria.html.
13. USEPA (1986). Quality Criteria for Water. The Gold Book.
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/wqcriteria.html.
14. USEPA (2002). National Recommended Water Quality Criteria: 2002 Report no. (EPA-822-R-
02-047). Office of Science and Technology. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
15. USEPA (2006). Current National Recommended Water Quality Criteria.
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/wqcriteria.html.
16. Water Quality Standards. Department of Environmental Protection State of Connecticut.
Hartford, CT. http:// www.dep.state.ct.us.
17. WHO (2006). Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. Volume 1, 3rd Edition. World Health
Organization, Geneva.
18. WHO (2006). Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture, Volume 2. World Health Organization,
Geneva.

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 Table 1a - Proposed Irrigation Water Quality Guidelines

SUBSTANCE OR UNIT MAXIMUM REMARKS

CONDITION RECOMMENDED VALUE
PROPOSED
Total Dissolved mg/L The values depend on
Salinity

Solids 1000 various factors; can

(TDS) be relaxed. See
dS/m Table-1b for details.
EC at 25 °C 1.5
SAR 8
RSC mg/L 1.25
Boron mg/L 1.0
Chloride mg/L 100
pH Units 6.5 - 8.4
Aluminium mg/L 5.0
Arsenic mg/L 0.10
Beryllium mg/L 0.10
Cadmium mg/L 0.01
Chromium mg/L 0.01
Cobalt mg/L 0.05
Copper mg/L 0.20
Cyanide mg/L 1.0
Fluoride mg/L 1.0
Iron mg/L 5.0
Lead mg/L 0.1 Livestock
Lithium mg/L 2.5
Manganese mg/L 0.20
Mercury mg/L 0.01 Livestock
Molybdenum mg/L 0.01
Nickel mg/L 0.20
Selenium mg/L 0.02
Vanadium mg/L 0.10
Zinc mg/L 2.0

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 Table 1b: Conditions of Water Use and Irrigation Water Quality

Water Quality Guideline

Water Quality Guideline Value Conditions of Use
Parameter

TDS 2000 mg/L Coarse textured soils

Salinity or or
EC 3.0 dS/m

SAR 10
RSC 2.5 me/L

TDS 1500 mg/L Medium textured soils.

Salinity or or
EC 2.3 dS/m

SAR 8
RSC 2.3 me/L

TDS 1000 mg/L Fine textured soils

Salinity or or
EC 1.5 dS/m

SAR 8
RSC 1.25 me/L

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 Table 2 - Class AA: Criteria for Public Water Supply I
Explanation:

This Class is intended primarily for waters having watersheds, which are uninhibited and otherwise,
protected. These waters must be of such a quality that they require only approved disinfection to be suitable
for drinking water supplies.

PARAMETER UNIT PROPOSED VALUE REMARKS

Physical parameters
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/L 800
Electrical Conductivity at
dS/m 1.25
25 °C
Taste Unobjectionable
Odour Unobjectionable
Colour (True) Hazen Units 20
Turbidity NTU 5
The maximum water temperature change
Temperature shall not exceed 3C° relative to an upstream
control point.

Chemical parameters
pH Units 6.5-8.5
BOD mg/L 2
Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) mg/L >6
Chloride mg/L 250
Nitrates mg/L as N 10
Nitrite mg/L as N 1
Anionic Detergents as MBAS mg/L 0.2
Phenolic Compounds as Phenol mg/L 0.001
Oil and grease mg/L 0.01
Sulphates mg/L 400
Chromium mg/L 0.05
Arsenic mg/L 0.05
Boron mg/L 1.0
Barium mg/L 1
Cadmium mg/L 0.005
Copper mg/L 1.5

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 Cyanide mg/L 0.05
Fluoride mg/L 1.5
Iron mg/L 0.3
Lead mg/L 0.05
Manganese mg/L 0.1
Mercury mg/L as N 0.001
Nickel mg/L as N 0.1
Selenium mg/L 0.01
Zinc mg/L 5
Total Hardness mg/L as CaCo3 300
Toxic substances and The waters shall not contain other toxic substances
and organic pollutants in quantities that may be
organic pollutants
detrimental to public health or impair the usefulness
of the water as a source of domestic water supply.
Biological parameters
Coliform bacteria (fecal) No./100 mL 20
Coliform bacteria (total) No./100 mL 50

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 Table 3 - Class A: Criteria for Public Water Supply II
Explanation:

For sources of water supply that will require complete treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration
and disinfection etc.)

PARAMETER UNIT PROPOSED VALUE REMARKS

Physical parameters
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/L 800
Electrical Conductivity at
dS/m 1.25
25 °C
Taste Unobjectionable
Odour Unobjectionable
Colour (True) Hazen Units 20
The maximum water temperature change
Temperature shall not exceed 3C° relative to an upstream
control point.

Chemical parameters
pH Units 6.5-8.5
BOD mg/L 3
Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) mg/L >4
Chloride mg/L 250
Nitrates mg/L as N 10
Nitrite mg/L as N 1.0
Anionic Detergents as MBAS mg/L 1.0
Phenolic Compounds as Phenol mg/L 0.002
Oil and grease mg/L 0.1
Sulphates mg/L 400
Chromium mg/L 0.05
Arsenic mg/L 0.05
Boron mg/L 0.5
Barium mg/L 1.0
Cadmium mg/L 0.005
Copper mg/L 1.5
Cyanide mg/L 0.05
Fluoride mg/L 1.5
Lead mg/L 0.05

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 Mercury mg/L as N 0.001
Nickel mg/L as N 0.1
Selenium mg/L 0.01
Zinc mg/L 5
Total Hardness mg/L as CaCo3 300
Toxic substances and The waters shall not contain other toxic substances
and organic pollutants in quantities that may be
organic pollutants Expand in next stage
detrimental to public health or impair the usefulness
of the water as a source of domestic water supply.
Biological parameters
Coliform bacteria (fecal) No./100 mL 1000
Coliform bacteria (total) No./100 mL 5000

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 Table - 4 - Class B: Criteria for Recreational Water
Explanation:

Waters for this class are intended to be for primary contact recreation such as bathing, swimming, skin
diving etc.

PARAMETER UNIT PROPOSED VALUE REMARKS

Physical parameters

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/L 1000

Electrical Conductivity at
dS/m 1.50
25 °C
The maximum water temperature change
Temperature shall not exceed 3C° relative to an upstream
control point.

Chemical parameters
pH Units 6.5-8.5
BOD mg/L 8
Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) mg/L 4
Ammonia mg/L as N 1.0
Anionic Detergents as MBAS mg/L 0.5
Phenolic Compounds as Phenol mg/L 0.01
Oil and grease mg/L 2.0
Sulphates mg/L 400
Chromium mg/L 0.05
Arsenic mg/L 0.05
Boron mg/L 1.0
Barium mg/L 1.0
Cadmium mg/L 0.01
Copper mg/L 1.5
Cyanide mg/L 0.05
Fluoride mg/L 1.5
Lead mg/L 0.01
Mercury mg/L 0.001
Selenium mg/L 0.05
Zinc mg/L 15

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 Toxic substances and The waters shall not contain toxic substances
and organic pollutants in quantities that may be
organic pollutants
detrimental to public health or impair the
usefulness of the water recreational water.
Biological parameters
Coliform bacteria (fecal) No./100 mL 200
Coliform bacteria (total) No./100 mL 1000

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 Table - 5 - Class C: Criteria for Propagation of Fish and aquatic Life
Explanation:

This class covers the water for propagation of balance growth of fish and other aquatic resource. The other
uses include industrial process water use after treatment and non-contact recreation such as boating etc.

PARAMETER UNIT PROPOSED VALUE REMARKS

Physical parameters

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/L 1000

Electrical Conductivity at
dS/m 1.50
25 °C
The maximum water temperature change
Temperature shall not exceed 3C° relative to an upstream
control point.

Chemical parameters
pH Units 6.5-8.5
BOD mg/L 8
Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) mg/L >5
Ammonia mg/L as N 1.0
Anionic Detergents as MBAS mg/L 0.5
Phenolic Compounds as Phenol mg/L 0.01
Oil and grease mg/L 2.0
Chromium mg/L 0.05
Arsenic mg/L 0.05
Boron mg/L 1.0
Cadmium mg/L 0.002
Copper mg/L 0.007
Cyanide mg/L 0.005
Fluoride mg/L 1.5
Iron mg/L 0.3
Manganese mg/L 0.1
Lead mg/L 0.01
Mercury mg/L 0.000012
Nickel mg/L 0.05
Selenium mg/L 0.005
Zinc mg/L 0.086

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 The waters shall not contain toxic substances and
Toxic substances and organic pollutants in quantities that may be
organic pollutants detrimental fisheries and other aquatic life or to public
health or impair the usefulness of the water for the
intended purpose.
Biological parameters
Coliform bacteria (fecal) No./100 mL 1000
Coliform bacteria (total) No./100 mL 5000

These values were changed based on workshop group recommendations. Initially proposed values
were 200 and 1000. Bangladesh sets 5000 for Total Coliforms.

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 Table - 6 - Class D: Criteria for Irrigation Water
Explanation:

This class applies to the surface waters that are primarily used for agricultural irrigation and livestock
watering, and industrial cooling waters.

SUBSTANCE OR UNIT RECOMMENDED VALUE REMARKS

CONDITION

Total Dissolved mg/L The values depend on

Salinity

Solids 1000 various factors; can be

(TDS) relaxed.
dS/m See Table -1b for
EC at 25 °C 1.5
details.
SAR 5
RSC me/L 1.25
Boron mg/L 1.0
Chloride mg/L 100
pH Units 6.5 - 8.4
BOD mg/L 8.0
Dissolved Oxygen (D.O) mg/L >4.0
Coliform bacteria (fecal) No./100mL 1000
Aluminium mg/L 5.0
Arsenic mg/L 0.10
Beryllium mg/L 0.10
Cadmium mg/L 0.01
Chromium mg/L 0.01
Cobalt mg/L 0.05
Copper mg/L 0.20
Cyanide mg/L 1.0
Fluoride mg/L 1.0
Iron mg/L 5.0
Lead mg/L 0.1 Livestock
Lithium mg/L 2.5
Manganese mg/L 0.20
Mercury mg/L 0.01 Livestock
Molybdenum mg/L 0.01
Nickel mg/L 0.20

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 Selenium mg/L 0.02
Vanadium mg/L 0.10
Zinc mg/L 2.0
Toxic substances and The water should not contain toxic
organic pollutants substances and other organic compounds
in quantities that can accumulate in the soils
to such a level as to result in the uptake by
the crop and thus may be detrimental to
public health or impair the quality of water
for use in agriculture and livestock watering.

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