General Surface and Groundwater Chemistry & Microbiological Analysis (Annual Monitoring)

A highly recommended annual water quality analysis for assessing both chemical composition and microbiological safety in surface and groundwater supplies.

Why is this suite important?

This comprehensive annual monitoring suite provides a complete assessment of both microbiological and chemical risks in surface and groundwater.

• Microbiological analysis (E. coli & Total Coliforms) ensures that the water is free from bacterial contamination that could indicate unsafe drinking water or system failures.
• Chemical analysis identifies contaminants, treatment efficiency, and water stability, ensuring compliance with drinking water safety standards.
• Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) helps determine if the water is corrosive (damaging to pipes and infrastructure) or scale-forming (causing mineral buildup in plumbing and treatment systems).

This suite is ideal for households, businesses, and community water supplies wanting a full-spectrum analysis to safeguard drinking water.

The Maximum Acceptable Values (MAVs) and treatment limits for these determinands are:

• Microbiological Contaminants:

  • E. coli: Must not be detected in 100 mL samples
  • Total Coliforms: Presence indicates potential contamination

• Chemical & Physical Contaminants:

  • Arsenic: 0.01 mg/L
  • Boron: 1.4 mg/L
  • Bromide: No MAV, but monitored for potential disinfection by-products
  • Calcium & Hardness: No MAV, but hardness >200 mg/L can cause scaling issues
  • Chloride: 250 mg/L (Aesthetic value due to taste issues)
  • Copper: 2 mg/L (Aesthetic guideline, potential plumbing corrosion at high levels)
  • Fluoride: 1.5 mg/L
  • Iron: 0.2 mg/L (Aesthetic guideline, staining at high levels)
  • Lead: 0.01 mg/L
  • Magnesium: No MAV, but high levels contribute to hardness
  • Manganese: 0.04 mg/L (Aesthetic), 0.4 mg/L (Health-based limit)
  • Nitrate-N: 11.3 mg/L as NO₃-N (to prevent Blue Baby Syndrome in infants)
  • pH: 7.0 – 8.5 (Recommended for drinking water)
  • Silica: No MAV, but scaling potential at high levels
  • Sodium: 200 mg/L (Aesthetic guideline, taste threshold)
  • Sulphate: 250 mg/L (Aesthetic, due to taste and potential laxative effects)
  • Turbidity: <1.0 NTU for effective disinfection
  • UVT @ 254 nm: Must be suitable for UV disinfection based on manufacturer specifications
  • Zinc: No MAV, but high levels may cause taste issues and affect plumbing

• Water Stability & Corrosion Analysis:

  • Langelier Saturation Index (LSI): Determines if water is corrosive (negative LSI) or scale-forming (positive LSI). A balanced LSI helps prevent infrastructure damage.