In daily life, water is one of our most basic needs. However, did you know that water safety standards are backed by complex science and legal regulations? From water chemical composition analysis to environmental monitoring, the process of ensuring water quality safety involves many steps and technologies. Whether it is drinking water, industrial water or environmental water sources, corresponding standards must be strictly followed to protect public health.
Water samples from the natural environment are often taken and analyzed according to predetermined monitoring programs to ensure that the water is not contaminated or, if it is, to monitor whether the level of contamination is within acceptable limits. These tasks are primarily performed by regulatory agencies to ensure that water quality meets national and local legal standards.
"Ensure that uncontaminated surface waters are maintained within acceptable chemical standards."
Surface or groundwater used to supply drinking water requires complex treatment to meet strict chemical standards. Before entering the treatment plant, the quality of the incoming water must be analyzed in detail. In addition to environmental chemical standards, parameters such as hardness, phenols and oils need to be assessed.
In industrial production, the control of process water quality is crucial to the quality of the final product. Water is often used as a carrier for reagents, so its quality must be constantly monitored to ensure that the loss rate of reagents is within an acceptable range.
“Wastewater monitoring in industrial plants is key to controlling and reducing environmental pollution.”
To ensure consistency and reproducibility, chemical analysis methods for water samples are often agreed upon and published at the national or state level. These methods are often referred to as "blue books." Specific analysis can be divided into on-site testing (such as pH, specific conductivity) and laboratory testing of samples.
Including Winkler method of dissolved oxygen, precipitation method, filtered solids, acidification, acid-base neutralization, etc. These methods are generally well tested and used and provide reasonable accuracy at moderate sensitivities.
Used to measure pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen, providing accurate results and inputting data directly into laboratory data management systems.
Used for the determination of many volatile organic substances, including gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, where high sensitivity is required.
Water analysis is crucial in academic and industrial research, especially in the development of pharmaceutical and health products, where accurate water quality analysis helps ensure product consistency.
In environmental management, water quality analysis is often used to identify sources of contaminants so that remedial action can be taken. With accurate analysis, the source of unacceptable water quality can be identified so that appropriate corrective actions can be taken.
To sum up, the safety management of water quality is a methodology involving many technologies and sciences. Whether you are a consumer of drinking water, an environmental regulator, or an industrial producer, paying attention to water quality is essential. Have you made sure your drinking water is safe?