Indian standards for drinking water: What you need to know
Every individual is entitled to access clean and safe drinking water. Regrettably, our planet's life-sustaining natural resource is currently facing severe contamination. According to reports from the National Statistical Office (NSO), nearly two-thirds of households in India consume untreated and unsafe water.
Merely 8% resort to boiling water before consumption, an inefficient method for eliminating contaminants. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, every nation is mandated to achieve this objective by 2030.
To guarantee the safety of Indian Standards for drinking water, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has formulated comprehensive guidelines. In this blog, we will outline the BIS Standards for Drinking Water.
Necessity of water treatment in India
The provision of a safe and clean drinking water supply relies on the evaluation of water resource quality and the effectiveness of water treatment, following specific guideline values outlined in Indian Standards.
It's important to emphasize that clean or treated water plays a vital role in:
- Sustaining organ health by providing essential nourishment.
- Preventing diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A.
- Assisting in the removal of toxins from the body.
- Supporting agriculture and food production.
- Enhancing sanitation facilities.
Overview of BIS Standards for Drinking Water
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has established IS 10500: 2012 as the official Indian standard for drinking water quality. This standard was first introduced in 1983 under the title "Indian Drinking Water Specification" and has undergone several revisions since then, with the most recent one occurring in 2012.
The Indian standards for drinking water 2012 revision aimed to enhance the standards and bring them in line with international drinking water specifications. These revisions took into account the latest information regarding the nature and concentration of contaminants present in drinking water.
To ensure the delivery of high-quality water and protect against harmful pathogens, routine testing and analysis of drinking water are conducted, particularly by Jal Boards and other water supply agencies. The frequency of testing is determined by water quality and may include assessments for impurities or changes in taste and color. While measures to prevent water contamination are essential, testing also involves checking for chlorine-resistant parasites like cryptosporidium species and giardia, which can potentially infiltrate the water supply.
In an ideal scenario, all water samples collected from the water distribution system, including those from consumers' premises, should be free from coliform and other biological organisms.
Indian Standards for drinking water quality
The Central Ground Water Board states that BIS (revised module IS 10500-2012) contains Uniform Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Protocol specifications. The standard is limited to two levels:
● Acceptable limits and
● Permissible limits
The Indian Standards for Drinking water or BIS will declare water unfit to drink if it is bacteriology degraded or if chemical contamination exceeds maximum permissible limits.
According to BIS 1500-2012, drinking water must be permissible within the following limits:
|
Characteristic |
Acceptable Limit |
Permissible Limit |
Remarks |
|
Colour, Hazen units, Max |
5 |
15 |
Extended to 15 only, if toxic substances are not suspected in absence of alternate sources |
|
Odour |
Agreeable |
Agreeable |
a) Test cold and when heated b) Test at several dilutions |
|
pH value |
6.5-8.5 |
No relaxation |
|
|
Taste |
Agreeable |
Agreeable |
Test to be conducted only after safety has been established |
|
Turbidity, NTU, Max |
1 |
5 |
|
|
Total dissolved solids |
500 |
2000 |
|
|
Calcium (as Ca), mg/l, Max |
75 |
200 |
|
|
Chloride (as Cl), mg/l, Max |
250 |
1000 |
NOTE — It is recommended that the acceptable limit is to be implemented. Values in excess of those mentioned under ‘acceptable’ render the water not suitable, but still may be tolerated in the absence of an alternative source but up to the limits indicated under ‘permissible limit .
Source: https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S06/is.10500.2012.pdf
According to BIS 1500-2012, the Indian standards for drinking water must be permissible within the following limits:
|
Characteristic |
Acceptable Limit |
Permissible Limit |
Remarks |
|
Cadmium (as Cd), mg/l, Max |
0.003 |
No Relaxation |
|
|
Cyanide (as CN), mg/l, Max |
0.05 |
No Relaxation |
|
|
Lead (as Pb), mg/l, Max |
0.01 |
No Relaxation |
|
|
Mercury (as Hg), mg/l, Max |
0.001 |
No Relaxation |
|
|
Total arsenic (as As), mg/l, Max |
0.01 |
No Relaxation |
Source: https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S06/is.10500.2012.pdf
Methods to Obtain Safe Drinking Water
The most effective means of obtaining safe drinking water is through the installation of a water purifier. While electric purifiers have gained popularity, their adoption in households remains limited. Boiling water is a common method used in many households to purify water; however, it does not eliminate all impurities. Boiling may not effectively remove various suspended impurities, chemicals, and microorganisms.
How Can Water Purifiers Provide Assistance?
The installation of an RO (Reverse Osmosis) or UV water purifier is the most reliable means to ensure access to clean drinking water. Water purifiers employ a multi-stage purification process designed to eliminate impurities, including bacteria, viruses, salts, chemicals, and various other contaminants. Utilizing an RO purifier is essential for safeguarding against waterborne diseases, which remain a significant cause of concern in India.
Opting for Pureit Revito Max is also the best way to remove contaminants and heavy metals in water. This RO + MF + UV purifier uses best-in-class# filtration technology that is designed to remove heavy metals* such as Cadmium and Chromium from drinking water.
It uses 8-stage purification process that includes RO, UV, and MF filtration that removes contaminants and delivers safe drinking water. It also has an in-tank UV** sterilization system that kills up to 99.99% of bacteria, and viruses. Additionally, it has Smartsense Indicators^ that alert you 15 days before filter expiry and suspend water dispense if the filter is not changed.
It’s unique filtration technology also effectively treats water from multiple sources like borewell, tanker & municipal to provide you safe drinking water. Thus, reducing contamination and protection against common water-borne pathogens.
Disclaimers:
#The RO membrane used in Pureit Revito Series is tested and certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 58 for material safety only. This RO membrane was tested by WQA in a surrogate system for the reduction of Cadmium, Chromium III. WQA cannot confirm that the component will yield the same performance when used in any other, non-tested system. See WQA.org for details. In comparison to leading RO devices, in comparison to life of RO membrane
*The RO membrane used in Pureit Revito Series is tested and certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 58 for material safety only. This RO membrane was tested by WQA in a surrogate system for the reduction of Cadmium, Chromium III. WQA cannot confirm that the component will yield the same performance when used in any other, non-tested system. See WQA.org for details.
**As per the usage directed in user manual. Post RO purified water that’s part of purification stages in the device
^ Advance alert system via UI alerts 15 days before your filter expires
