![](media/image1.png){width="6.5in" height="0.6in"}

Natural Resources Conservation Service

6200 Jefferson NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109

**Phone**: (505) 761-4400 **Fax**: (505) 761-4402

**Web site**: [www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov]{.underline}
[\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_]{.underline}

November 12, 2023

WATER QUALITY TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 12

SUBJECT: WATER QUALITY -- HOW TO DETERMINE SUITABILITY FOR VARIOUS USES

[Purpose]{.underline}. To distribute published information on water
quality.

[Effective Date]{.underline}. Effective when received.

[Explanation]{.underline}. This note presents a compilation of
previously published information that explains how water quality
parameters constrain potential uses. This will update information
previously provided in Environmental Technical Note No. 3.

ROSENDO TREVINO

State Conservationist

CONTENTS

  ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------
  [Subject]{.underline}                                        [Page]{.underline}

  Water Quality Parameters and Their Significance              1-13

  Water for Human Consumption and Use                          14-15

  Water for Livestock and Poultry                              16-18

  Water for Irrigation                                         19-21

  Water for Aquaculture                                        22-23
  ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

+--------+-------+----------+--------+----+--------+---------+------+
| *      | **S   | **SIGNIF | **CON  | ** | **A    | **      | **R  |
| *CONST | OURCE | ICANCE** | CENTRA | LI | DVERSE | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| ITUENT | OF    |          | TIONOF | MI | EFF    | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR     | CA    |          | NORMAL | TS | ECTS** | RATIONS |      |
| PH     | USE** |          | OCCURR | OF |        | MAY     |      |
| YSICAL |       |          | ENCE** | U  |        | IND     |      |
| PROP   |       |          |        | SE |        | ICATE** |      |
| ERTY** |       |          |        | ** |        |         |      |
+--------+-------+----------+--------+----+--------+---------+------+
| Alka   | F     | Al       | 50 to  |    | O      |         |      |
| linity | ormed | kalinity | 400    |    | bjecti |         |      |
| (as    | by    | is an    | mg/L   |    | onable |         |      |
| CaC03) | the   | i        |        |    | taste. |         |      |
|        | pre   | ndicator | A      |    |        |         |      |
|        | sence | of the   | range  |    | If the |         |      |
|        | of    | relative | of 100 |    | alka   |         |      |
|        | ce    | amounts  | to 250 |    | linity |         |      |
|        | rtain | of       | ppm    |    | of     |         |      |
|        | a     | ca       | for    |    | water  |         |      |
|        | nions | rbonate, | stream |    | is too |         |      |
|        | in    | bica     | water  |    | high,  |         |      |
|        | solu  | rbonate, | is     |    | the    |         |      |
|        | tion. | pho      | cons   |    | water  |         |      |
|        | Ce    | sphates, | idered |    | can be |         |      |
|        | rtain | and      | n      |    | c      |         |      |
|        | or    | hy       | ormal. |    | loudy, |         |      |
|        | ganic | droxide. |        |    | which  |         |      |
|        | mate  | Al       |        |    | in     |         |      |
|        | rials | kalinity |        |    | hibits |         |      |
|        | may   | is a     |        |    | the    |         |      |
|        | also  | measure  |        |    | growth |         |      |
|        | pr    | of the   |        |    | of     |         |      |
|        | oduce | b        |        |    | unde   |         |      |
|        | a     | uffering |        |    | rwater |         |      |
|        | lkali | capacity |        |    | p      |         |      |
|        | nity. | of water |        |    | lants. |         |      |
|        |       | to pH    |        |    | Too    |         |      |
|        |       | changes  |        |    | high   |         |      |
|        |       | and to   |        |    | alka   |         |      |
|        |       | the      |        |    | linity |         |      |
|        |       | toxicity |        |    | raises |         |      |
|        |       | of some  |        |    | the pH |         |      |
|        |       | heavy    |        |    | level, |         |      |
|        |       | metals.  |        |    | which  |         |      |
|        |       |          |        |    | in     |         |      |
|        |       | If the   |        |    | turn   |         |      |
|        |       | al       |        |    | harms  |         |      |
|        |       | kalinity |        |    | or     |         |      |
|        |       | of water |        |    | kills  |         |      |
|        |       | is too   |        |    | fish   |         |      |
|        |       | high,    |        |    | and    |         |      |
|        |       | the      |        |    | other  |         |      |
|        |       | water    |        |    | river  |         |      |
|        |       | can be   |        |    | orga   |         |      |
|        |       | cloudy,  |        |    | nisms. |         |      |
|        |       | which    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | inhibits |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | the      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | growth   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | of       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | un       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | derwater |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | plants.  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | Too high |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | al       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | kalinity |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | raises   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | the pH   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | level,   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | which in |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | turn     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | harms or |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | kills    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | fish and |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | other    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | aquatic  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | or       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | ganisms. |        |    |        |         |      |
+--------+-------+----------+--------+----+--------+---------+------+
| Bicar  | A     | Rela     |        | 5  |        |         |      |
| bonate | ction | tionship |        | 00 |        |         |      |
| (HC03) | of    | between  |        | m  |        |         |      |
| and    | c     | bic      |        | g/ |        |         |      |
| Car    | arbon | arbonate |        | L^ |        |         |      |
| bonate | di    | and      |        | 4^ |        |         |      |
| (C03)  | oxide | c        |        | b  |        |         |      |
| (alkal | in    | arbonate |        | ic |        |         |      |
| inity) | water | is pH    |        | ar |        |         |      |
|        | on    | related. |        | bo |        |         |      |
|        | carb  |          |        | na |        |         |      |
|        | onate | Bic      |        | te |        |         |      |
|        | rocks | arbonate |        | f  |        |         |      |
|        | such  | and      |        | or |        |         |      |
|        | as    | c        |        | li |        |         |      |
|        | lime  | arbonate |        | ve |        |         |      |
|        | stone | produce  |        | st |        |         |      |
|        | and   | alk      |        | oc |        |         |      |
|        | dolo  | alinity. |        | k. |        |         |      |
|        | mite, | Bica     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | oxid  | rbonates |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | ation | of       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | of    | calcium  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | or    | and      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | ganic | m        |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | ca    | agnesium |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | rbon. | in steam |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | boilers  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | and some |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | ge       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | othermal |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | water    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | fa       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | cilities |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | form     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | scale    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | and      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | release  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | carbon   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | dioxide  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | gas. Low |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | salt     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | water    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | that is  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | high in  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | bica     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | rbonates |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | may      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | present  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | a        |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | perm     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | eability |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | hazard   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | even at  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | low      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | sodium   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | ad       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | sorption |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | ratios.  |        |    |        |         |      |
+--------+-------+----------+--------+----+--------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

  --------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------- ----------- ---------------- ---------------
  **CONSTITUENT   **SOURCE OF  **SIGNIFICANCE**   **CONCENTRATIONOF   **LIMITS OF   **ADVERSE   **UNUSUAL        **REMARKS**
  OR PHYSICAL     CAUSE**                         NORMAL OCCURRENCE** USE**         EFFECTS**   CONCENTRATIONS   
  PROPERTY**                                                                                    MAY INDICATE**   

  Boron (B)       Dissolved    Boron is essential                     750 ug/L for  Toxic       Weathering of    
                  from rocks   to plant growth,                       long term     effect on   boron-bearing    
                  and soils.   but is exceedingly                     irrigation.   sensitive   rocks.           
                  Present in   toxic at                                             crops.                       
                  municipal    concentrations                                                                    
                  sludges.     only slightly                                                                     
                               above optimum. The                                                                
                               optimum                                                                           
                               concentration                                                                     
                               varies with each                                                                  
                               plant type and                                                                    
                               ranges from                                                                       
                               approximately 0.3                                                                 
                               mg/1 to 0.4 mg/1.                                                                 
                               What is optimum                                                                   
                               for one plant type                                                                
                               may be toxic to                                                                   
                               another.                                                                          

  Calcium (Ca)    Dissolved    Causes most of the 10 to several       500 mg/L^4^   Buildup of                   Contributes to
  and Magnesium   from almost  hardness and       hundred mg/L        Ca and 250    scale                        the hardness of
  (Mg)            all soils    scale-forming                          mg/L^4^ Mg    within                       water. May
                  and rocks,   properties of                          for livestock plumbing.                    buffer the
                  but          water:                                                                            impact of
                  especially   soap-consuming.                                                                   sodium ion on
                  from         (See hardness.)                                                                   soil
                  limestone,   Calcium reduces                                                                   permeability.
                  dolomite,    the toxicity of                                                                   
                  and gypsum.  many chemical                                                                     
                  Calcium and  compounds to fish                                                                 
                  magnesium    and other aquatic                                                                 
                  are found in fauna and may be                                                                  
                  large        necessary in their                                                                
                  quantities   excretory process.                                                                
                  in some      Usually has no                                                                    
                  brines.      effect on                                                                         
                  Magnesium is suitability of                                                                    
                  present in   water for                                                                         
                  large        irrigation.                                                                       
                  quantities                                                                                     
                  in sea water                                                                                   
  --------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------- ----------- ---------------- ---------------

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

+--------+-------+----------+--------+----+--------+---------+------+
| *      | **S   | **SIGNIF | **CON  | ** | **A    | **      | **R  |
| *CONST | OURCE | ICANCE** | CENTRA | LI | DVERSE | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| ITUENT | OF    |          | TIONOF | MI | EFF    | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR     | CA    |          | NORMAL | TS | ECTS** | RATIONS |      |
| PH     | USE** |          | OCCURR | OF |        | MAY     |      |
| YSICAL |       |          | ENCE** | U  |        | IND     |      |
| PROP   |       |          |        | SE |        | ICATE** |      |
| ERTY** |       |          |        | ** |        |         |      |
+--------+-------+----------+--------+----+--------+---------+------+
| Ch     | Diss  | Chloride | 45-150 | 2  | Salty  | Po      | Chlo |
| loride | olved | salts in | mg/L   | 50 | taste  | llution | ride |
| (C1)   | from  | excess   | for    | m  | in     | by      | is   |
|        | rocks | of 100   | s      | g/ | co     | organic | not  |
|        | and   | mg/1     | treams | L^ | ncentr | wastes. | rem  |
|        | s     | give     | and    | 1^ | ations |         | oved |
|        | oils. | salty    | 35-125 |    | g      |         | by   |
|        | Pr    | taste to | mg/L   | f  | reater |         | so   |
|        | esent | water.   | for    | or | than   |         | ils; |
|        | in    | When     | ground | dr | 250 to |         | good |
|        | s     | combined | water. | in | 400    |         | i    |
|        | ewage | with     |        | ki | mg/L.  |         | ndic |
|        | and   | calcium  |        | ng |        |         | ator |
|        | found | and      |        | wa |        |         | of   |
|        | in    | ma       |        | te |        |         | poss |
|        | large | gnesium, |        | r; |        |         | ible |
|        | am    | may      |        | 15 |        |         | po   |
|        | ounts | increase |        | 00 |        |         | llut |
|        | in    | the      |        | m  |        |         | ion. |
|        | an    | c        |        | g/ |        |         |      |
|        | cient | orrosive |        | L^ |        |         |      |
|        | br    | activity |        | 4^ |        |         |      |
|        | ines, | of       |        | f  |        |         |      |
|        | sea   | water.   |        | or |        |         |      |
|        | w     | It is    |        | l  |        |         |      |
|        | ater, | rec      |        | iv |        |         |      |
|        | and   | ommended |        | es |        |         |      |
|        | indus | that     |        | to |        |         |      |
|        | trial | chloride |        | ck |        |         |      |
|        | b     | content  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        | rines | should   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | not      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | exceed   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | 250      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | mg/1.    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | Most     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | tree     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | crops    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | and      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | other    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | woody    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | p        |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | erennial |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | plants   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | are      |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | s        |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | ensitive |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | to low   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | concen   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | trations |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | of       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | c        |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | hloride. |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | Most     |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | annual   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | crops    |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | are not  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | so       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | se       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | nsitive; |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | however, |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | they may |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | be       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | affected |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | by       |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | higher   |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | concent  |        |    |        |         |      |
|        |       | rations. |        |    |        |         |      |
+--------+-------+----------+--------+----+--------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

<table>
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 13%" />
<col style="width: 11%" />
<col style="width: 16%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 12%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 14%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td><strong>CONSTITUENT OR PHYSICAL PROPERTY</strong></td>
<td><strong>SOURCE OF CAUSE</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>SIGNIFICANCE</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>CONCENTRATIONOF NORMAL OCCURRENCE</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>LIMITS OF USE</strong></td>
<td><strong>ADVERSE EFFECTS</strong></td>
<td><strong>UNUSUAL CONCENTRATIONS MAY INDICATE</strong></td>
<td><strong>REMARKS</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><p>Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)</p>
<p>(filterable residue):</p></td>
<td>Chiefly mineral constituents dissolved from rocks and soils.
Includes all materials that is in solution in the water.</td>
<td><p>Water with dissolved solids exceeding 1000 mg/1 is generally
unacceptable for most uses. However, water with concentrations exceeding
1000 mg/1 have been used for drinking and livestock water when no other
supply was available.</p>
<p>“Dissolved solids” and “salinity” sometimes are used interchangeably,
but incorrectly. The total dissolved solids in water are represented by
the weight of residue left when a water sample has been evaporated to
dryness, the sample having already been filtered to remove suspended
solids. This value is not the same as salinity, which is the
concentration of only certain cations and anions in water.</p></td>
<td colspan="2">20 to 2,000 mg/L in streams and may be higher in
groundwater.</td>
<td colspan="2">500 mg/L<sup>1</sup></td>
<td colspan="2">.</td>
<td>Excess salinity</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Fecal coliform</td>
<td>All warm-blooded animal (including human) excrement.</td>
<td>Fecal coliform bacteria serve as an <u>indicator organism</u> to
show that pathogenic organisms may also be present. Limits are
recommended to minimize transmission of communicable diseases.</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"><p>0 colonies/</p>
<p>100 ml water for drinking water<sup>1</sup></p></td>
<td colspan="2">Limits water use for primary water contact
recreation.</td>
<td>Contamination from humans and/or animal wastes.</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| *      | **S   | **SIGNI   | **CON  | **  | *    | **      | **R  |
| *CONST | OURCE | FICANCE** | CENTRA | LIM | *ADV | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| ITUENT | OF    |           | TIONOF | ITS | ERSE | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR     | CA    |           | NORMAL | OF  | E    | RATIONS |      |
| PH     | USE** |           | OCCURR | US  | FFEC | MAY     |      |
| YSICAL |       |           | ENCE** | E** | TS** | IND     |      |
| PROP   |       |           |        |     |      | ICATE** |      |
| ERTY** |       |           |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Fl     | Diss  | Fluoride  | 0.10   | 1.8 | De   | Thermal |      |
| uoride | olved | in        | to 10  | m   | ntal | waters. |      |
| (F)    | in    | drinking  | mg/L   | g/L | fl   |         |      |
|        | small | water     |        | ^2^ | uoro |         |      |
|        | to    | reduces   |        | at  | sis. |         |      |
|        | m     | the       |        | a   |      |         |      |
|        | inute | incidence |        | ver |      |         |      |
|        | quant | of tooth  |        | age |      |         |      |
|        | ities | decay in  |        | m   |      |         |      |
|        | from  | children  |        | axi |      |         |      |
|        | most  | when the  |        | mum |      |         |      |
|        | rocks | water is  |        | da  |      |         |      |
|        | and   | consumed  |        | ily |      |         |      |
|        | s     | during    |        | te  |      |         |      |
|        | oils. | the       |        | mpe |      |         |      |
|        | Most  | period of |        | rat |      |         |      |
|        | hot   | enamel    |        | ure |      |         |      |
|        | and   | calci     |        | of  |      |         |      |
|        | warm  | fication, |        | 69. |      |         |      |
|        | sp    | but it    |        | 1^o |      |         |      |
|        | rings | may cause |        | \_^ |      |         |      |
|        | co    | mottling  |        | F   |      |         |      |
|        | ntain | of the    |        | for |      |         |      |
|        | more  | teeth,    |        | dri |      |         |      |
|        | than  | depending |        | nki |      |         |      |
|        | the   | on the    |        | ng. |      |         |      |
|        | r     | conc      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ecomm | entration |        | 1   |      |         |      |
|        | ended | of        |        | m   |      |         |      |
|        | con   | fluoride, |        | g/L |      |         |      |
|        | centr | the age   |        | ^4^ |      |         |      |
|        | ation | of the    |        | for |      |         |      |
|        | of    | child,    |        | l   |      |         |      |
|        | fluo  | the       |        | ive |      |         |      |
|        | ride. | amount of |        | sto |      |         |      |
|        |       | drinking  |        | ck. |      |         |      |
|        |       | water     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | consumed, |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | and the   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | susce     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | ptibility |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | of the    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | in        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | dividual. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | 0.8 to    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | 1.7 mg/1  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | is        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | optimum,  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | depending |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | upon the  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | air       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | tem       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | perature. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | Fluoride  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | on plant  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | surfaces  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | can be    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | harmful   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | to plants |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | and       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | grazing   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | animals.  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | Fluoride  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | in the    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | soil is   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | generally |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | not       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | harmful.  |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Ha     | In    | Hard      | 50 to  |     | Soap |         |      |
| rdness | most  | water     | 500    |     | will |         |      |
| as     | water | consumes  | mg/L   |     | not  |         |      |
| C      | n     | soap      |        |     | pro  |         |      |
| aCO~3~ | early | before a  |        |     | duce |         |      |
|        | all   | lather    |        |     | lat  |         |      |
|        | the   | will      |        |     | her; |         |      |
|        | har   | form,     |        |     | f    |         |      |
|        | dness | deposits  |        |     | orms |         |      |
|        | is    | soap curd |        |     | s    |         |      |
|        | due   | on bath   |        |     | cale |         |      |
|        | to    | tubs, and |        |     | when |         |      |
|        | ca    | forms     |        |     | hea  |         |      |
|        | lcium | scale in  |        |     | ted. |         |      |
|        | and   | boilers,  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | magne | water     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | sium. | heaters,  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | All   | and       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | the   | pipes.    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | met   | (For      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | allic | fish, the |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ca    | threshold |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | tions | of        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | be    | r         |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | sides | esistance |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | the   | to        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | a     | several   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | lkali | toxins    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | m     | increases |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | etals | con       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | also  | siderably |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | cause | as water  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | hard  | becomes   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ness. | harder).  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | Hardness  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | e         |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | quivalent |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | to the    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | bi        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | carbonate |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | and       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | carbonate |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | is called |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | carbonate |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | hardness. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | Any       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | hardness  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | in excess |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | of this   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | is called |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | non       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | carbonate |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | hardness. |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| *      | **S   | **SIGNI   | **CON  | **  | *    | **      | **R  |
| *CONST | OURCE | FICANCE** | CENTRA | LIM | *ADV | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| ITUENT | OF    |           | TIONOF | ITS | ERSE | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR     | CA    |           | NORMAL | OF  | E    | RATIONS |      |
| PH     | USE** |           | OCCURR | US  | FFEC | MAY     |      |
| YSICAL |       |           | ENCE** | E** | TS** | IND     |      |
| PROP   |       |           |        |     |      | ICATE** |      |
| ERTY** |       |           |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Hy     | Na    | Causes    |        |     | Ae   |         |      |
| drogen | tural | obje      |        |     | sthe |         |      |
| s      | dec   | ctionable |        |     | tics |         |      |
| ulfide | ompos | odor when |        |     |      |         |      |
| (      | ition | in        |        |     |      |         |      |
| H~2~S) | of    | conc      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | or    | entration |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ganic | above 1   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | mat   | mg/ 1 and |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | erial | taste     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | under | when in   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | anae  | excess of |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | robic | .05 mg/1. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | condi | Can be a  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | tions | long-term |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | and   | hazard to |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | from  | most fish |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | the   | and other |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | redu  | aquatic   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ction | wildlife. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | of    | Ac        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | sulf  | cumulates |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ates. | at the    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | bottom of |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | ponds and |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | is a      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | common    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | cause of  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | partial   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | and total |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | win       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | terkills. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | Also      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | present   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | in some   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | g         |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | eothermal |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | wells and |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | springs,  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | but will  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | readily   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | escape    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | during    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | aeration. |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Hydrog | A     | The pH is | 5 to 9 | 6   | W    | pH      | pH   |
| en-ion | cids, | a measure | pH     | .5- | ater | values  | u    |
| ac     | acid- | of the    | units  | 8.5 | c    | below 4 | nits |
| tivity | gener | activity  |        | un  | orro | units   |      |
| (pH)   | ating | of the    |        | its | sive | i       | [0   |
|        | s     | hydrogen  |        |     | if   | ndicate | 14]  |
|        | alts, | ions. A   |        |     | too  | acid    | {.un |
|        | and   | pH of 7.0 |        |     | high | mineral | derl |
|        | free  | indicates |        |     | or   | wastes. | ine} |
|        | c     | n         |        |     | too  |         |      |
|        | arbon | eutrality |        |     | low. |         | Acid |
|        | di    | of a      |        |     |      |         | Alka |
|        | oxide | solution. |        |     |      |         | line |
|        | lower | Values    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | pH.   | lower     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | C     | than 7.0  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | arbon | denote    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ates, | i         |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | bic   | ncreasing |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | arbon | acidity.  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ates, | Corr      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | h     | osiveness |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ydrox | of water  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ides, | generally |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | and   | increases |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | p     | with      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | hosph | d         |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ates, | ecreasing |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | silic | pH, but   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ates, | high      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | and   | alkaline  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | bo    | waters    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | rates | may also  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | raise | attack    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | the   | metals.   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | pH.   | Waters of |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | low or    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | high can  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | be        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | de        |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | trimental |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | to fish   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | and other |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | aquatic   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | life as   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | well as   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | for       |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | animal    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | drinking  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | water. A  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | pH range  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | between   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | 6.0 and   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | 8.5 is    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | a         |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | cceptable |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | and is    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | normal    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | for most  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |       | waters.   |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+-------+-----------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

  --------------- ------------ ------------------- ------------------- ---------- --------------- ---------------- -------------
  **CONSTITUENT   **SOURCE OF  **SIGNIFICANCE**    **CONCENTRATIONOF   **LIMITS   **ADVERSE       **UNUSUAL        **REMARKS**
  OR PHYSICAL     CAUSE**                          NORMAL OCCURRENCE** OF USE**   EFFECTS**       CONCENTRATIONS   
  PROPERTY**                                                                                      MAY INDICATE**   

  Iron (Fe)       Dissolved    On exposure to air, 0.01 to 10 mg/L     0.3        Objectionable   Iron-bearing     
                  from almost  iron in ground                          mg/L^1^    taste and       minerals.        
                  all rocks    water oxidizes to                                  staining.                        
                  and soils.   reddish-brown                                                                       
                  May also be  sediment. More than                                                                 
                  derived from about 0.3 mg/1                                                                      
                  iron pipes,  stains laundry and                                                                  
                  pumps, and   utensils reddish                                                                    
                  other        brown.                                                                              
                  equipment.   Objectionable for                                                                   
                  Mine         food processing,                                                                    
                  drainage.    beverages, dyeing,                                                                  
                               bleaching, ice                                                                      
                               manufacture, and                                                                    
                               other processes.                                                                    
                               Iron and manganese                                                                  
                               together should not                                                                 
                               exceed 0.3 mg/1.                                                                    
                               Larger quantities                                                                   
                               cause unpleasant                                                                    
                               taste and favor                                                                     
                               growth of iron                                                                      
                               bacteria, but do                                                                    
                               not endanger                                                                        
                               health. Excessive                                                                   
                               iron may also                                                                       
                               interfere with the                                                                  
                               efficient operation                                                                 
                               of                                                                                  
                               exchange-silicate                                                                   
                               water softeners.                                                                    
                               Iron may be removed                                                                 
                               from water by                                                                       
                               aeration of the                                                                     
                               water, followed by                                                                  
                               settling of                                                                         
                               filtration. High                                                                    
                               concentrations                                                                      
                               cannot be                                                                           
                               economically                                                                        
                               removed from water                                                                  
                               supply. Toxic to                                                                    
                               fresh --water                                                                       
                               aquatic life above                                                                  
                               1 mg/1. Will cause                                                                  
                               problems with                                                                       
                               uptake of oxygen                                                                    
                               through fish gills                                                                  
                               at concentrations                                                                   
                               more than 0.3 mg/1.                                                                 
  --------------- ------------ ------------------- ------------------- ---------- --------------- ---------------- -------------

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

+--------+---------+--------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| *      | *       | **SI   | **CON  | **  | *    | **      | **R  |
| *CONST | *SOURCE | GNIFIC | CENTRA | LIM | *ADV | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| ITUENT | OF      | ANCE** | TIONOF | ITS | ERSE | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR     | CAUSE** |        | NORMAL | OF  | E    | RATIONS |      |
| PH     |         |        | OCCURR | US  | FFEC | MAY     |      |
| YSICAL |         |        | ENCE** | E** | TS** | IND     |      |
| PROP   |         |        |        |     |      | ICATE** |      |
| ERTY** |         |        |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+---------+--------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Ad     | The     | High   |        |     | High |         | So   |
| justed | a       | sodium |        |     | va   |         | dium |
| Sodium | djusted | c      |        |     | lues |         | repl |
| Abso   | SAR is  | oncent |        |     | indi |         | aces |
| rption | defined | ration |        |     | cate |         | cal  |
| Ratio  | by the  | co     |        |     | loss |         | cium |
| (SAR)  | eq      | mbined |        |     | of   |         | and  |
|        | uation: | with   |        |     | soil |         | m    |
|        |         | low    |        |     | p    |         | agne |
|        | SAR =   | al     |        |     | erme |         | sium |
|        | Na/     | kaline |        |     | abil |         | on   |
|        |         | earth  |        |     | ity. |         | soil |
|        | (       | e      |        |     |      |         | pa   |
|        | (       | lement |        |     |      |         | rtic |
|        | Ca+Mg)/ | co     |        |     |      |         | les. |
|        | 2)^1/2^ | ncentr |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | ations |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | { 1     | (lime) |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | +(8.4   | u      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | --pHc)  | sually |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | }       | r      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | educes |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | where   | soil   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | the     | tilth  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | concent | and    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | rations | a      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | are     | ffects |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | ex      | plant  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | pressed | g      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | in      | rowth. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | mi      | It is  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | lliequi | a      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | valents | pred   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | per     | iction |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | liter   | of the |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | (       | cation |        |     |      |         |      |
|        | Meq/1). | ex     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | change |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | of     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | water  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | and    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | soil   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | ions.  |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+---------+--------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Sp     | Di      | Sp     | 50 to  |     |      |         | Ea   |
| ecific | ssolved | ecific | 1,000  |     |      |         | sily |
| condu  | m       | condu  | um     |     |      |         | meas |
| ctance | inerals | ctance | hos/cm |     |      |         | ured |
| (Sp.   | in the  | is a   |        |     |      |         | in   |
| Cond.) | water.  | measu  |        |     |      |         | the  |
|        |         | rement |        |     |      |         | fi   |
| Som    |         | of the |        |     |      |         | eld* |
| etimes |         | w      |        |     |      |         | *.** |
| re     |         | ater's |        |     |      |         |      |
| ported |         | ca     |        |     |      |         |      |
| as     |         | pacity |        |     |      |         |      |
| E.C.,  |         | to     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | c      |        |     |      |         |      |
| Sp~3~  |         | onduct |        |     |      |         |      |
| Cond.  |         | an     |        |     |      |         |      |
| = E.C. |         | el     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | ectric |        |     |      |         |      |
| X 103  |         | c      |        |     |      |         |      |
| @      |         | urrent |        |     |      |         |      |
| 2      |         | and is |        |     |      |         |      |
| 5^o^C. |         | an     |        |     |      |         |      |
| or     |         | in     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | direct |        |     |      |         |      |
| mhos x |         | a      |        |     |      |         |      |
| 10-6 @ |         | pproxi |        |     |      |         |      |
| 2      |         | mation |        |     |      |         |      |
| 5^o^C. |         | of the |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | total  |        |     |      |         |      |
| or     |         | dis    |        |     |      |         |      |
| umhos  |         | solved |        |     |      |         |      |
| @      |         | s      |        |     |      |         |      |
| 2      |         | olids. |        |     |      |         |      |
| 5^o^C. |         | This   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | varies |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | with   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | tempe  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | rature |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | and    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | the    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | degree |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | of     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | ioni   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | zation |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | of the |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | c      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | onstit |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | uents. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | When   |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | me     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | asured |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | in     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | mic    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | romhos |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | per    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | centi  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | meter, |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | it is  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | gen    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | erally |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | 1.0 to |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | 1.5    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | times  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | the    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | total  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | dis    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | solved |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | solids |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | co     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | ntent. |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | The    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | relati |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | onship |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | b      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | etween |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | conduc |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | tivity |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | and    |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | TDS is |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | u      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | sually |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | a      |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | co     |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | nstant |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | for a  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | given  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | water  |        |     |      |         |      |
|        |         | body.  |        |     |      |         |      |
+--------+---------+--------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| **C   | *       | **      | **CON  | **  | *    | **      | **R  |
| ONSTI | *SOURCE | SIGNIFI | CENTRA | LIM | *ADV | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| TUENT | OF      | CANCE** | TIONOF | ITS | ERSE | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR    | CAUSE** |         | NORMAL | OF  | E    | RATIONS |      |
| PHY   |         |         | OCCURR | US  | FFEC | MAY     |      |
| SICAL |         |         | ENCE** | E** | TS** | IND     |      |
| PROPE |         |         |        |     |      | ICATE** |      |
| RTY** |         |         |        |     |      |         |      |
+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Su    | Di      | Sulfate | 1 to   | 250 | C    | Asso    | Dome |
| lfate | ssolved | in      | 100    | m   | atha | ciation | stic |
| (S    | from    | water   | mg/L   | g/L | rtic | with    | wa   |
| O~4~) | rocks   | con     |        | ^1^ | ef   |         | ters |
|       | and     | taining |        | for | fect | sedi    |      |
|       | soils   | calcium |        | dri | on   | mentary |      |
|       | con     | forms   |        | nki | hum  | rocks.  |      |
|       | taining | hard    |        | ng. | ans. |         |      |
|       | gypsum, | scale   |        |     |      | 500     |      |
|       | iron    | in      |        | 500 |      | mg/1.   |      |
|       | su      | steam   |        | m   |      |         |      |
|       | lfides, | b       |        | g/L |      |         |      |
|       | and     | oilers. |        | ^4^ |      |         |      |
|       | other   | In      |        | for |      |         |      |
|       | sulfur  | large   |        | l   |      |         |      |
|       | com     | a       |        | ive |      |         |      |
|       | pounds. | mounts, |        | sto |      |         |      |
|       | Usually | sulfate |        | ck. |      |         |      |
|       | present | in      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | in      | comb    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | ind     | ination |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | ustrial | with    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | wastes. | other   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ions    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | gives   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | bitter  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | taste   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | to      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | water.  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | Concent |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rations |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | above   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | 250     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | mg/1    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | may     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | have a  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | l       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | axative |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | effect, |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | but is  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | con     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sidered |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | safe up |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | to 500  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | mg/1.   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | D       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | omestic |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | waters  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | con     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | taining |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | as much |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | as      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | 1,000   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | mg/1    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sulfate |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | are     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | used    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | for     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | d       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rinking |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | in the  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | absence |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | of a    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | less    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | mine    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ralized |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | water   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | supply. |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | High    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sulfate |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | concent |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rations |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | may     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | limit   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | use of  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | water   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | for     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | irr     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | igation |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | on some |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | soils.  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | High    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | concent |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rations |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | are     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | to      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | lerated |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | by      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | liv     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | estock. |        |     |      |         |      |
+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Mang  | Di      | Same    |        | 0   | St   |         |      |
| anese | ssolved | object  |        | .05 | ains |         |      |
| (Mn)  | from    | ionable |        | m   | laun |         |      |
|       | some    | f       |        | g/L | dry; |         |      |
|       | rocks   | eatures |        | ^1^ | o    |         |      |
|       | and     | as      |        |     | bjec |         |      |
|       | soils.  | iron.   |        |     | tion |         |      |
|       | Not as  | Causes  |        |     | able |         |      |
|       | common  | dar     |        |     | ta   |         |      |
|       | as      | k-brown |        |     | ste* |         |      |
|       | iron.   | or      |        |     | *.** |         |      |
|       | Large   | black   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | qua     | stain.  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | ntities | Iron    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | often   | and     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | ass     | ma      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | ociated | nganese |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | with    | t       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | high    | ogether |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | iron    | should  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | content | not     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | and     | exceed  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | with    | 0.3     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | acid    | mg/1    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       | waters  | for     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | taste   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | and     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ae      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sthetic |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | r       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | easons. |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | Higher  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | concent |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rations |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | do not  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | e       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ndanger |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | health  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | and can |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | be used |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | if      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | object  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ionable |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | f       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | eatures |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | are     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | tol     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | erated. |        |     |      |         |      |
+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| **C   | *       | **      | **CON  | **  | *    | **      | **R  |
| ONSTI | *SOURCE | SIGNIFI | CENTRA | LIM | *ADV | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| TUENT | OF      | CANCE** | TIONOF | ITS | ERSE | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR    | CAUSE** |         | NORMAL | OF  | E    | RATIONS |      |
| PHY   |         |         | OCCURR | US  | FFEC | MAY     |      |
| SICAL |         |         | ENCE** | E** | TS** | IND     |      |
| PROPE |         |         |        |     |      | ICATE** |      |
| RTY** |         |         |        |     |      |         |      |
+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| Ni    | D       | Concent | 0.10   | 10  | Inf  | Organic | E    |
| trate | ecaying | rations | to 10  | m   | ants | wastes  | xces |
| (NO   | organic | much    | mg/L   | g/L | may  | or      | sive |
| ~3~), | matter, | greater |        | ^3^ | dev  | ex      | co   |
|       | sewage, | than    |        | for | elop | cessive | ncen |
| Rep   | n       | the     |        | do  | t    | fert    | trat |
| orted | itrates | local   |        | mes | empo | ilizati | ions |
| as N, | in      | average |        | tic | rary | on**.** | may  |
| may   | soil,   | may     |        | use | b    |         | indi |
| also  | and     | suggest |        |     | lood |         | cate |
| be    | c       | pol     |        |     | di   |         | poss |
| wr    | hemical | lution. |        |     | sord |         | ible |
| itten | ferti   | High    |        |     | ers; |         | org  |
| NO~3  | lizers. | concent |        |     | may  |         | anic |
| ~-N). |         | rations |        |     | c    |         | po   |
| Often |         | are     |        |     | ause |         | llut |
| inc   |         | ge      |        |     | e    |         | ion. |
| ludes |         | nerally |        |     | xces |         |      |
| ni    |         | a       |        |     | sive |         |      |
| trite |         | charact |        |     | a    |         |      |
| (N    |         | eristic |        |     | lgae |         |      |
| O~2~) |         | of      |        |     | gro  |         |      |
| then  |         | ind     |        |     | wth. |         |      |
| rep   |         | ividual |        |     |      |         |      |
| orted |         | wells   |        |     |      |         |      |
| as    |         | and not |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | of      |        |     |      |         |      |
| NO    |         | whole   |        |     |      |         |      |
| ~3~ + |         | aq      |        |     |      |         |      |
| NO~2~ |         | uifers. |        |     |      |         |      |
| as N. |         | Nitrate |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | concent |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rations |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | in      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | unp     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | olluted |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | water   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | seldom  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | exceed  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | 10 mg/1 |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | as N.   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | Nitrate |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | enc     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ourages |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | growth  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | of      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | algae   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | and     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | other   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | org     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | anisms, |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | which   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | produce |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | unde    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sirable |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | tastes  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | and     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | odors.  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | There   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | is      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | e       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | vidence |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | that    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | more    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | than    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | about   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | 10 mg/1 |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | as N    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | may     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | cause a |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | type of |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | met     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | hemoglo |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | binemia |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ("blue  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | b       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | abies") |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | in      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | infants |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | which   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | may be  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | fatal.  |        |     |      |         |      |
+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| **C   | *       | **      | **CON  | **  | *    | **      | **R  |
| ONSTI | *SOURCE | SIGNIFI | CENTRA | LIM | *ADV | UNUSUAL | EMAR |
| TUENT | OF      | CANCE** | TIONOF | ITS | ERSE | CONCENT | KS** |
| OR    | CAUSE** |         | NORMAL | OF  | E    | RATIONS |      |
| PHY   |         |         | OCCURR | US  | FFEC | MAY     |      |
| SICAL |         |         | ENCE** | E** | TS** | IND     |      |
| PROPE |         |         |        |     |      | ICATE** |      |
| RTY** |         |         |        |     |      |         |      |
+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+
| S     | Di      | Large   | Sodium | 20  | Loss | Ind     | D    |
| odium | ssolved | amounts | 0.01   | m   | of   | ustrial | isso |
| Na)   | from    | give a  | to 10  | g/1 | p    | wastes. | lved |
| and   | almost  | salty   | mg/1   |     | erme |         | from |
| Pota  | all     | taste   |        | 250 | abil |         | pra  |
| ssium | rocks   | when    | Pot    | m   | ity. |         | ctic |
| (K)   | and     | c       | assium | g/1 |      |         | ally |
|       | soils.  | ombined | 1-200  |     |      |         | all  |
|       | Found   | with    | mg/1   |     |      |         | r    |
|       | also in | ch      |        |     |      |         | ocks |
|       | ancient | loride. |        |     |      |         | and  |
|       | brines, | M       |        |     |      |         | so   |
|       | some    | oderate |        |     |      |         | ils. |
|       | ind     | qua     |        |     |      |         | F    |
|       | ustrial | ntities |        |     |      |         | ound |
|       | brines, | have    |        |     |      |         | in   |
|       | sea     | little  |        |     |      |         | in   |
|       | water,  | effect  |        |     |      |         | dust |
|       | and     | on the  |        |     |      |         | rial |
|       | sewage. | use     |        |     |      |         | wa   |
|       |         | fulness |        |     |      |         | stes |
|       |         | of      |        |     |      |         | and  |
|       |         | water   |        |     |      |         | se   |
|       |         | for     |        |     |      |         | wage |
|       |         | most    |        |     |      |         | and  |
|       |         | pu      |        |     |      |         | co   |
|       |         | rposes. |        |     |      |         | mmer |
|       |         | Sodium  |        |     |      |         | cial |
|       |         | salts   |        |     |      |         | fert |
|       |         | may     |        |     |      |         | iliz |
|       |         | cause   |        |     |      |         | ers. |
|       |         | foaming |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | in      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | steam   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | b       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | oilers, |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | and a   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | high    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sodium  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ads     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | orption |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ratio   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | may     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | limit   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | the use |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | of      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | water   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | for     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | irri    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | gation. |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | Most    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | tree    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | crops   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | and     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | other   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | woody   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | pe      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rennial |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | plants  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | are     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | se      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | nsitive |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | to low  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | concent |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rations |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | of      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sodium. |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | Most    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | annual  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | crops   |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | are not |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | so      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sen     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sitive; |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | h       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | owever, |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | they    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | may be  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | a       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ffected |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | by      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | higher  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | c       |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | oncentr |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ations. |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | Sodium  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | concent |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | rations |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | greater |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | than    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | 270     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | mg/1    |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | may be  |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | harmful |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | to      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | persons |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | on      |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | sod     |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | ium-res |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | tricted |        |     |      |         |      |
|       |         | diets.  |        |     |      |         |      |
+-------+---------+---------+--------+-----+------+---------+------+

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

  --------------- ---------------- ------------------ ------------------- ---------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------
  **CONSTITUENT   **SOURCE OF      **SIGNIFICANCE**   **CONCENTRATIONOF   **LIMITS   **ADVERSE       **UNUSUAL        **REMARKS**
  OR PHYSICAL     CAUSE**                             NORMAL OCCURRENCE** OF USE**   EFFECTS**       CONCENTRATIONS   
  PROPERTY**                                                                                         MAY INDICATE**   

  Dissolved       Photosynthesis   Required to                            5 mg/L     Loss of aquatic Low              Needed to avoid
  Oxygen (DO)     or contact with  sustain aquatic                                   growth and      concentrations   septic
                  the atmosphere.  life.                                             reproduction.   may indicate     conditions in
                                                                                                     pollution.       streams.
                                                                                                                      Subject to
                                                                                                                      diurnal
                                                                                                                      fluctuations.

  Total           Decaying organic Plant nutrient.                        25 ug/L^3^ Excessive algae Organic          
  Phosphorus as   matter, sewage,                                         in lake    growth.         pollution.       
  Phosphate (P)   and chemical                                            water.                                      
                  fertilizers.                                                                                        

  Arsenic (As)    Dissolved from   Used in the        0.005 to 0.3 mg/L   0.05 mg/L  Poisoning       Source other     0.10 mg/L limit
                  rocks and soils. manufacture of                                                    than natural     of use for
                                   herbicides and                                                    conditions.      irrigation of
                                   pesticides.                                                                        crops.

  Chromium (Cr)   Dissolved from   Rarely found in    Greater than 0.01   0.05       Detrimental to  Pollution by     0.10 mg/L limit
                  rocks and soils. natural waters.    mg/L                mg/L^3^    health.         industrial       of use to
                                                                                                     wastes.          sustain
                                                                                                                      fresh-water
                                                                                                                      aquatic life.

  Cobalt (Co)     Dissolved from   Rarely found in    0.001 mg/L          1.0 mg/L                   Weathering of    
                  rocks and soils. natural waters.                                                   rock.            
  --------------- ---------------- ------------------ ------------------- ---------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------

TABLE 1 -- WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

  --------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
  **CONSTITUENT   **SOURCE OF  **SIGNIFICANCE**   **CONCENTRATIONOF   **LIMITS OF   **ADVERSE      **UNUSUAL        **REMARKS**
  OR PHYSICAL     CAUSE**                         NORMAL OCCURRENCE** USE**         EFFECTS**      CONCENTRATIONS   
  PROPERTY**                                                                                       MAY INDICATE**   

  Copper (Cu)     Dissolved    Found in natural   0.015 mg/L^3^       1.0 mg/L^1^   Inhibits       Mining of        Mined by man
                  from rocks   waters but usually                                   growth of      sulfides and     since
                  and soils.   not at levels high                                   invertebrate   oxides of        pre-historic
                               enough for adverse                                   organisms.     copper.          times.
                               effect on humans.                                                                    

  Silica (Si0~2~) Dissolved    Present in most    10 to 60 mg/L       None.         Forms scale in Thermal waters.  Dissolved from
                  from rocks   waters in varying                                    steam boilers.                  practically
                  and soils.   concentrations.                                                                      all rocks and
                                                                                                                    soils.

  Lead (Pb)       Dissolved    Accumulation in    Greater than 0.05   0.05 mg/L^3^  Toxic to       Source other     0.10 mg/L
                  from rocks   animal tissue.     mg/L                              humans and     than natural     limit of use
                  and soils.                                                        animals.       conditions.      for livestock.

  Mercury (Hg)    Dissolved    Accumulates in     Greater than 0.1    0.002 mg/L^3^ Poisoning.                      
                  from rocks   animal tissue.     mg/L                                                              
                  and soils,                                                                                        
                  industrial                                                                                        
                  pollution.                                                                                        

  Nickel (Ni)     Dissolved    Relatively                             100 mg/L for  Toxic to       Weathering of    Nickel salts
                  from rocks   nontoxic to man.                       irrigation.   irrigated      rock.            may leach from
                  and soils.                                                        plants and                      nickel bearing
                                                                                    aquatic                         area.
                                                                                    organisms                       

  Zinc (Zn)       Industrial   Found in nature as 0.64 mg/L^3^        5 mg/L^1^     Unpleasing     Found in         
                  waste.       a sulfide.                                           aesthetic      leachates from   
                  Dissolved                                                         effects.       dump and mill    
                  from rocks                                                                       tailings.        
                  and soils.                                                                                        
  --------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------

1\. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1977 (National Secondary
Drinking Regulations)

2\. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1977 (National Interim Primary
Drinking Water Regulations)

3\. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1976

4\. USDA-NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook, 190-vi, NRPH,
September 1997, Chapter 6.

**[WATER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND USE]{.underline}**

**[TABLE 2: Recommended limits and maximum levels]{.underline}**

**[of constituents in drinking and domestic water]{.underline}**

(in mg/L unless otherwise noted)

+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Parameter**   | **Maximum       | **USPHS         | **Notes**       |
|                 | Contaminate     | Recommended     |                 |
|                 | Levels**        | Limits, 1962**  |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Arsenic (As)    | 0.05            | 0.01            |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Barium (Ba)     | 1.0             | \-\-\-\--       |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Cadmium (Cd)    | 0.01            | \-\-\-\--       |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Chromium (Cr)   | 0.05            | \-\-\-\--       |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Fluoride (F)    | 2.4             | 0.8 -- 1.7      | See Table 3     |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Nitrate         | 10              | 10              |                 |
| (NO~3~-N)       |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Lead (Pb)       | 0.05            | \-\-\-\--       |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Mercury (Hg)    | 0.002           | \-\-\-\--       |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Selenium (Se)   | 0.01            | \-\-\-\--       |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Silver (Ag)     | 0.05            | \-\-\-\--       |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Chloride (Cl)   |                 | 250             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Copper (Cu)     |                 | 1.0             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Cyanide (CN)    |                 | 0.2             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Iron (Fe)       |                 | 0.3             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Manganese (Mn)  |                 | 0.05            |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Sulfate (SO~4~) |                 | 250             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Zinc (Zn)       |                 | 5.0             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Total Dissolved |                 | 500             |                 |
| Solids (TDS)    |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Phenolic        |                 | 0.001           |                 |
| Compounds (as   |                 |                 |                 |
| phenols)        |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Endrin          | 0.0002          |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Lindane         | 0.004           |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Methoxychlor    | 0.1             |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Toxaphene       | 0.005           |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 2,4 -- D        | 0.1             |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| 2,4,5 -- TP     | 0.01            |                 |                 |
| Silvex          |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Combined radium | 5               |                 | pCi/liter       |
| -- 226 and      |                 |                 |                 |
| radium -- 228   |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Gross alpha     | 15              |                 | pCi/liter       |
| particle        |                 |                 |                 |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
| activity        |                 |                 |                 |
| (including      |                 |                 |                 |
| radium -- 226   |                 |                 |                 |
| but excluding   |                 |                 |                 |
| radon and       |                 |                 |                 |
| uranium         |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Tritium         | 20,000          |                 | pCi/liter       |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Strontium -- 90 | 8               |                 | pCi/liter       |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Gross beta      | 50              |                 | pC/liter        |
| radioactivity   |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+

Source: Column 2---National Primary Drinking Water Regulations from Safe
Drinking Water Act (Public Law 93-523).

Column 3---U.S. Public Health Service (1962).

**[Fluoride]{.underline}**

Optimum Fluoride levels will reduce dental cares by 60 to 65 percent.
Excessive fluoride in drinking water will mottle teeth. The optimum
fluoride level for a given location depends on climatic conditions
because the amount of water (and consequently the amount of fluoride)
ingested is primarily influenced by air temperature.

+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
|                | **[TABLE 3: Recommended        |                   |
|                | fluoride limits]{.underline}** |                   |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
| Annual Average | Fluoride Concentrations in     | [Maximum ^1^      |
| of Maximum     | mg/1.                          | Limit             |
| Daily Air      |                                | mg/]{.underline}1 |
| [Temperatures, | [Lower Optimum                 |                   |
| ^o^F           | Upper]{.underline}             |                   |
| .]{.underline} |                                |                   |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
| 50.0 -- 53.7   | 1.1 1.2 1.3                    | 2.4               |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
| 53.8 -- 58.3   | 1.0 1.1 1.2                    | 2.2               |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
| 58.4 -- 63.8   | 0.9 1.0 1.1                    | 2.0               |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
| 63.9 -- 70.6   | 0.8 0.9 1.0                    | 1.8               |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
| 70.7 -- 79.2   | 0.7 0.8 0.9                    | 1.6               |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+
| 79.3 -- 90.5   | 0.6 0.7 0.8                    | 1.4               |
+----------------+--------------------------------+-------------------+

^1^ Where Fluorides are native to the water supply, these concentrations
will not mottle teeth.

Source: Public Health Service, DHEW.

**[TABLE 4: Classification of water by hardness content]{.underline}**

  ----------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------
  [Hardness mg/L          [Class]{.underline}     [Description]{.underline}
  CaCO^3^]{.underline}                            

  0 -- 75                 soft                    minimum soap required

  75 -- 150               moderately hard         moderate soap consumption

  150 -- 300              hard                    high soap consumption: scum
                                                  form; mineral deposits

  300 up                  very hard               Excessive soap consumption:
                                                  scum and curds form;
                                                  mineral deposits
  ----------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------

**[WATER FOR LIVE STOCK AND POULTRY]{.underline}**

[TABLE 5: Recommendations for maximum levels of toxic substances in
drinking water for livestock]{.underline}

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **[Constituent]{.underline}**     | **[Upper Limit]{.underline}**     |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Aluminum (A1)                     | 5 mg/1                            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Arsenic (As)                      | 0.2 mg/1                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Beryllium (Be)                    | no data                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Boron (B)                         | 5.0 mg/1                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Cadmium (Cd)                      | .05mg/1                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chromium (Cr)                     | 1.0 mg/1                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Cobalt (Co)                       | 1.0 mg/1                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Copper (Cu)                       | 0.5 mg/1                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fluoride (F)                      | 2.0 mg/1                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Iron (Fe)                         | no data                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Lead (Pb)                         | 0.1 mg/1^1^                       |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Manganese (Mn)                    | no data                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Mercury (Hg)                      | .01 mg/1                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Molybdenum (Mo)                   | no data                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nitrate + Nitrite                 | 100 mg/1                          |
|                                   |                                   |
| (NO~3~--N+NO~2~--N)               |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nitrite (NO~2~-N)                 | 10 mg/1^3^                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Selenium (Se)                     | 0.05 mg/1                         |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Vanadium (V)                      | 0.10 mg/1                         |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zinc (Zn)                         | 24 mg/1                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)      | 10,000 mg/1^2^                    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

^1^ Lead is accumulative and problems may begin at threshold value =
0.05 mg/1.

^2^ See Table 6.

^3^ See Table 7.

Source: Environmental Studies Board. National Academy of Science,
National Academy of

Engineering: [Water Quality Criteria 1972.]{.underline}

**[TABLE 6: Guide to the use of saline waters for livestock and
poultry]{.underline}**

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Total Dissolved Solids in       |                                   |
| mg/1**                            |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| **(Sp. Cond. in umhos/cm**        |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Less than 1,000 mg/1 (Sp. Cond.   | Relatively low level of salinity. |
| \<1500)                           | Excellent for all classes of      |
|                                   | livestock and poultry.            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 1,000 -- 3,000 mg/1 (Sp. Cond. =  | Very satisfactory for all classes |
| 1500-5000)                        | of livestock and poultry. May     |
|                                   | cause temporary and mild diarrhea |
|                                   | in livestock not accustomed to    |
|                                   | them or watery droppings in       |
|                                   | poultry.                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 3,000 -- 5,000 mg/1 (Sp. Cond. =  | Satisfactory for livestock, but   |
| 5000-8000)                        | may cause temporary diarrhea or   |
|                                   | be refused at first by animals    |
|                                   | not accustomed to them. Poor      |
|                                   | waters for poultry, often causing |
|                                   | water feces, increased mortality, |
|                                   | and decreased growth, especially  |
|                                   | in turkeys.                       |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 5,000 -- 7,000 mg/1 (Sp. Cond. =  | Can be used with reasonable       |
| 8,000-11,000)                     | safety for dairy and beef cattle, |
|                                   | sheep, swine, and horses. Avoid   |
|                                   | use for pregnant or lactating     |
|                                   | animals. Not acceptable for       |
|                                   | poultry.                          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 7,000 -- 10,000 mg/1 (Sp. Cond. = | Unfit for poultry and probably    |
| 11,000-16,000)                    | for swine. Considerable risk in   |
|                                   | using for pregnant or lactating   |
|                                   | cows, horses, or sheep, or for    |
|                                   | the young of these species. In    |
|                                   | general, use should be avoided    |
|                                   | although older ruminants, horses, |
|                                   | poultry, and swine may subsist on |
|                                   | them under certain conditions.    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Over 10,000 mg/1 (Sp. Cond. \>    | Risks with these highly saline    |
| 16,000)                           | waters are so great that they     |
|                                   | cannot be recommended for use     |
|                                   | under any condition.              |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Source: Environmental Studies Board, National Academy of Science,
National Academy of Engineering:

[Water Quality Criteria 1972.]{.underline}

**[TABLE 7: Effects of Nitrate on Livestock]{.underline}**

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  Nitrate concentration               Effect

  (mg/1 No~3~ as N)                   

  0 - 10                              Not harmful

  10 - 30                             Slight possibility of harm

  30 - 50                             Risky, especially over a long
                                      period of time

  50 - 100                            Interference syndrome likely
                                      (trembling, weakness, discolored
                                      urine)

  100 - 145                           More serious; possible acute losses
                                      of livestock.

  145 - 195                           Increased acute losses, secondary
                                      diseases

  195 up                              Acute losses
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Source: "Professional Topics." Bulletin No. 14, University of Illinois.
July-August 1964

**[WATER FOR IRRIGATION]{.underline}**

It is not feasible to set rigid quality standards for irrigation waters
because of such varied and complex factors as soil porosity, soil
chemistry, climatic conditions, the ratio of rainwater to irrigation
water, artificial and natural drainage, relative tolerance of different
plants, and interferences between and among constituents in the water.

Some general guidelines have been established that indicate the relative
usability of a water for irrigation and generally indicates the waters
for which more detailed study would be necessary. The most important
quality parameters to consider are the adjusted Sodium Adsorption Ratio,
the salinity, and several specific ions or trace elements.

**[Permeability Hazard]{.underline}**

Irrigation water with high sodium levels and low calcium and magnesium
levels can cause a severe soil permeability problem. The most commonly
used method to evaluate the potential has been the adjusted sodium
adsorption ratio (adjusted SAR). For adjusted SAR values greater than 6
to 9, the water could be expected to cause a permeability problem on
shrink-swell types of soil. Thus, the permeability can be related to the
clay type.

**[TABLE 8: adjusted SAR guidelines]{.underline}**

  -------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
  [Dominant clay       [No                    [Increasing            [Severe
  type]{.underline}    Problem]{.underline}   Problem]{.underline}   Problem]{.underline}

  Montmorillonite      \<6                    6-9                    \>9

  Illite-Vermiculite   \<8                    8-16                   \>16

  Kaolinite            \<16                   16-24                  \>24
  -------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------

Source: Water Quality for Agriculture, UN-FAO, Rome, 1976.

**[Salinity-Sodium Hazard]{.underline}**

Irrigation water is essential for crop production in the arid and
semiarid regions of the United States. Unfortunately, irrigation water
in many of these regions contains a natural load of dissolved salts. As
the water is consumed by plants or lost by evaporation, the salts remain
and are concentrated in the soil profile. To maintain the productivity
of irrigated lands, the accumulation of soluble salts must be moved
(leached) below the root zone. Thus, the amount of irrigation water and
the timing of its application (irrigation water management) become
critical in salinity control.

Irrigation water management is a management measure to effectively use
available irrigation water to minimize soil and nutrient loss and to
protect water quality. It is the process of determining and controlling
the time to irrigate, the rate of water application, and the quantity of
water to be applied.

Crop selection can provide a solution to salinity-sodium hazards in some
instances. By selecting a salt tolerant crop, the leaching requirement
is reduced. Salt tolerance of crops varies with climatic conditions and
with crop varieties. Table 9 gives the expected decrease in yield of
various crops based on their salt tolerance. The values given in the
table are the electrical conductivity (σ *e*) of the soil saturation
extract in decisiemens per meter (dS/m) at the point where a 50 percent
reduction in yield would occur as compared to yields on nonsaline soils
under comparable growing conditions.

**TABLE 9 -- Crop salt tolerance^1\ ^** \[Expected decrease in crop
yield based on conductivity of soil water extract when common surface
irrigation methods are used\]

  ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ------- ------- -------
  Crop                                     Yield decrease                        

                                           0%                    10%     25%     50%

  **[Field crops]{.underline}**            \-\-\--Conductivity                   
                                           ^(σ^ *~e~*^)2^                        
                                           \-\-\--                               

  Barley (Hordeum vulgare)                 8.0                   10      13      18

  Cotton (Gossypium hirsulum)              7.7                   9.6     13      17

  Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaaris)^4^            7.0                   8.7     11      15

  Wheat (Triticum aestivum)^35^            6.0                   7.4     9.5     13

  Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)         5.3                   6.2     7.6     9.9

  Soybean (Glycine max)                    5.0                   5.5     6.2     7.5

  Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)                4.0                   5.1     7.2     11

  Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)             3.2                   3.5     4.1     4.9

  Rice(Ozyza sativa)                       3.0                   3.8     5.1     7.2

  Sesbania (Sesbania macrocarpa)           2.3                   3.7     5.9     9.4

  Corn (Zea mays)                          1.7                   2.5     3.8     5.9

  Flax (Linum usitatissimum)               1.7                   2.5     3.8     5.9

  Broadbean (Vicia faba)                   1.6                   2.6     4.2     6.8

  Cowpea (Vigna sinensis)                  1.3                   2.0     3.1     4.9

  Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)               1.0                   1.5     2.3     3.6

  **[Fruit crops]{.underline}**                                                  

  Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)          4.0                   6.8     10.9    17.9

  Fig (Ficus carica)                       2.7                   3.8     5.5     8.4

  Olive (Olea europaea)                                                          

  Pomegranate (Pucia granatum)                                                   

  Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)             1.8                   2.4     3.4     4.9

  Orange (Citrus sinensis)                 1.7                   2.3     3.2     4.8

  Lemon(Citrus limon)                      1.7                   2.3     3.3     4.8

  Apple (Malus sylvestris)                 1.7                   2.3     3.3     4.8

  Pear (Pyrus communis)                                                          

  Walnut (Juglans regia)                   1.7                   2.3     3.3     4.8

  Peach (Prunus persica)                   1.7                   2.2     2.9     4.1

  Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)               1.6                   2.0     2.6     3.7

  Grape (Vitis spp.)                       1.5                   2.5     4.1     6.7

  Almond (Prunus dulcis)                   1.5                   2.0     2.8     4.1

  Plum (Prunus domestica)                  1.5                   2.1     2.9     4.3

  Blackberry (Rubus spp.)                  1.5                   2.0     2.6     3.8

  Boysenberry (Rubus ursinus)              1.5                   2.0     2.6     3.8

  Avocado (Persea americana)               1.5                   1.8     2.5     3.7

  Raspberry (Ruvus idaeus)                 1.0                   1.4     2.1     3.2

  Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)               1.0                   1.3     1.8     2.5
  ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ------- ------- -------

  ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ------- ------- -------
  Crop                                     Yield decrease                        

                                           0%                    10%     25%     50%

  **[Vegetable crops]{.underline}**        \-\-\--Conductivity                   
                                           ^(σ^ *~e~*^)2^                        
                                           \-\-\--                               

  Beets (Beta vulgaris)^4^                 4.0                   5.1     6.8     9.6

  Broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica)     2.8                   3.9     5.5     8.2

  Tomato (Lycopersicon esulentum)          2.5                   3.5     5.0     7.6

  Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)               2.5                   3.3     4.4     6.3

  Cantalope (Cucumis melo)                 2.2                   3.6     5.7     9.1

  Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)              2.0                   3.3     5.3     8.6

  Cabbage (Brassica oleraoea capitata      1.8                   2.8     4.4     7.0

  Potato (Solanum tuberosum)               1.7                   2.5     3.8     5.9

  Sweet corn (Zea mays)                    1.7                   2.5     3.8     5.9

  Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)           1.5                   2.4     3.8     6.0

  Pepper (Capsicum frutescens)             1.5                   2.2     3.3     5.1

  Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)                 1.3                   2.1     3.2     3.6

  Radish (Raphanus sativus)                1.2                   2.0     3.1     5.0

  Onion (Allium cepa)                      1.2                   1.8     2.8     4.3

  Carrot (Daucus carota)                   1.0                   1.7     2.8     4.6

  Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)               1.0                   1.5     2.3     3.6

  **[Forage crops]{.underline}**                                                 

  Tall wheatgrass (Apropyron elongatum)    7.5                   9.9     13.3    19.4

  Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)^6^      6.9                   8.5     10.8    14.7

  Barley (hay) Hordeum vulgare)^3^         6.0                   7.4     9.5     13.0

  Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)      5.6                   6.9     8.9     12.2

  Trefoil, birdsfoot narrowleaf (Lotus     5.0                   6.0     7.5     10
  tenuis)                                                                        

  Harding grass (Phalaris stenoptera       4.6                   5.9     7.9     11.1

  Tall fescue (Festuca arundinaces)        3.9                   5.8     8.6     13.3

  Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron            3.5                   6.0     9.8     16
  desertorum)                                                                    

  Vetch (Vicia sativa)                     3.0                   3.9     5.3     7.6

  Sudangrass (Sorgum sudanense)            2.8                   5.1     8.6     14.4

  Wildrye, beardless (Elymus triticoides)  2.7                   4.4     6.9     11

  Trefoil, big (lotus uliginosus)^7^       2.3                   2.8     3.6     4.9

  Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)                2.0                   3.4     5.4     8.8

  Lovegrass (Eragrostis spp.)^8^           2.0                   3.2     5.0     8.0

  Corn (forage) (Zea mays)                 1.8                   3.2     5.2     8.6

  Clover, berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) 1.5                   3.2     5.9     10.3

  Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata)        1.5                   3.1     5.5     9.6

  Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis)    1.5                   2.5     4.1     6.7

  Clover, alsike, ladino, red strawberry   1.5                   2.3     3.6     5.7
  (Trifolium spp.)                                                               
  ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ------- ------- -------

^1^Adapted from Ayers and Westcot (1).

^2^These values are the electrical conductivity ^(σ^ *~e~*^)^of the
soil-water extract in deciseimens per meter (dS/m-formerly

millimhos per centimeter) at 25 degrees C. For example, if barley is to
be grown, and the ^(σ^ *~e~*^)^ is 13 dS/m, a 25%

decrease in yield can be expected.

^3^Barley and wheat are less tolerant during germination and seedling
stage ^(σ^ *~e~*^)^ should not exceed 4 or 5 dS/m.

^4^Sensitive during germination: (σ e) should not exceed 3 dS/m for
garden beets and sugar beets.

^5^Tolerance data may not apply to new semi-dwarf varieties of wheat.

^6^An average for Bermuda grass varieties. Suwannee and Coastal are
about 20% more tolerant: common and

Greenfield are about 20% less tolerant.

^7^Broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil appears to be less tolerant than
narrowleaf.

^8^Average for Boer, Wilman, sand, and weeping varieties Lehman appears
about 50% more tolerant.

Source: Water Quality Field Guide, USDA_SCS 1983.

**[Trace Element Hazard]{.underline}**

Trace element concentrations greater than those shown in Tables 10 and
11 can hinder plant growth.

**[Table 10: Recommended Maximum concentrations of trace elements in
irrigation waters]{.underline}**

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  Element (symbol)        For waters used         For use up to 20 years
                          continuously on all     on fine-textured soils
                          soils (mg/1)            of pH 6.0 to 8.5 (mg/1)

  Aluminum (A1)           5.0                     20.0

  Arsenic (As)            0.1                     2.0

  Beryllium (Be)          0.1                     0.5

  Boron (B)               1                       2.0

  Cadmium (Cd)0.01        0.01                    0.05

  Chromium (Cr)           0.1                     1.0

  Cobalt (Co)             0.05                    5.0

  Copper (Cu)             0.2                     5.0

  Fluoride (F)            1.0                     15.0

  Iron (Fe)               5.0                     20.0

  Lead (Pb)               5.0                     10.0

  Lithium (Li)            2.5                     2.5

  Manganese (Mn)          0.2                     10.0

  Molybdenum (Mo)         0.01                    0.05^2^

  Nickel (Ni)             0.2                     2.0

  Selenium (Se)           0.02                    0.02

  Vanadium (V)            0.1                     1.0

  Zinc (Zn)               2.0                     10.0
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

These levels will normally not adversely affect plants or soils. No data
available for Mercury (Hg), Silver (Ag), Tin (Sn), Titanium (Ti),
Tungsten (W).

^1^See Table 10.

^2^For only acid fine-textured soils or acid soils with relatively high
iron oxide contents.

Source: Environmental Studies Board. National Academy of Science,
National Academy of

> Engineering. [Water Quality Criteria 1972.]{.underline}
>
> **[Water For Aquaculture]{.underline}**
>
> High quality water is essential for successful fish farming as well as
> for maintaining a recreational fish pond.
>
> Water from springs, artesian flow, or pumped ground water are the best
> sources for fish propagation. Surface waters are generally not suited
> for successful fish production.
>
> Fish ponds can be successfully maintained with high quality surface
> water, but are generally more successful if supplemental water is
> available from springs, artesian flow, or pumped ground water sources.
>
> [Temperature]{.underline}: Water temperatures which fall within
> recommended ranges are essential to sustain fish. Proper water
> temperature may be the single most important quality factor in the
> growth and survival of fish. Temperature affects the feeding, growth,
> reproduction, and utilization of dissolved oxygen of all species of
> fish.
>
> Suitable water temperature ranges are:
>
> Trout -- 50-70^o^F year long.
>
> Bass and Channel Catfish -- above 75^o^F for at least five months.
>
> Minnow Species -- 65-85^o^F for at least six months.
>
> [Dissolved Oxygen]{.underline}: A reliable source of well oxygenated
> water is essential for growth and survival of fish. As water
> temperatures increase, its ability to retain oxygen in solution is
> reduced. Determinations of dissolved oxygen should be made in the
> early morning during summer months.
>
> Suitable levels of dissolved oxygen are:
>
> Trout -- over 5 ppm.
>
> Warm Water Species -- over 3 ppm.
>
> [pH]{.underline}: A range of 6.5 to 8.5 is suitable for growth and
> survival of fish.
>
> [Total Hardness]{.underline}: At least 200 ppm. is required for
> satisfactory fish growth.
>
> [Total Dissolved Solids]{.underline}: A range of 200 to 5,000 ppm.
> will support fish life, while the optimal range is 200 -- 1,500 ppm.
>
> [Salinity]{.underline}: Most fish species will do well in water with
> salinity up to 3,000 ppm. if other water quality parameters are
> suitable. Channel catfish grow well in salinities up to 5,000 ppm. but
> will not successfully reproduce.
>
> [Heavy Metals]{.underline} -- zero tolerance
>
> [Hydrogen Sulfide]{.underline} -- zero tolerance
>
> [Pesticides]{.underline} -- zero tolerance
>
> Detailed water analysis and competent interpretation is required in
> the planning of fish production facilities.