Water fit for human consumption is referred to as potable water. The Ontario Drinking Water Objectives note that the greatest danger to public health associated with drinking water is contamination by sewage or excrement. The contamination may be intermittent and the routine monitoring of multiple samples is recommended. Contact the laboratory for sampling instructions and sterile sample bottles, available at no additional cost. Typically, Total Coliform and E.Coli parameters are examined for potability.
Nonroutine parameters are also available.
Contact the laboratory for details. Physical characteristics of drinking water refers to properties such as colour, clarity, taste, odour, and temperature. The instrumentation used for the ICP metal scan, a Varian Liberty 220 ICP Emission Spectrometer, allows for the rapid analysis of many elements sequentially. The method detection limits achieved with the ICP scan are suitable for many purposes. Lower detection limits can be obtained with more sensitive instrumentation, such as graphite furnace AAS, to meet the requirements of the more stringent water quality guidelines.