Item

Expected Range¹

Possible Problems²

Total dissolved solids

500 or less

Over 3,000

Total Hardness

0-180

  0  -  60      Relatively Soft

  61-120     Moderately Hard

121-180     Hard Water

Over 181    Very Hard

Calcium

0-43

Over 500

Magnesium

0-29

Over 125 p.p.m., is laxative and diuretic

Alkalinity (Phenothalein)

0-trace

High is unusual

Alkalinity (Total)

0-400

Over 5,000

Carbon Dioxide

0-50

Over 300 p.p.m.

Chlorides

0-250

Over 250 p.p.m.

Iron

0-0.3

Over 0.3 off-odor, taste, staining

Manganese

0-0.05

Over 0.05 (taste)   Over .2 may stain

Sulfate

0-250

Over 250 may be laxative

Over 2000 in some mine drainage wastes

Fluorides

0-1.2

Over 1.5 may stain  Over 2.4 mottling of teeth 

Silica

0-10

Copper

0-0.6

Over 1.0 gives bitter taste

Phosphate

0-1.0

High when contaminated from sewage, agricultural wastes and some industrial waters

pH

6.8-7.5

Under 5.1 or Over 9.0.  Wide values may indicate contamination with industrial or mine wastes

Over 8.0 may give drying effect on skin and soda taste

Stability Index

6.0-7.5

Below 6.0 is scale-forming

Above 7.5 is corrosive

Sodium

0-3

Response to lower salt intake might result at about 40 p.p.m.

Potassium

0-20

Arsenic

0.05

Over 0.20

Cadmium

0-0.01

Over 0.05

Chromium

0-0.05

Mercury

0-0.005

Over 0.01

Lead

0-0.05

Over 0.10

Hydrogen sulfide

0-2

Over 0.1 (taste)

Barium

0-1

Over 10 (health)

Zinc

0-5

Over 25

Molybdenum

0-0.068

Nitrites as NO₂

0-0.33

Over 4.0 p.p.m. may be toxic

Nitrates as NO₃

0-44

High values may indicate pollution with organic matter

Over 45 may cause methemoglobinuria in infants

Expected Effects of Nitrates in Water

P.P.M.

Recommendation

Effects

0-44

Approved

None

45-135

Doubtful

May cause Methemoglobinuria

136-225

Risky

Reproductive problems and sub-clinical rickets possible

226-450

Don’t Use

Definite interference syndrome, vitamin deficiencies, arthritis

451-675

Don’t Use

Serious health problems

676-900

Don’t Use

Reduced resistance to disease

Over 900

Don’t Use

Possible heavy acute toxicity and death losses

Bacteria Counts/Pollutants

Total bacteria/100 ml

Under 200

Over 1 Million

Total coliform/100 ml

Less than 1

Over 1 for young; Over 15-50 for mature

Fecal coliform/100 ml³

Less than 1

Over 1 for young; Over 10 for mature

Fecal strep/100 ml

Less than 1

Over 3 for young; Over 30 for mature