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Union of India - Section

Section 86 in The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986

86. Water quality standards for coastal waters marine outfalls.

In a coastal segment marine water is subjected to several types of uses. Depending on the types of uses and activities, water quality criteria have been specified to determine its suitability for a particular purpose. Among the various types of uses there is one use that demands highest level of water quality/purity and that is termed a "designated best use" in that stretch of the coastal segment. Based on this, primary water quality criteria have been specified for following five designated best uses :-
Class Designated best use
SW-1(See Table 1.1.) Salt pans, Shell fishing, Mariculture and ecologically Sensitive Zone.
SW-II (See Table 1.2) Bathing, Contact Water Sports and Commercial fishing.
SW-III (See Table 1.3) Industrial cooling, Recreation (non-contact)and Aesthetics
SW-IV (See Table 1.4) Harbour
SW-V (See Table 1.5) Navigation and Controlled Waste Disposal.
The Standards alongwith rationale/remarks for various parameters for different designated best uses, given in Table 1.1 to 1.5TABLE 1.1PRIMARY WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR CLASS SW-I WATERS(For Salt Pans, Shell Fishing, Mariculture and Ecologically Sensitive Zone)
S.No. Parameter Standards Rationale/Remarks
1 2 3 4
1. pH range 6.5-8.5 General broad range, Conductive for propagation of acquatic lives is given. Value largely dependant upon soil-water interaction.
2. Dissolved Oxygen 5.0 mg/1 or 60 per cent saturation value whichever is higher Not less than 3.5mg/1 at any time of the year for protection of acquatic lives.
3. Colourand Odour No noticeable colour or offensive odour. Specially caused by chemical compound like creosols, phenols, naphtha pyridine benzene, toluene, etc., causing visible colouration of salt crystal and tainting fish flesh.
4. Floating Matters Nothing obnoxious or detrimental for use purpose. Surfactants should not exceed an upper limit of 1.0 mg/1 and the concentration not to cause any visible foam.
5. Suspended Solids None from sewage or industrial waste origin Settleableinert matters not in such concentration that would impair any usages specially assigned to this class.
6. Oil and Grease(including Petroleum Products) 0.1 mg/1 Concentration should not exceed 0.1 mg/1 as because it has effect on fish eggs and larvae.
7. [] [Substituted by G.S.R. 682(E), dated 5.10.1999 (w.e.f. 5.10.1999).] Heavy Metals:   Values depend on :
  Mercury (as Hg) 0.001 mg/1 (i) Concentration in salt, fish and shell fish.
  Cadmium (as Cd) 0.001 mg/l (ii) Average per capita consumption per day.
  Lead (as Pb) 0.01 mg/1 (iii) Minimum ingestion rate that induces symptoms of resulting diseases.
Note. - SW-I is desirable to be safe and relatively free from hazardous,chemicals like pesticides, heavy metals and radionuclide concentrations. Their combined (synergistic or antagonistic) effects on health and aquatic lives are not yet clearly known. These chemicals undergo bio-accumulation, magnification and transfer to human and other animals through food chain. In areas where fisheries, salt pans are the governing considerations, and presence of such chemicals apprehended/reported, bio-assay test should be performed following appropriate methods for the purpose of setting case specific limits.TABLE 1.2PRIMARY WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR CLASS SW-II WATERS(For Bathing, Contact Water Sports and Commercial Fishing)
S.No. Parameter Standards Rationale/Remarks
1 2 3 4
1. pH range 6.5-8.5 Range does not cause skin or eye irritation and is also conducive forpropagatingaquaticlives.
2. Dissolved Oxygen 4.0 mg/1 or 50 percent saturation value whichever is higher. Not less than 3.5mg/1 at any time for protection of aquatic lives.
3. Colourand Odour No noticeable colour or offensive odour. Specially caused by chemical compound like creosols, phenols, naptha, benzene, pyridine, toluene, etc., causing visible, colouration of water and tainting of and odour in fish flesh.
4. Floating Matters Nothing obnoxious or detrimental for use purpose None in concentration that would impair usages specially assigned to this class.
5. Turbidity 30 NTU (Nephelo Turbidity Unit). Measured at 0.9m depth.
6. Fecal Coliform 100/100 ml(MPN) The average value not exceeding 200/100 ml. in 20 per cent of samples in the year and in 3consecutive samples in monsoon months.
7. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) (3days at 27°C) 3 mg/1 Restricted for bathing (aesthetic quality ofwater). Also prescribed by IS : 2296-1974.
TABLE 1.3PRIMARY WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR CLASS SW-III WATERS(For Industrial Cooling, Recreation (non-contact) and Aesthetics)
S.No. Parameter Standards Rationale/Remarks
1 2 3 4
1. pH range 6.5-8.5 The range is conductive for propagation of aquatic species and restoring natural system.
2. Dissolved Oxygen 3.0 mg/1 or 40 per cent saturation value whichever is higher To protect aquatic lives
3. Colourand Odour No noticeable colour or offensive odour assigned to this class. None in such concentration that would impair usages specifically assigned to this class.
4. Floating Matters No visible, obnoxious floating debris, oil slick, scum. As in (3) above
5. Fecal Coliform 500/100 ml(MPN) Not exceeding 1000/100 ml in 20 percent of samples in the year and in 3 consecutive samples in monsoon months.
6. Turbidity 30 NTU Reasonably clear water for Recreation, aesthetic appreciation and Industrial Cooling purposes.
*7. Dissolved Iron (as Fe) 0.5 mg/1 or less It is desirable to have the collective concentration dissolved Fe and Mn less or equal to 0.5 mg/1 to avoid scaling effect.
*8. Dissolved Manganese(as Mn) 0.5 mg/1 or less  
*Standards included exclusively for Industrial Cooling purpose. Other parameters same.TABLE 1.4PRIMARY WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR CLASS SW-IV WATERS(For Harbour Waters)
S.No. Parameter Standards Rationale/Remarks
1 2 3 4
1. pH range 6.0-9.0 To minimize corrosive and scaling effect.
2. Dissolved Oxygen 3.0 mg/1 or 40 per cent saturation value whichever is higher Considering bio degradation of oil and inhibition to oxygen production - through photosynthesis.
3. Colourand Odour No visible colour or offensive odour. None from reactive chemicals which may corrode paints/ metallic surfaces
4. Floating materials, Oil, grease and scum (including Petroleum products) 10 mg/1 Floating matter'Should be free from excessive living organisms which may clog or coat operative parts of marine vessels/equipment.
5. Fecal Coliform 500/100 ml(MPN) Not exceeding 1000/100 ml in 20 per cent of samples in the year and in 3 consecutive samples in monsoon months.
6. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (3 days at 27ºC) 5mg/1 To maintain water relatively free from pollution caused by sewage and other decomposable wastes.
TABLE 1.5PRIMARY WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR CLASS SW-V WATERS(For Navigation and Controlled Waste Disposal)
S.No. Parameter Standards Rationale/Remarks
1 2 3 4
1. pH range 6.0-9.0 As specified by New England Inter-state Water Pollution Control Commission.
2. Dissolved Oxygen 3.0 mg/1 or 40 percent saturation value whichever is higher To protect aquatic lives
3. Colourand Odour None in such concentrations that would impair any usages specially assigned to this class. As in (i)above
4. Sludge deposits, Solid refuse floating solids oil grease and scum None except for such small amount that may result from discharge of appropriately treated sewage and or industrial wastes effluents. As in (1) above
5. Fecal Coliform 500/100 ml (MPN) Not exceeding 1000/100ml in 20 per cent of samples in the year and in 3 consecutive samples in monsoon months