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Union of India - Section
Section 93 in The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
93. Primary Water Quality Criteria for Bathing Waters
In a water body or its part, 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 or purity and that is termed as "Designated Best Use" in that stretch of water body. Based on this, water quality requirements have been specified for different uses in terms of primary water quality criteria. The primary water quality criteria for bathing water are specified alongwith the rationale in Table 1.TABLE 1PRIMARY WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR BATHING WATER(Water used for organised outdoor bathing)| CRITERIA | RATIONALE | |
| 1. Fecal Coliform MPN/100 ml: | 500 (desirable) 2500 (Maximumpermissible) | To ensure low sewage contamination. Fecal Coliform and Fecal Streptococci are considered as they reflect the bacterial pathogenicity. |
| 2. Fecal Streptococci MPN/100ml: | 100 (desirable) 500 (Maximum permissible) | The desirable and permissible limits are suggested to allow for fluctuation in environmental conditions such as seasonal change, changes in flow conditions, etc. |
| 3. pH: | Between6.5-8.5 | The range provides protection to the skin and delicate organs like eyes, nose, ears, etc., which are directly exposed during outdoor bathing. |
| 4. Dissolved Oxygen: | 5 mg/1 or more | The minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 5 mg/1 ensures reasonable freedom from oxygen consuming organic pollution immediately upstream which is necessary for preventing production of anaerobic gases (obnoxious gases) from sediment. |
| 5. Biochemical Oxygen demand 3 day,27oC: | 3 mg/1 or less | The Biochemical Oxygen Demand of 3 mg/1 or less of the water ensures reasonable freedom from oxygen demanding pollutants and prevents production of obnoxious gases. |