Water Quality Control

The control of drinking water and water quality is important for human health, as water is a key factor in sustaining life. Therefore, water quality control must comply with the standards set by relevant organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the standards of various countries, such as the drinking water standards of the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand.

1. Drinking Water and Water Use Quality Standards

1.1 Drinking Water Standards

Drinking water must have safe quality, free from harmful contaminants, and must undergo appropriate treatment processes, which are generally considered based on the following main factors:

• Physical values
  • Clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless
  • Turbidity not exceeding 1 NTU
  • The pH value is between 6.5 – 8.5
• Chemical values
  • No heavy metals such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd)
  • Chloride concentration not exceeding 250 mg/L
  • Fluoride concentration not exceeding 1.5 mg/L
• Microbiological values
  • There are no pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli or Coliform Bacteria
  • Total Bacteria Count must be at a safe level

1.2 Water Use Standards

General water use, such as tap water or water for washing, must have sufficient quality for consumption and must meet the following criteria:

• No unusual color or odor
• There are no hazardous chemicals that may irritate the skin.
• The pH value is between 6.0 – 9.0
• ไม่มีจุลินทรีย์ที่เป็นอันตรายในระดับสูง

2. The process of controlling the quality of drinking water and water for use

Water quality control consists of the following main steps:

2.1 Water Quality Monitoring

• Check physical properties such as turbidity, color, odor, and taste
• Chemical tests such as the amount of chlorine, iron, manganese, or heavy metals
• Microbiological testing, such as testing for E. coli or Coliform

2.2 Water Treatment

There are several methods for water treatment, such as

• Settling and Filtration: Used for the removal of sediment and suspended solids
• Chlorination: Used to disinfect bacteria
• Using UV Radiation (UV Disinfection): Used to kill pathogens without the need for chemicals
• Ozone Use (Ozonation): Used for disinfection and removal of organic substances
• Reverse Osmosis (RO): Used for filtering pure drinking water

2.3 System Monitoring and Maintenance

• Water quality should be regularly monitored.
• Clean and maintain the water filtration system regularly
• ป้องกันการปนเปื้อนจากแหล่งน้ำเสียหรือสารเคมี

3. Methods of Water Quality Control at Each Level

3.1 Household Control

• Use a suitable water filter, such as a carbon filter or an RO filter.
• Boil or use UV radiation to kill germs in drinking water
• Clean the water storage tank regularly

3.2 Control at the Industrial Level and Drinking Water Production Plants

• There is a water treatment system that meets standards, such as RO filtration system and ozone system.
• Water quality testing is conducted regularly.
• Use GMP or HACCP standards in the production process

3.3 Control at the Level of Government Agencies and Related Organizations

• Establishment of standards and requirements for water quality
• Inspection of the quality of tap water and drinking water in the local area
• การให้คำแนะนำและความรู้แก่ประชาชนเกี่ยวกับคุณภาพน้ำ

4. Precautions Regarding the Quality of Drinking Water and Water for Use

• Do not drink water from untreated sources: Even if it looks clear and clean, it may still contain pathogens.
• You should change the filter according to the specified time: A dirty filter may contaminate the water.
• Avoid dirty water storage containers: Containers with sediment or mold can contaminate the water.
• ตรวจสอบการใช้สารเคมีในน้ำ: ควรหลีกเลี่ยงการใช้สารเคมีที่อาจเป็นอันตรายในปริมาณที่มากเกินไป เช่น คลอรีน