Types of physical impurity present in water

Types of physical impurity present in water

1. PHYSICAL IMPURITIES
•Turbidity:Turbidityinthewaterindicatesthepresenceofsuspendedor
colloidalinsolublematterincludingcoarseparticles(mud,sediment,sand,
clay,siltetc.)thatsettlerapidlyonstanding.Insomecases,saltsof
differentalsoimpartturbidityinwater.
•Color:Thewatergetscolorfromthedischargeofindustrieslike
chemicals,textiles,paper,etc.Theyellowishcolorindicatesthe
presenceofchromiumandanappreciableamountoforganicmatter.The
yellowish-redcolorindicatesthepresenceofiron.
•Taste:Itisduetothepresenceofdissolvedmineralsinwaterthat
producetaste,butnotodor.Bittertastecanbeduetothepresenceofiron,
aluminum,manganese,sulphateorexcessoflime.Soapytastecanbe
duetothepresenceofalargeamountofsodiumbicarbonate.The
brackish(slightlysalty,unpalatable)tasteisduetothepresenceofthe
unusualamountofsalts.
•Odor:wasteproductsdischargefromindustries.Someindustries
componentscontainstrong-smellingcompoundsthatimpartodorand
taste.Generallysmellingcompoundsarechlorine,hydrogen,sulfide.
•Radioactivesubstances:Thedischargefromnuclearpowerplantsor
researchcenterdischargeradioactivesubstanceswhichcanseriously
affecthumanhealthandlife.