WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Water quality is governed by a complex interplay of physical, chemical, and biological factors.
Maintaining high water quality requires adherence to standards, continuous monitoring, and
sustainable management practices. These principles are vital for ensuring safe water for all uses
and protecting the environment

By definition, Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of
water, which determine its suitability for various uses such as drinking, recreation, agriculture,
and industrial processes. Understanding these principles is essential for protecting public health,
preserving ecosystems, and ensuring sustainable water management. The most fundamental
human needs or uses of water are drinking, cooking and sanitation, As such, to meet these needs
and the quality of the available water must pose no risk to human health as it may alter
negatively the condition of ecosystems upon which all living organisms depend upon.

Beyond use of water for drinking, cooking and sanitation, humans use water bodies as
convenient sinks for the disposal of waste – domestic, industrial and agricultural. These uses
degrade water quality and can have severe environmental impacts, difficult to alleviate even with
treatment.
Maintaining water quality is critical for communities’ wellbeing and is required to achieve
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as of the eight MDGs or associated targets, protection
of water quality in water bodies directly or indirectly contributes to the fulfillment of the
following four:

i. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of
people who suffer from hunger
ii. Reduce Child Mortality: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five
mortality rate
iii. Combat Disease: including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and waterborne diseases
iv. Ensure Environmental Sustainability: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without
sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

Principles of Sustainable Water Quality Management

Sustainable water quality management involves balancing human needs with the long-term
health of aquatic ecosystems. This involves practices like water conservation, pollution
prevention, water reuse, and ecosystem protection. The key sustainable water quality

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management principles include recognizing water's finite nature, promoting equitable and
efficient use, and ensuring water security for present and future generations. Others are as
follows:
i. Pollution Prevention: Reducing contaminants at the source.
ii. Treatment Technologies: Filtration, chlorination, UV treatment, reverses osmosis.
iii. Watershed Protection: Managing land use to prevent runoff and contamination.
iv. Public Awareness and Education: Promoting responsible water use and hygiene.
v. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Coordinated development and
management of water, land, and related resources

WATER QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS

The dynamics of water-quality characteristics and analysis is multi-faceted and complex;

however, to best it describe its monitoring dynamics, it is pertinent to best understood water
quality by dividing its characteristics into the following four sets:

i. Physical Characteristics
ii. Chemical Characteristics
iii. Biological Characteristics
iv. Qualitative Characteristics

Physical Characteristics

The commonly measured physical characteristics are temperature, colour, taste, odour and
turbidity. These can be subjectively evaluated through use of our five senses. However, the
computable measurements require special instruments to accurately measure temperature
(˚C), Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and the Conventional Variables which includes: pH, Total
Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and Total Suspended Sediment (TSS).
Taste and odour tests typically require panels of specially trained individuals in a controlled
environment to obtain reproducible results. These physical characteristics are explored
further through the following subjects:

Chemical Parameters

The chemical characteristics of water are defined by its molecular structure (H2O) Polarity,
Hydrogen bonding, and its ability to act as both an acid and a base. These properties make water
a universal solvent and essential for all biological and chemical processes. the key chemical
composition includes: molecular composition, polarity, hydrogen bonding amphoteric nature,
self-ionization and chemical reactivity

Biological Parameters

Biological water characteristics are used to describe the presence of microbiological

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organisms and water-borne pathogens. Many organisms can cause illness when directly
consumed by humans and animals. Micro-organisms and waterborne pathogens generally
enter rivers and lakes via the release of untreated or partially treated sewage or wastewater.
Many wastewater treatment plants discharge effluent that does not meet national discharge
standards. Additionally, non-compliance may be a result of inadequate management and
maintenance of sewage or wastewater treatment facilities, or if the facility is operated beyond
design capacity resulting in discharges of raw or partially treated sewage or wastewater into
the river systems.

Qualitative Characteristics

Apart from its essential biological role for sustaining life, water also has important spiritual,
cultural, and religious (qualitative) characteristics. These aspects deserve recognition and
protection in their own right because of the role they play in enhancing our quality of life,
even in an indirect way.

Water Quality Fitness for Use

Water quality fitness for use is defined water quality based on its ‘fitness for use’ describe
how changes in water quality will affect the user, rather than interpreting whether this is
acceptable or not resulting in the development of indicator variables that will monitor fitness
for use of water depending on its intended use. The most sensitive water uses are domestic
and irrigation, with industrial and mining uses being much more tolerant of lower water
quality. Ecosystems are generally sensitive to poor water quality and if not in immediate
peril, can be a valuable indicator of water quality and any existing pollution sources.

Water quality is monitored and compared against guidelines. It is important that a relevant
set of water quality guidelines be compiled for each water use and for each variable of
concern. Cut-off values for the different fitness for use categories are given in the Fitness for
Use

WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

Water quality standards are guidelines and regulations that specify the maximum allowable
levels of contaminants in water intended for various uses, such as drinking, irrigation, and
recreation. These standards are crucial for protecting public health and the environment by
ensuring that water resources are safe and suitable for their intended purposes. Water quality is
assessed against established standards such as:

i. WHO Guidelines: Provide international benchmarks for drinking water safety.

ii. National Standards: Vary by country.
iii. Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs): Legal limits for specific pollutants

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Recognized Institutional Roles

The recognized institutional role and their respective functions is presented as follows

i. SON: Develops and updates standards

ii. Federal Ministries: Oversee implementation and enforcement
iii. State Water Agencies: Monitor and report compliance
iv. Community Stakeholders: Participate in surveillance and feedback

Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ)

The NSDWQ is a regulatory framework developed by the Standards Organization of Nigeria

(SON) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of
Health, and other stakeholders. It ensures that water intended for human consumption meets
safety and quality benchmarks to protect public health. The Key Features of the NSDWQ, 2007
includes:

i. Document Reference: NIS 554:2015 (an update from the earlier NIS 554:2007)
ii. Scope: Applies to all drinking water sources—public, private, packaged, and community-
managed systems
iii. Basis: Aligned with WHO guidelines and adapted to Nigeria’s environmental and public
health context

Monitoring and Compliance of Water Quality

Monitoring and compliance refers to the ongoing process of ensuring that an organization
adheres to all relevant laws, regulations, policies, and standards. It also involves regularly
reviewing and assessing operations, activities, and processes to identify and address any potential
compliance gaps or violations. This proactive approach helps organizations mitigate risks, avoid
penalties, and maintain a strong reputation. The key components to carry out Monitoring and
compliance include:

i. Routine Testing: Required for all water providers

ii. Sampling Protocols: Must follow standardized methods
iii. Laboratory Accreditation: Labs must meet quality assurance standards
iv. Water Safety Plans (WSPs): Mandatory for utilities and large-scale providers

Water Quality Parameters Limits

Water quality parameters limits are crucial for assessing water safety and suitability for various
uses. The key recommended limits for key parameters such as temperature and turbidity,

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chemical parameters like pH and dissolved oxygen (physical factor), and biological indicators
like bacteria levels for drinking water, aquatic life are often established by organizations like the
World Health Organization (WHO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits in the U.S.,
SON and NSDWQ standards in Nigeria. Presented in Table 4, is the water quality parameters
and limits and their remarks.

Table: 4: Selected Water Quality Parameters and Limits

Parameter Maximum permissible limits Remarks

pH 6.5 – 8.5 Ensure water is neither too acidic nor
alkaline
Turbidity 5 NTU High turbidity may indicate
contamination
Total dissolved solids (TDS) 500 mg/L Affects taste and palatability
Nitrate (NO3) 50 mg/L High levels harmful to infants
Lead (Pb) 0.01 mg/L Toxic even at low concentrations
Iron (Fe) 0.3 mg/L Aesthetic concerns; stains laundry
Fluoride (F-) 1.5 mg/L Excess causes dental/skeletal issues
[Link] and Coliforms 0 cfu/100 mL Indicates fecal contamination
Chlorine (Residual) 0.2 – 0.5 mg/L Ensure disinfection

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