“Physiologically complete water is drinking water which has a favorable physiological effect on the human body due to its ion-salt composition, physico-chemical properties, the presence of biologically active and specific trace elements in it, as well as the initial microbiological composition of the drinking water supply source…” – said the Government Resolution of the Russian Federation N 132 from 09.03.2010.
The main parameters of physiologically complete water are described in the Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Norms of SanPiN 2.1.4.1116-02 “Drinking Water. Hygienic Requirements for the Quality of Water Packaged in a Container. Quality Control”. We will answer the following questions in accordance with this SanPiN:
- What should be healthy water like?
- What is physiologically complete water?
- What is the chemistry of drinking water?
Firstly, we need to understand how the water should smell and what taste and color it has. The table below describes the main indicators that can be determined even by a layman.
Organoleptic Limitations
| Indicators | Unit of measurement | Quality standards for packaged drinking water, max | Harmful index **) | Hazard rating | |
| 1st category | High category | ||||
| I. Aesthetic properties criteria II. а. Organoleptic indicators | |||||
| Smell at 20 С | Points | 0 | 0 | Org. | – |
| When heated to 60 С | 1 | 0 | |||
| After-taste | 0 | 0 | Org. | – | |
| Color | degrees | 5 | 5 | Org. | – |
| Turbidity | FMU | 1,0 | 0,5 | Org. | – |
| Hydrogen ion concentration (рН), in the range of | units | 6,5-8,5 | 6,5-8,5 | Org. | – |
| I. б. Salt composition indicators* | |||||
| Chlorides | g/l | 250 | 150 | Org. | 4 |
| Sulfate | 250 | 150 | Org. | 4 | |
| Phosphate (РО4) | 3,5 | 3,5 | Org. | 3 | |
But the chemical indicators of drinking water can only be obtained in a certified laboratory. The table shows the main chemicals and compounds that are harmful to humans, therefore their concentration is strictly controlled. It should be noted that this list contains only the most common pollutants.
Restrictions on chemical elements and compounds
| Indicators | Unit of measurement | Quality standards for packaged drinking water, max | Harmful index ** | Hazard rating | |
| 1st category | High category | ||||
| II. Chemical safety criteria:
II.а. Salt and gas composition indicators *: |
|||||
| Silicates (Si) | mg/l | 10 | 10 | s-t | 2 |
| Nitrates (NO3) | -“- | 20 | 5 | org. | 3 |
| Cyanides (CN(-)) | -“- | 0,035 | 0,035 | s-t | 2 |
| Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) | -“- | 0,003 | 0,003 | org.zap. | 4 |
| II.б. Toxic Metals: | |||||
| Aluminum (Al) | mg/l | 0,2 | 0,1 | s-t | 2 |
| Barium (Ba) | -“- | 0,7 | 0,1 | -“- | 2 |
| Beryllium (Be) | -“- | 0,0002 | 0,0002 | -“- | 1 |
| Iron (Fe, total) | -“- | 0,3 | 0,3 | org. | 3 |
| Cadmium (Cd, total) | -“- | 0,001 | 0,001 | s-t | 2 |
| Cobalt (Co) | -“- | 0,1 | 0,1 | s-t | 2 |
| Lithium (Li) | -“- | 0,03 | 0,03 | s-t | 2 |
| Manganese (Mn) | -“- | 0,05 | 0,05 | org. | 3 |
| Copper (Cu, total) | -“- | 1 | 1 | -“- | 3 |
| Molybdenum (Mo, total) | -“- | 0,07 | 0,07 | s-t | 2 |
| Sodium (Na) | -“- | 200 | 20 | s-t | 2 |
| Nickel (Ni, total) | -“- | 0,02 | 0,02 | s-t | 3 |
| Mercury (Hg total) | -“- | 0,0005 | 0,0002 | s-t | 1 |
| Selenium (Se) | -“- | 0,01 | 0,01 | -“- | 2 |
| Silver (Ag) | -“- | 0,025 | 0,025 | s-t | 3 |
| Lead (Pb total) | -“- | 0,01 | 0,005 | s-t | 2 |
| Strontium (Sr (2+)) | -“- | 7 | 7 | -“- | 2 |
| Antimony (Sb) | -“- | 0,005 | s-t | 2 | |
| Chromium (Cr (6+)) | -“- | 0,05 | 0,03 | s-t | 3 |
| Zinc (Zn (2+)) | -“- | 5 | 3 | org. | 3 |
| II.в. Toxic non-metallic elements: | |||||
| Boron (B) | mg/l | 0,5 | 0,3 | s-t | 2 |
| Arsenic (As) | -“- | 0,01 | 0,006 | -“- | 2 |
| Ozone*** | -“- | 0,1 | 0,1 | org. | 3 |
| II.г. Halogens: | |||||
| Bromide ion | mg/l | 0,2 | 0,1 | s-t | 2 |
| Chlorine residual bound | -“- | 0,1 | 0,1 | org. | 3 |
| Chlorine residual free | -“- | 0,05 | 0,05 | org. | 3 |
| II.д. Organic Pollution Indicators: | |||||
| Oxidation Permanganate | mg O2/l | 3 | 2 | – | – |
| Ammonia and ammonium ion | -“- | 0,1 | 0,05 | ||
| Nitrite (NO2) | -“- | 0,5 | 0,005 | org. | 2 |
| Organic carbon | mg/l | 10 | 5 | – | – |
| Surface active agents | -“- | 0,05 | 0,05 | org. | – |
| (Surface active agents), anionic | |||||
| Oil products | -“- | 0,05 | 0,01 | org. | |
| Volatile phenols (total) | mkg/l | 0,5 | 0,5 | org.zap. | 4 |
| Chloroform | -“- | 60*** | 1 | s-t | 2 |
| Bromoform | -“- | 20 | 1 | s-t | 2 |
| Dibromochloromethane | -“- | 10 | 1 | s-t | 2 |
| Bromodichloromethane | -“- | 10 | 1 | s-t | 2 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | -“- | 2 | 1 | s-t | 2 |
| Formaldehyde | -“- | 5 | 5 | s-t | 2 |
| Benzapilene | -“- | 0,005 | 0,001 | s-t | 2 |
| Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | -“- | 6 | 0,1 | s-t | 2 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | -“- | 0,2 | 0,2 | s-t | 2 |
| Lindane (gamma isomer HCH) | -“- | 0,5 | 0,2 | s-t | 1 |
| 2,4-D | -“- | 1 | 1 | s-t | 2 |
| Heptachlor | -“- | 0,05 | 0,05 | s-t | 2 |
| DDT (sum of isomers) | -“- | 0,5 | 0,5 | s-t | 2 |
| Atrazine | -“- | 0,2 | 0,2 | s-t | 2 |
| Simazin | -“- | 0,2 | 0,2 | org. | 4 |
| II.е. Comprehensive toxicity indicators: | |||||
| According to amount of NO2 and NO3 | Units | < 0,5 | < 0,1 | – | – |
| According to amount of trihalomethane | -“- | < 0,5 | < 0,1 | – | – |
Bacteriological indicators are also determined in a certified laboratory, where specialists can professionally take samples and conduct an analysis.
Bacteriological indicators.
| Indicators | Unit of measurement | Quality standards for packaged drinking water, max | |
| 1st category | High category | ||
| IV.a. Bacteriological indicators: | |||
| Total microbial count at 37°C
Total microbial count at 22°C |
КОЕ/ml | Up to 20
Up to 100 |
Up to 20
Up to 100 |
| Common coliform bacteria | КОЕ/100 ml | Lack in 300 ml | Lack in 300 ml |
| Thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria | КОЕ/100 ml | Lack in 300 ml | Lack in 300 ml |
| Glucose-positive coliform bacteria | КОЕ/100 ml | Lack in 300 ml | Lack in 300 ml |
| Spores of sulfite-reducing clostridia | КОЕ/100 ml | Lack in 20 ml | Lack in 20 ml |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Lack in 1000 ml | Lack in 1000 ml | |
| IV.б. Virological indicators: | |||
| Coliphages | BОЕ/100 ml | Lack in 1000 ml | Lack in 1000 ml |
| IV.в. Parasitic indicators: | |||
| Cryptosporidium oocysts | qty /50 l | Lack | Lack |
| Giardia cysts | -“- | Lack | Lack |
| Helminth eggs | -“- | Lack | Lack |
And here is the most important table that defines those substances that should be in physiologically complete water.
Physiological adequacy of macro- and microelement composition of packaged water
| Indicators | Unit of measurement | The standards of physiological adequacy of drinking water, in the range of | Quality standards for packaged drinking water | |
| 1st category | High category | |||
| TDS, in the range of | mg/l | 100 – 1000 | 1000 | 200-500 |
| Rigidity | mEq / l | 1,5 – 7 | 7 | 1,5-7 |
| Alkalinity | -“- | 0,5 – 6,5 | 6,5 | 0,5-6,5 |
| Calcium (Ca) | mg/l | 25 – 130* | 130 | 25 – 80 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | -“- | 5 – 65* | 65 | 5 – 50 |
| Potassium (K) | -“- | – | 20 | 2 – 20 |
| Bicarbonates (HCO3) | -“- | 30 – 400 | 400 | 30 -400 |
| Fluoride ion (F) | -“- | 0,5-1,5 | 1,5 | 0,6 -1,2 |
| Iodide ion (J) | mkg/l | 10 – 125 | 125** | 40 – 60*** |
There is also an important note:
Notes:
* Estimated: based on the maximum allowable hardness of 7 mEq / l and taking into account the minimum required level of magnesium when calculating the maximum allowable calcium content and vice versa;
** Water iodization at the MPC level is allowed in the absence of iodine deficiency prophylaxis due to iodized salt, provided that the allowable daily dose (DD) of iodide ion, which comes from all environmental objects to the body;
*** Water iodization at the level of 30-60 mkg / l is allowed as a method of wide-scale prevention of iodine deficiency using other preventive measures.
**** The oxygen content in the packaged water must be at least:
– 5 mg / l – for water of the first category,
– 9 mg / l (saturation close to optimal at t – 20 – 22 °) – for water of the highest category.
