| S.No. | Checkpoint | IS Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. PHYSICAL PARAMETERS | |||
| A1 | Color: Colorless or clear; no visible discoloration (visual inspection in glass) Acceptance: Water clear and colorless, acceptable limit <5 units (Hazen scale) | Cl. 4.1 — Color limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A2 | Odor: Odor-free or pleasant; no musty/chemical smell (olfactory test) Acceptance: No objectionable odor, acceptable if threshold odor number <3 | Cl. 4.2 — Odor limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A3 | Turbidity: Clear water, <1 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) measured with turbidimeter Acceptance: Turbidity reading <1 NTU, acceptable visibility at 30 cm depth in 100 mm glass | Cl. 4.3 — Turbidity limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A4 | Taste: Tasteless; no sweet/salty/metallic taste (taste test by authorized personnel only) Acceptance: No objectionable taste, acceptable threshold <2 | Cl. 4.4 — Taste | OK NC NA HOLD |
| B. CHEMICAL PARAMETERS | |||
| B1 | pH: Measured in range 6.5-8.5 (slightly acidic to neutral); using calibrated pH meter Acceptance: pH 6.5-8.5, measured with pH meter ±0.2 accuracy, calibrated before use | Cl. 5.1 — pH limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| B2 | Residual Chlorine: 0.2-0.5 mg/L (for treated water); measured using DPD colorimetric method or test kit Acceptance: Residual chlorine 0.2-0.5 mg/L (DPD method), <1.0 mg/L max, measured within 2 hours of sampling | Cl. 5.2 — Chlorine residue | OK NC NA HOLD |
| B3 | Total Hardness: <200 mg/L (acceptable limit); measured by titration or test kit (EDTA method) Acceptance: Hardness <200 mg/L CaCO3, measured by EDTA titration, acceptable up to 300 mg/L in some areas | Cl. 5.3 — Hardness limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| B4 | Iron (Fe): <0.3 mg/L; measured using colorimetric test or AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) Acceptance: Iron <0.3 mg/L, measured by approved method, no rusty coloration in water | Cl. 5.4 — Iron limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| B5 | Fluoride (F): 0.6-1.2 mg/L (optimal for dental health); measured using ion-selective electrode or colorimetric method Acceptance: Fluoride 0.6-1.2 mg/L, not >1.5 mg/L (risk of dental fluorosis), measured by approved method | Cl. 5.5 — Fluoride limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| C. MICROBIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS | |||
| C1 | Bacterial Count (Total): <10 CFU/mL (Colony Forming Units); cultured on nutrient agar at 37°C for 24 hours Acceptance: Total bacterial count <10 CFU/mL, cultured per ISO 6222, counted after 24-48 hour incubation | Cl. 6.1 — Bacterial limit | OK NC NA HOLD |
| C2 | E. coli / Fecal Coliforms: ABSENT (0 CFU/100 mL sample); cultured on selective media (MacConkey/EMB agar) Acceptance: Zero E. coli in 100 mL sample, tested using most probable number (MPN) or membrane filter technique | Cl. 6.2 — Pathogenic bacteria | OK NC NA HOLD |