Testing water at regular intervals over an extended period of time is usually an important component of water quality testing. Often, water quality tests are conducted on the premise. Water that is determined safe for one use may be unacceptable for another.
The following categories are used for making recomendations on water use:
domestic and industrial
use
total
body contact recreation-- swimming, skin diving, and windsurfing
partial
body contact recreation-- fishing and boating
protection
of aquatic organisms-- fish
agricultural
uses-- livestock watering, irrigation, and spraying
commercial
uses-- navigation, hydroelectric, and steam generated electric power
Many physical, chemical, and biological parameters are measured to determine the overall quality of water. However, the quality of water is based not only on the concentration of substances but also on the intended use of the water. A person utilizing water for drinking would have a different set of criteria for determining the water quality compared with a person using the water for swimming. The following parameters are often used for monitoring water quality.
