# Part 2: Description of Water Quality - [Chapter 5: Microbial Quality of Drinking Water (Updated 2022)](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5.md) - [5.1 Introduction](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.1-introduction.md) - [5.2 Microorganisms in drinking water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.2-microorganisms-in-drinking-water.md) - [5.3 Assessing microbial risk](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.3-assessing-microbial-risk.md) - [5.4 Enteric pathogens](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.4-enteric-pathogens.md) - [5.4.1 Enteric pathogens of concern in drinking water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.4-enteric-pathogens/5.4.1-enteric-pathogens-of-concern-in-drinking-water.md) - [5.4.2 Contamination of source waters with enteric pathogens](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.4-enteric-pathogens/5.4.2-contamination-of-source-waters-with-enteric-pathogens.md) - [5.4.3 Management of risk from enteric pathogens](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.4-enteric-pathogens/5.4.3-management-of-risk-from-enteric-pathogens.md) - [5.5 Opportunistic pathogens](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.5-opportunistic-pathogens.md) - [5.6 Cyanobacteria](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.6-cyanobacteria.md) - [5.7 Nuisance organisms](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.7-nuisance-organisms.md) - [5.7.1 Organisms causing taste and odour problems](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.7-nuisance-organisms/5.7.1-organisms-causing-taste-and-odour-problems.md) - [5.7.2 Organisms causing colour problems](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.7-nuisance-organisms/5.7.2-organisms-causing-colour-problems.md) - [5.7.3 Deposits due to iron and manganese-oxidising bacteria](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.7-nuisance-organisms/5.7.3-deposits-due-to-iron-and-manganese-bacteria.md) - [5.7.4 Corrosion problems due to iron and sulfur-metabolising bacteria](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.7-nuisance-organisms/5.7.4-corrosion-problems-due-to-iron-and-sulphur-bacteria.md) - [5.7.5 Problems caused by large numbers of microorganisms](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.7-nuisance-organisms/5.7.5-problems-caused-by-large-numbers-of-microorganisms.md) - [5.8 References](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.8-references.md) - [Chapter 6: Physical and Chemical Quality of Drinking Water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6.md) - [6.1 Introduction](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.1-introduction.md) - [6.2 Physical quality of drinking water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.2-physical-quality-of-drinking-water.md) - [6.2.1 An overview of physical characteristics](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.2-physical-quality-of-drinking-water/6.2.1-an-overview-of-physical-characteristics.md) - [6.2.2 Approach used in derivation of guidelines values for physical characteristics](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.2-physical-quality-of-drinking-water/6.2.2-approach-used-in-derivation-of-guidelines-values-for-physical-characteristics.md) - [6.3 Chemical quality of drinking water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.3-chemical-quality-of-drinking-water.md) - [6.3.1 Inorganic chemicals](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.3-chemical-quality-of-drinking-water/6.3.1-inorganic-chemicals.md) - [6.3.2 Organic compounds (Revised 2011)](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.3-chemical-quality-of-drinking-water/6.3.2-organic-compounds-revised-2011.md) - [6.3.3 Approach used in derivation of guideline values for chemicals](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.3-chemical-quality-of-drinking-water/6.3.3-approach-used-in-derivation-of-guideline-values-for-chemicals.md) - [6.4 Differences between Australian and WHO guideline values](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.4-differences-between-australian-and-who-guideline-values.md) - [6.5 National and international guideline values (2016)](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.5-national-and-international-guideline-values-2016.md) - [6.6 References](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-6/6.6-references.md) - [Chapter 7: Radiological Quality of Drinking Water (Updated 2022)](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7.md) - [7.1 Introduction](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.1-introduction.md) - [7.2 Sources of radiation in the environment and in drinking water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.2-sources-of-radiation-in-the-environment-and-in-drinking-water.md) - [7.3 Health effects of radiation](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.3-health-effects-of-radiation.md) - [7.4 Exposure to radiation](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.4-exposure-to-radiation.md) - [7.5 Units of radioactivity and radiation dose measurement](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.5-units-of-radioactivity-and-radiation-dose-measurement.md) - [7.5.1 Units of radioactivity and radiation dose](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.5-units-of-radioactivity-and-radiation-dose-measurement/7.5.1-units-of-radioactivity-and-radiation-dose.md) - [7.5.2 Converting intake to radiation dose](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.5-units-of-radioactivity-and-radiation-dose-measurement/7.5.2-converting-intake-to-radiation-dose.md) - [7.5.3 Average dose of radiation](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.5-units-of-radioactivity-and-radiation-dose-measurement/7.5.3-average-dose-of-radiation.md) - [7.6 Approach for derivation of reference levels and screening values for radionuclides](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.6-approach-for-derivation-of-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-radionuclides.md) - [7.6.1 System for radiation protection](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.6-approach-for-derivation-of-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-radionuclides/7.6.1-system-for-radiation-protection.md) - [7.6.2 Estimation of the dose from radionuclides in water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.6-approach-for-derivation-of-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-radionuclides/7.6.2-estimation-of-the-dose-from-radionuclides-in-water.md) - [7.6.3 Estimation of risk from low-level radiation](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.6-approach-for-derivation-of-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-radionuclides/7.6.3-estimation-of-risk-from-low-level-radiation.md) - [7.6.4 Reference levels and screening values for drinking water](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.6-approach-for-derivation-of-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-radionuclides/7.6.4-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-drinking-water.md) - [7.6.5 Application of reference levels](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.6-approach-for-derivation-of-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-radionuclides/7.6.5-application-of-reference-levels.md) - [7.6.6 Remedial measures](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.6-approach-for-derivation-of-reference-levels-and-screening-values-for-radionuclides/7.6.6-remedial-measures.md) - [7.7 References](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-7/7.7-references.md) - [Chapter 8: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals (Revised 2006)](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8.md) - [8.1 Introduction](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.1-introduction.md) - [8.2 Scope and limit of application of this chapter](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.2-scope-and-limit-of-application-of-this-chapter.md) - [8.3 Overview of chemical treatment processes](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes.md) - [8.3.1 Control of algae](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.1-control-of-algae.md) - [8.3.2 Coagulation and flocculation](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.2-coagulation-and-flocculation.md) - [8.3.3 Adsorption](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.3-adsorption.md) - [8.3.4 Softening](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.4-softening.md) - [8.3.5 Oxidation](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.5-oxidation.md) - [8.3.6 Disinfection](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.6-disinfection.md) - [8.3.7 Adjustment of pH](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.7-adjustment-of-ph.md) - [8.3.8 Addition of buffering capacity](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.8-addition-of-buffering-capacity.md) - [8.3.9 Corrosion inhibition](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.3-overview-of-chemical-treatment-processes/8.3.9-corrosion-inhibition.md) - [8.4 Public health measures](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.4-public-health-measures.md) - [8.4.1 Fluoridation](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.4-public-health-measures/8.4.1-fluoridation.md) - [8.5 Assessment of Chemicals acceptable for use in drinking water treatment (revised 2016)](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.5-assessment-of-chemicals-acceptable-for-use-in-drinking-water-treatment-revised-2016.md) - [8.5.1 Chemicals assessed prior to 2004](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.5-assessment-of-chemicals-acceptable-for-use-in-drinking-water-treatment-revised-2016/8.5.1-chemicals-assessed-prior-to-2004.md) - [8.5.2 New water treatment chemicals](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.5-assessment-of-chemicals-acceptable-for-use-in-drinking-water-treatment-revised-2016/8.5.2-new-water-treatment-chemicals.md) - [8.6 Quality assurance for drinking water treatment chemicals](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.6-quality-assurance-for-drinking-water-treatment-chemicals.md) - [8.6.1 Risks associated with drinking water chemicals](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.6-quality-assurance-for-drinking-water-treatment-chemicals/8.6.1-risks-associated-with-drinking-water-chemicals.md) - [8.6.2 Managing risks](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.6-quality-assurance-for-drinking-water-treatment-chemicals/8.6.2-managing-risks.md) - [8.6.3 Specifications for the supply of drinking water treatment chemicals](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.6-quality-assurance-for-drinking-water-treatment-chemicals/8.6.3-specifications-for-the-supply-of-drinking-water-treatment-chemicals.md) - [8.7 Monitoring and analytical requirements](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.7-monitoring-and-analytical-requirements.md) - [8.8 Contaminants in drinking water treatment chemicals](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.8-contaminants-in-drinking-water-treatment-chemicals.md) - [8.9 Useful contacts](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.9-useful-contacts.md) - [8.10 References](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-8/8.10-references.md) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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