# 8.7 Monitoring and analytical requirements

A quality-controlled system for management of drinking water treatment chemicals should be supported by appropriate testing and monitoring.

All chemicals used in water treatment should be tested, to check both the concentration of the active ingredients and the presence of contaminants relative to a specification. This is to ensure that the effectiveness of the treatment process, the quality of the water and the integrity of the assets are not compromised.

Requirements for testing by the manufacturer should be clearly defined in the specification, including testing methods. The amount, type of testing and whether NATA-certified results from an external laboratory are required may need to be negotiated to achieve a solution that is both effective and affordable. Clear statements as to the testing methods should be included in the specification. The specification should require test results to be available before the chemical delivery is unloaded at the water authority’s plant, to allow operational staff on site to reject delivery if specified requirements are not met.

Various physical characteristics can also be examined as part of the quality assurance program. Table 8.3 lists simple suggested acceptance criteria for some water treatment chemicals that could be applied by operational staff on site at the treatment plant. These criteria rely on human senses or simple equipment.

### Table 8.3 Acceptance criteria for some water treatment chemicals <a href="#table-8-3" id="table-8-3"></a>

| Chemical                                               | Tests            | Acceptance criteria                                                                                                      |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Aluminium chlorohydrates                               | Visual           | Clear, colourless liquid                                                                                                 |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.32–1.35 at 25°C                                                                                                        |
|                                                        | pH               | 3.5–4.5                                                                                                                  |
| Aluminium sulfate (alum)                               | Visual           | Clear colourless to pale brown (free of solids)                                                                          |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.28–1.34 at 20°C                                                                                                        |
|                                                        | pH               | 2.3–2.8                                                                                                                  |
| Ammonia                                                | Visual           | Colourless gas or liquid                                                                                                 |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 0.8 as a liquid                                                                                                          |
| Ammonium sulfate                                       | Visual           | Off-white crystal                                                                                                        |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.77 at 20°C                                                                                                             |
| Calcium hydroxide (hydrate lime)                       | Visual           | Soft, white crystalline powder                                                                                           |
|                                                        | Solubility       | 0.165g/100g of saturated solution at 20°C                                                                                |
|                                                        | Bulk density     | 450–560 kg/m³                                                                                                            |
| Calcium hypochlorite                                   | Visual           | White crystalline solid, practically clear in water solution                                                             |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 2.35 in liquid                                                                                                           |
| Calcium oxide (quick lime)                             | Visual           | Grey-white solid (sometimes yellowish to brown)                                                                          |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 3.2 – 3.4 as calcium hydroxide                                                                                           |
|                                                        | Bulk density     | <p>1030 kg/m³ (pebble); </p><p>1050 kg/m³ (powder)</p>                                                                   |
| Carbon, powder activated, granular activated (PAC/GAC) | Visual           | Black solid (PAC 20-50 μm; GAC 0.7 – 1.2 mm)                                                                             |
|                                                        | Density          | 250–600 kg/m³                                                                                                            |
| Copper sulfate                                         | Visual           | Blue crystal, crystalline granule or powder                                                                              |
| Ferric chloride                                        | Visual           | Brownish-yellow or orange crystalline form                                                                               |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 42% solution: 1.45 at 20°C                                                                                               |
|                                                        | pH               | 42% solution: 1–2                                                                                                        |
| Ferric sulfates                                        | Visual           | Yellow crystal or greyish-white powder, or a red-brown liquid solution.                                                  |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | Liquid solution: 1.5–1.6                                                                                                 |
| Hydrochloric acid                                      | Visual           | Clear colourless to clear yellow (free of solids)                                                                        |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 28% solution: 1.14 at 20°C                                                                                               |
| Hydrofluorosilicic acid (fluorosilicic acid)           | Visual           | Colourless to pale yellow liquid                                                                                         |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 22% solution: 1.18 at 20°C                                                                                               |
| Hydrogen peroxide                                      | Visual           | Colourless syrupy liquid (concentrations from 20% to 60%)                                                                |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.07–1.24 at 20°C                                                                                                        |
|                                                        | pH               | 1–4                                                                                                                      |
| Hydroxylated ferric sulfate                            | Visual           | Translucent, dark red (free of solids)                                                                                   |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.45–1.6 at 25°C                                                                                                         |
|                                                        | pH               | < 2                                                                                                                      |
| Polyacrylamides                                        | Visual           | White crystalline solid, supplied as a powder or aqueous solution, dispersed in light mineral oil                        |
| Polyaluminium chlorides (10%)                          | Visual           | Pale yellow, slightly cloudy liquid                                                                                      |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.18–1.22 at 20°C                                                                                                        |
|                                                        | pH               | 10% solution: 2.2–2.8                                                                                                    |
| Polyaluminium silica sulfates                          | Visual           | Slightly cloudy liquid, clear to yellow (free of solids)                                                                 |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.32–1.36 at 25°C                                                                                                        |
|                                                        | pH               | 2.8–3.6                                                                                                                  |
| Potassium permanganate                                 | Visual           | Odourless, dark purple crystal with blue metallic sheen                                                                  |
| Sodium aluminates                                      | Visual           | White powder, or clear colourless to pale amber liquid                                                                   |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | Liquid solution: 1.4–1.6                                                                                                 |
|                                                        | pH               | Liquid solution: 14                                                                                                      |
| Sodium bicarbonate                                     | Visual           | White powder or crystalline lumps, soluble in water (60 g/L at 20°C)                                                     |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 2.159 at 20°C                                                                                                            |
|                                                        | Solubility       | 96 g/L at 20°C                                                                                                           |
|                                                        | Bulk density     | 1000 kg/m³                                                                                                               |
|                                                        | pH               | 10 g/L solution: 8.4                                                                                                     |
| Sodium carbonate (soda ash)                            | Visual           | Greyish-white powder                                                                                                     |
|                                                        | Bulk density     | 1000 kg/m³ (dense); 500 kg/m³ (light)                                                                                    |
| Sodium fluoride                                        | Visual           | White, odourless powder (or crystal), easily soluble in water                                                            |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 2.78 at 20°C                                                                                                             |
|                                                        | Bulk density     | 1040 – 1440 kg/m³                                                                                                        |
|                                                        | pH               | <p>1% solution – 6.5</p><p>4% solution – 7.6</p>                                                                         |
| Sodium fluorosilicate                                  | Visual           | White or yellowish white, odourless, crystalline powder                                                                  |
|                                                        | Bulk density     | 880 – 1150 kg/m³                                                                                                         |
| Sodium hexametaphosphate                               | Visual           | White granular powder                                                                                                    |
|                                                        | Bulk density     | 800–1500 kg/m³                                                                                                           |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)                        | Visual           | White, deliquescent solid)                                                                                               |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | <p>30% solution: 1.33</p><p>46% solution: 1.48</p>                                                                       |
| Sodium hypochlorite                                    | Visual           | Pale yellow green                                                                                                        |
| Sodium silicate                                        | Visual           | Lumps of greenish glass, white powders of varying degrees of solubility, or cloudy or clear liquids of varying viscosity |
| Sodium tripolyphosphate                                | Visual           | White powder or granular solid                                                                                           |
|                                                        | pH               | 9.8 (aqueous solution) to 10.5 (slurry)                                                                                  |
| Sulfuric acid                                          | Visual           | Dense, oily, colourless to dark brown liquid.                                                                            |
|                                                        | Specific gravity | 1.2–1.85 at 20°C                                                                                                         |
| Zinc orthophosphate                                    | Visual           | Clear odourless liquid                                                                                                   |


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