Factors That Affect Water Qualities

The term water quality is applied universally to refer to the water that meets the universal standards set for legitimate and vital water use at any scale i.e. local, regional and international levels. The evolution of the term water quality has been due to the expansion of water requirements and ability to measure and interpret water characteristics. The definition of water quality depends on the factors that determine it, and other variables that affect the nature of the water resource. Pollution and degradation of water quality interferes with legitimate and vital water use at any scale i.e. local, regional and international levels. Water quality criteria, standards and the related legislation are used as the main administrative means to manage water quality in order to achieve user requirements. The most common national requirements for drinking water of suitable quality for many countries are based on the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO, 1984, 1993.) guidelines for drinking water quality. Water quality standards for surface waters vary significantly due to different environmental conditions, ecosystems and intended human uses.