1. Water supply Physical Characteristics of Water Ghada Kassab, PhD
1/4/2018
Water supply
Physical Characteristics of Water
Ghada Kassab, PhD
Civil Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering and Technology

2. 1/4/2018
Water quality
Drinking water is expected to be clear, colorless, odorless, and free of harmful chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms.
However natural waters usually contain some degree of dissolved, particulate and microbiological constituents, which are obtained from surrounding environment. Table followed
Geological Weathering
"Weathering involves two processes that often work in concert to decompose rocks. Both processes occur in place. No movement is involved in weathering. Chemical weathering involves a chemical change in at least some of the minerals within a rock. Mechanical weathering involves physically breaking rocks into fragments without changing the chemical make-up of the minerals within it. Itصs important to keep in mind that weathering is a surface or near-surface process. As you know, metamorphism also produces chemical changes in rocks, but metamorphic chemical changes occur at depth where either the temperature and/or pressure are significantly higher than conditions found on the Earthصs surface. "
"As soon as a rock particle (loosened by one of the two weathering processes) moves, we call it erosion or mass wasting. Mass wasting is simply movement down slope due to gravity. Rock falls, slumps, and debris flows are all examples of mass wasting. We call it erosion if the rock particle is moved by some flowing agent such as air, water or ice."

3. Quality is described with four categories; Physical characteristics
1/4/2018
Quality is described with four categories;
Physical characteristics
Inorganic chemical characteristics
Organic chemical characteristics
Biological characteristics
Accordingly water’s Physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics need to be considered in the design and operation of a supply system.
physical characteristics are usually associated with the appearance of water, its color or turbidity, temperature and in particular taste and odor

4. Physical characteristics of water Turbidity Particles Color
1/4/2018
Physical characteristics of water
Turbidity
Particles
Color
Taste and color
Temperature
Turbidity:
a trubidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
WHO report that turbidity< 5 NTU
Particles:
Water treatment considers particles in the size range m.
particles larger than 1m are called SS.
Particles between m are colloidal particles.
Constituents smaller than 0.001m are classified as dissolved particles
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn, reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the production of DO.
Sources of turbidity include:
Soil erosion
Waste discharge
Urban runoff
Eroding stream banks
Large numbers of bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom sediments
Excessive algal growth.

5. Physical characteristics
1/4/2018
Physical characteristics
Turbidity measures the optical clarity of water. It is caused by the scattering and absorbance of light by suspended particles in the water .
It measures how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water.
Decrease of water clarity means increase of turbidity due to suspended and colloidal particles.
Turbidity is measured using a trubidimeter which measures the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
Turbidity:
a trubidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
WHO report that turbidity< 5 NTU
Particles:
Water treatment considers particles in the size range m.
particles larger than 1m are called SS.
Particles between m are colloidal particles.
Constituents smaller than 0.001m are classified as dissolved particles
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn, reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the production of DO.
Sources of turbidity include:
Soil erosion
Waste discharge
Urban runoff
Eroding stream banks
Large numbers of bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom sediments
Excessive algal growth.

6. 1/4/2018
Particles
Particles are solids larger than molecules but are generally not distinguished by the unaided eye. They may adsorb toxic metals or synthetic organic chemicals.
Water treatment considers particles in the size range of m.
Particles larger than 1m are called suspended solids,
In water Suspended solids mainly include: soil particles (sand, silt and clay), algae and protozoa cysts.
Turbidity:
a trubidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
WHO report that turbidity< 5 NTU
Particles:
Water treatment considers particles in the size range m.
particles larger than 1m are called SS.
Particles between m are colloidal particles.
Constituents smaller than 0.001m are classified as dissolved particles
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn, reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the production of DO.
Sources of turbidity include:
Soil erosion
Waste discharge
Urban runoff
Eroding stream banks
Large numbers of bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom sediments
Excessive algal growth.
protozoa

7. Colloidal particles include bacteria and organic debris
1/4/2018
particles between about and 1 m can be considered colloidal particles.
Colloidal particles include bacteria and organic debris
bacteria
Constituents smaller than m are called dissolved particles.
Dissolved particles present the salt of the water, that is the sum of the anions and cations.
Total solids are the solids remaining after evaporating a sample.

8. 1/4/2018
3. Color
Color is due to fine suspended material, colloids and dissolved organic matter leached from decomposing organic debris such as leaves and week.
Some streams and rivers that drain areas of red clay soils may be reddish during flood periods because of colloidal clay in suspension that cause turbidity.
Some surface and groundwater may have color due to the presence of certain metals ions, such as iron and manganese.
Water with iron will be brownish to reddish
Water with manganese will be brownish to blackish
Turbidity:
a trubidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
WHO report that turbidity< 5 NTU
Particles:
Water treatment considers particles in the size range m.
particles larger than 1m are called SS.
Particles between m are colloidal particles.
Constituents smaller than 0.001m are classified as dissolved particles
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn, reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the production of DO.
Sources of turbidity include:
Soil erosion
Waste discharge
Urban runoff
Eroding stream banks
Large numbers of bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom sediments
Excessive algal growth.
The color is due to fine suspended materials (precipitate of iron and manganese oxides)
Apparent color is generally due to turbidity
True color is due to dissolved substances.

9. 1/4/2018
4. Taste and odor
In surface water taste and odor are due to:
organic compounds from algal growth or other microbial growth.
Decomposing of organic matter such as leaves, weeds or grasses.
Industrial organic chemicals
Synthetic detergents.
Agricultural chemicals
Chlorine may react with certain organic compounds to produce products that cause tastes and odor.
In groundwater: taste and odor are usually from dissolved gases, such as hydrogen sulfide that has a distinct rotten egg odor and is very offensive.
Turbidity:
a trubidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
WHO report that turbidity< 5 NTU
Particles:
Water treatment considers particles in the size range m.
particles larger than 1m are called SS.
Particles between m are colloidal particles.
Constituents smaller than 0.001m are classified as dissolved particles
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn, reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the production of DO.
Sources of turbidity include:
Soil erosion
Waste discharge
Urban runoff
Eroding stream banks
Large numbers of bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom sediments
Excessive algal growth.

10. Threshold odor number (TON)
1/4/2018
Both taste and odor are measured by diluting the sample until the taste or odor is no longer detectable by analyst.
Threshold odor number (TON)
Is the total volume of diluted sample divided by sample volume.
For example: a sample of 20 ml was diluted with 40 ml water, when the odor is not detectable, The TON is (20+40)/20 = 3
For taste the test is called Flavor threshold number (FTN)
Turbidity:
a trubidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
WHO report that turbidity< 5 NTU
Particles:
Water treatment considers particles in the size range m.
particles larger than 1m are called SS.
Particles between m are colloidal particles.
Constituents smaller than 0.001m are classified as dissolved particles
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn, reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the production of DO.
Sources of turbidity include:
Soil erosion
Waste discharge
Urban runoff
Eroding stream banks
Large numbers of bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom sediments
Excessive algal growth.

11. 1/4/2018
5. Temperature
Groundwater temperature vary with depth and the characteristics of aquifer.
Generally the temperature of groundwater is relatively constant throughout the year.
Surface water temperature vary according to the source of the water.
The temperature of surface water varies significantly throughout the year due to seasonal climatic change.
Level of dissolved temperature is effected with temperature.
Turbidity:
a trubidimeter is used to measure the interference of the light passage through the water. Turbidity is reported in terms of nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
WHO report that turbidity< 5 NTU
Particles:
Water treatment considers particles in the size range m.
particles larger than 1m are called SS.
Particles between m are colloidal particles.
Constituents smaller than 0.001m are classified as dissolved particles
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.
Higher turbidity increases water temperatures because suspended particles absorb more heat. This, in turn, reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) because warm water holds less DO than cold. Higher turbidity also reduces the amount of light penetrating the water, which reduces photosynthesis and the production of DO.
Sources of turbidity include:
Soil erosion
Waste discharge
Urban runoff
Eroding stream banks
Large numbers of bottom feeders (such as carp), which stir up bottom sediments
Excessive algal growth.