Table 7 Maximum acceptable concentration for drinking water according to the WHO (2004) and Egyptian Standard (Eg. St. 2007), and the related measurements in the studied area
Constituent | Unit | Maximum acceptable concentration (WHO 2004) | Egyptian maximum permissible limits (EHCW 2007) | Concentration range for the studied samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
pH |  | 6.5–8.5 | 6.5–8.5 | 6.45–9.45 |
Electric conductivity (EC) | µmhos/cm | 1500 | – | 340–8000 |
Total dissolved solids (TDS) | ppm | 1000 | 1000 | 1972–6217 |
Total hardness (TH) | mg/l (CaCO3) | 500 | 500 | 34–960 |
Sodium (Na) | ppm | 200 | 200 | 49.30–1950 |
Calcium (Ca) | ppm | 200 | 200 | 15.23–611.52 |
Magnesium (Mg++) | ppm | 150 | 150 | 4.20–532.26 |
Potassium (K+) | ppm | 10 | – | 0.39–320.80 |
Chloride (Cl) | ppm | 250 | 250 | 40.40–3200 |
Sulfate (SO4–) | ppm | 400 | – | 72–580 |
Bicarbonate (HCO3–) | ppm | 200 | 250 | 6.10–628 |
Nickel (Ni) | ppm | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01–0.6 |
Lead (Pb) | ppm | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.05 |
Iron (Fe) | ppm | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.05–0.46 |
Manganese (Mn) | ppm | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.11–0.221 |