Table 4 Selected water quality guidelines (Baran et al. 2022; Brusseau and Artiola 2019; Dettori et al. 2022; WHO 2021)
From: A review of the current status of the water quality in the Nile water basin
Element | WHO limits (mg/L) | EC limits (mg/L) | US EPA limits(mg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Arsenic | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
Fluoride | 1.5 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
Chromium | 0.05 | 0.025 | 0.1 |
Copper | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 |
Lead | 0.01 | 0.005 | 0.015 |
Nickel | 0.07 | 0.02 | – |
Manganese | 0.08 | 0.05 | – |
Cadmium | 0.003 | 0.005 | 0.005 |
Mercury | 0.006 | 0.001 | 0.002 |
Nitrate (as NO3) | 50 | 50 | 10 |
Nitrite (as NO2) | 3 | 0.5 | 1 |
Aldrin and dieldrin | 0.00003 | – | unregulated |
2,4-D | 0.03 | – | 0.07 |
Eldrin | – | – | 0.002 |
Chlorpyrifos | 0.03 | – | – |
Lindane | 0.002 | – | 0.0002 |
Methoxychlor | 0.02 | – | 0.04 |
Metolachlor | 0.01 | – | unregulated |
Benzo[a]pyrene | 0.0007 | 0.00001 | 0.0002 |
DDT and metabolites | 0.001 | – | – |
pH | 6.5–8.5 | – | – |
Dioxin | – | – | 0.00000003 |
Glyphosate | – | – | 0.7 |