STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR QUALITY OF WATER FOR DRINKING
Drinking Water Quality
In preparing the following table of parameters and maximum permitted limits, care has been taken to ensure
that flexibility is carefully managed and balanced taking into consideration water system economic
viability without unduly compromising the health of the consumers.
The substances in Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality are simply divided into the following;
Physical / organoleptic
Chemical organic and inorganic constituents
Disinfectants and disinfectants by-products
Radionuclides
Microbiological parameters
All drinking water shall at any time meet the minimum requirements set out in Tables 1-7
All water supplies intended for human consumption shall comply with Nigerian Standards for Drinking Water
Quality (NSDWQ) and shall receive authorization from Federal Ministry of Water Resources through the
National Reference Water Quality Laboratories and other 17025 accredited laboratories before being
supplied to the populace.
Parameters and Maximum Allowable Limits
Physical/Organoleptic Parameters
Drinking water shall meet the requirements of the physical/organoleptic parameters specified in Table 1.
Table 1 - Physical/Organoleptic Parameters
Maximum
Parameter Unit Permitted Levels Health Impact
Colour TCU 15 None
Odour - Unobjectionable None
Taste - Unobjectionable None
Temperature oCelsius Ambient None
Turbidity NTU 5 None
Drinking Water Quality
In preparing the following table of parameters and maximum permitted limits, care has been taken to ensure
that flexibility is carefully managed and balanced taking into consideration water system economic
viability without unduly compromising the health of the consumers.
The substances in Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality are simply divided into the following;
Physical / organoleptic
Chemical organic and inorganic constituents
Disinfectants and disinfectants by-products
Radionuclides
Microbiological parameters
All drinking water shall at any time meet the minimum requirements set out in Tables 1-7
All water supplies intended for human consumption shall comply with Nigerian Standards for Drinking Water
Quality (NSDWQ) and shall receive authorization from Federal Ministry of Water Resources through the
National Reference Water Quality Laboratories and other 17025 accredited laboratories before being
supplied to the populace.
Parameters and Maximum Allowable Limits
Physical/Organoleptic Parameters
Drinking water shall meet the requirements of the physical/organoleptic parameters specified in Table 1.
Table 1 - Physical/Organoleptic Parameters
Maximum
Parameter Unit Permitted Levels Health Impact
Colour TCU 15 None
Odour - Unobjectionable None
Taste - Unobjectionable None
Temperature oCelsius Ambient None
Turbidity NTU 5 None
