Parameter	Acceptable Limit	Permissible Limit (absence of alternatives)
pH	6.5 to 8.5	No relaxation
Free residual chlorine	0.2 Mg/litre	1 Mg/litre
Turbidity	1 NTU	5 NTU
Total hardness	200 Mg/litre	600 Mg/litre
Total alkalinity	200 Mg/litre	600 Mg/litre
Chloride	250 Mg/litre	1000 Mg/litre
Ammonia	0.5 Mg/litre	No relaxation
Phosphate	0.3 Mg/litre	1 Mg/litre
Iron (in hotspots only)	1 Mg/litre	No relaxation
Nitrate	45 Mg/litre	No relaxation
Sulphate	200 Mg/litre	400 Mg/litre
Total dissolved solids	500 Mg/litre	2000 Mg/litre
Fluoride	1 Mg/litre	1.5 Mg/litre
Arsenic (in hotspots only)	0.01 Mg/litre	No relaxation
Bacteriological test for Total coliform bacteria and E. coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria	Shall not be detectable in any 100 ml sample