What do water quality standards regulate?

Water quality standards are regulations that establish the acceptable levels of specific contaminants and other characteristics essential to ensuring that water is safe for human consumption and environmental protection. These standards are designed to protect public health by limiting the concentration of harmful substances, including chemicals, pathogens, and pollutants in water sources.

Acceptable water quality levels encompass aspects such as microbiological quality, chemical contaminants, and physical parameters that affect health and the ecosystem. Regulatory agencies, following established guidelines, set these standards to monitor and maintain the quality of drinking water and other bodies of water to ensure they are safe for their intended uses.

While acceptable water temperature levels, water pressure regulations, and water taste requirements may be important factors in various contexts, they do not fall under the general framework of water quality standards focused specifically on safety and pollution levels. The primary intent of water quality standards is to protect human and environmental health from the adverse effects of contaminated water.