Water is considered the most valuable resource for humans, as it serves the basic needs, but also helps perform all basic activities.
Urban concentration, industrial, and agricultural activity led to frequent contamination of drinking and irrigation water from harmful chemical and microbiological factors.
Greek and European legislation have established limits for the harmful parameters as well as monitoring frequency and quality.
Main focus is concentrated on water intended for human consumption, but in emphasis has been given to the water used for other livestock and commercial activities, such as animal breeding and swimming pools.
According to Joint Ministerial Decision Y2 / 2300/2001, only accredited by the National Accreditation System laboratories with ISO 17025 quality system standard, can perform reliable checks.
Standard Package Analysis (complete)
| Physicochemical parameters | Microbiological parameters |
|---|---|
| pH | Total Viable Count (TOC) 22oC |
| Conduction | Total Viable Count (TOC)37oC |
| Total Hardness | Total coliforms |
| Transient Hardness | Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
| Permanent Hardness | Enterococcus intestinal |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)(TDS) | Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Carbonates(CO3-2) | Clostridium perfringens |
| Bicarbonates (HCO3-2) | |
| Alkalinity (P) | |
| Alkalinity (H) | |
| Chlorides (Cl–) | |
| Nitrates(NO3–) | |
| Nitrites (NO2–) | |
| Ammonium (NH+4) | |
| Phosphorus (P2O5) | |
| Fluorine (F-) | |
| Sulfates (SO4-2) | |
| Calcium (Ca+2) | |
| Magnesium (Mg+2) | |
| Potassium (K+) | |
| Sodium (Na+) | |
| Copper (Cutot) | |
| Zinc (Zn+2) | |
| Manganese (Mn+2) | |
| Iron (Fe) | |
| Boron (B) | |
| Total chrome (Cr) | |
| Hexavalent Chromium(Cr+6) |
Water from Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a water purification system, by physicochemical and microbiological hazards. It includes a synthetic membrane, through which water is being filtered with normal urban network pressure.
Only water molecules pass through the specific material of this membrane, and collected absolutely clean, filtered as water on the other side.
Dirt and other harmful elements remain on the opposite side and discarded.
Even after the application of water purification system, a regular monitoring is required to verify its smooth operation.
This kind of monitoring includes detects only physicochemical parameters, which may deviate from the normal range.
| Physicochemical parameters (only) | |
|---|---|
| pH | Phosphorus (P2O5) |
| Ammonium (NH+4) | Φθόριο (F-) |
| Calcium (Ca+2) | Fluoride (NO3–) |
| Magnesium (Mg+2) | Sulfates (SO4-2) |
| Potassium (K+) | Barium (Βa+2) |
| Sodium (Na+) | Total silicates (SiO2) |
| Manganese (Mn+2) | Total organic carbon |
| Iron (Fe) | BOD5 |
| Boron (B) | COD |
| Carbonate (CO3-2) | Turbidity |
| Bicarbonates (HCO3-2) | Total Chromium (Cr) |
| Chloride (Cl–) | Hexavalent Chromium (Cr+6) |
Pilot monitoring based on Annex II of JMD Y2 / 2600/2011-892 B / 07.01.11), as amended and in force.
Purpose of pilot monitoring is to obtain data necessary to assess water quality (organoleptic and microbiological) before human consumption.
Equally important is the information obtained regarding the effectiveness of drinking water treatment/disinfection – if applicable.
| Physicochemical parameters | Microbiological parameters |
|---|---|
| pH | Total Viable Count (TOC) 22oC |
| Conduction | Total Viable Count (TOC) 37oC |
| Taste | Total coliforms |
| Odor | Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
| Colour | Enterococcus intestinal |
| Turbidity | Pseudomonas aeruginosa (water traded in bottles / cans) |
| Ammonium | Clostridium perfringens (only when total water volume is influenced by surface water) |
| Residual chlorine (only when used for the disinfection method of chlorination) | |
| Nitrite (only when used to disinfect chloramination) | |
| Iron (only when used as a flocculant) | |
| Aluminium (only when used as a flocculant) |
Audit monitoring under Annex II of JMD Y2/2600/2011 to -892 B/11.07.01), as amended and in force.
Purpose of audit monitoring is to provide necessary information to determine whether all the parametric values set by legislation are met.
| Physicochemical parameters | Microbiological parameters | |
|---|---|---|
| pH | Acrylamide | Total Viable Count (TOC) 22oC |
| Conductivity | Antimony | Total Viable Count (TOC)37oC |
| Oxidisability | Arsenic | Total coliforms |
| Nitrites | Benzol | Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
| Nitrates | Benzo-alpha-pyrene | Enterococcus intestinal |
| Ammonium | Cadmium | Pseudomonas aeruginosa (water traded in bottles / cans) |
| Chlorides | Chrome | Clostridium perfringens (only when total water volume is influenced by surface water) |
| Sulfates | 1,2-dichloroethane | |
| Fluoride | Εpichlorohydrin | |
| Phosphates | Lead | |
| Bromates | Mercury | |
| Cyanide | ||
| Residual chlorine | Extras: | |
| Boron | Pesticides | |
| Copper | Total pesticides | |
| Nickel | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | |
| Selenium | Tetrachloroethylene | |
| Aluminum | Trichloroethene | |
| Iron | Total trihalomethanes | |
| Manganese | Vinyl chloride | |
| Sodium | Total organic carbon | |
| Color | ||
| Taste | ||
| Odor | ||
| Turbidity | ||
Αdditional monitoring
At this point, sophisticated analyzes are performed when there is suspicion of the following risk factors.
| Physicochemical parameters | Microbiological parameters |
|---|---|
| PCB’s –PCT’s | Salmonella |
| Silver | Pathogenic staphylococci |
| Phenolic compounds | Stool bacteriophages |
| Hydrocarbons dissolved or emulsified – oils | Bowel viruses |
| Surfactants | Escherichia coli (E. Coli) O:157 |
| Phosphorus (P2O5) | Campylobacter |
| Dry residue | Parasitic organisms |
| Potassium | Algae |
| Hydrogen sulfide | Other molded elements (Zohar) |
Licencing for water irrigation & water suitable for animal drinking – JMD 150559 (1440/Β’/16.06.2011)
| Physicochemical parameters |
Microbiological parameters (only for animals) |
|---|---|
| pH | Total Viable Count (TOC) 22oC |
| Conduction | Total Viable Count (TOC)37oC |
| Total hardness | Total coliforms |
| Ammonium (NH+4) | Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
| Chlorides (Cl–) | Enterococcus intestinal |
| Nitrate (NO3–) | |
| Nitrite (NO2–) |
Water for irrigation/energy use JMD 150559 (1440/Β’/16.06.2011)
| Physicochemical parameters |
Microbiological parameters (only for animals) |
|---|---|
| pH | Total Viable Count (TOC) 22oC |
| Conduction | Total Viable Count (TOC)37oC |
| Total hardness | Total coliforms |
| Ammonium (NH+4) | Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
| Chlorides (Cl–) | Enterococcus intestinal |
| Nitrate (NO3–) | |
| Nitrite (NO2–) |
Swimming pool water – Medical accord C1/443/73
Microbiological control is essential for the proper operation of swimming pools and other recreational facilities such as spa and hydrotherapy pools.
Still any bathing areas as the sea, rivers, lakes, and spas should be under regular control since pathogens found in water grow multiply fast.
Also, chlorine test is performed to ensure proper function of pool disinfection system, according to current legislation.
| Physicochemical parameters | Microbiological parameters |
|---|---|
| pH | Total Viable Count (TOC) 37oC |
| Total Alkalinity | Total coliforms |
| Chlorine residual / total | Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
Legionella control
Legionella is a waterborne microrganism causing a serious disease known as the Pontiac fever (named after the 1968 mass infection incident in the homonymous town) & the even more serious Legionnaires disease (named after the homonymous incident at Legionnaires’ convention causing 34 deaths)
Sea Water & aquaculture
Instructions 2000/60 / EU and 91/493 / EU, specify necessary analyzes for quality control of aquacultures.
In regard to these instructions analysis packages have been created for sediment collected from full depth.
See water
|
Physicochemical parameters |
Microbiological parameters |
|
|---|---|---|
| pH | Nitrite (NO2ˉˉ) | Total Viable Count (TOC) 22oC |
| Conduction | Ammonium (NH4+) | Total Viable Count (TOC)37oC |
| Salinity | Phosphorus (P2O5) | Coliform bacteria (Total coliforms) |
| Turbidity | Calcium (Ca+2) | Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
| Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | Magnesium (Mg+2) | Enterococcus intestinal |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | Potassium (Κ+) | Salmonella spp. |
| B.O.D5 | Sodium (Na+) | |
| C.O.D. | Total Organic Carbon (Τ.Ο.C.) | |
| Chlorides (Cl– ) | Total Phosphorus(P) | |
| Nitrate (NO3ˉ ) | ||
Marine Sediment
| Parameter | Method |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Gravimetric @105 °C |
| Total Organic Carbon (TOC) | Walkley-Black |
| Total Nitrogen | AOAC 978.04 B |
| Phosphorus | AOAC 966.01 |
| Arsenic | Hydride-A.A.S. |
| Cadmium | ISO 15586 Annex B |
| Lead | ISO 15586 Annex B |
| Mercury | Hydride-A.A.S. |
| Copper | ISO 15586 Annex B |
| Chrome | ISO 15586 Annex B |
| Zinc | A.A.S. |