If you want to analyze the heavy metals by AAS or ICP, then acid digestion of samples will be very efficient. To determine nitrate UV-Visible spectrometer is widely used. TDS can be measured by Conductivity meter or by simple conventional method of boiling of water. Also there is some mathematical correlation of TDS with electrical conductivity.

You can follow the "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" of "American Public Health Association (APHA)"

If you want to analyze the heavy metals by AAS or ICP, then acid digestion of samples will be very efficient. To determine nitrate UV-Visible spectrometer is widely used. TDS can be measured by Conductivity meter or by simple conventional method of boiling of water. Also there is some mathematical correlation of TDS with electrical conductivity.

You can follow the "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" of "American Public Health Association (APHA)"

Numerical methods

Nitrates in the water samples you can determine by UV-Visible spectrophotometer. For determination the thermotolerant coliforms I think that Method 1604 by EPA: Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli in Water by Membrane Filtration Using a Simultaneous Detection Technique (MI Medium) should be a good option. For TDS there is a standard method (Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater).

Very Thank You!

Farah Tasneem TDS can be measured by Conductivity meter or by simple conventional method of boiling of water (TDS = EC*.65 by Matteb)?

Dra Tijana Milićević and Farah Tasneem Do you have any link for references? EPA or other?

And for locations that do not have such equipment that are quite expensive, would not there be a cheap, homemade solution?

Best Regards

Dear Hussein A. M. Al-Zubaidi

What Numerical methods?

Can you indicate a link with more details?

Best Regards

I meant using the numerical methods for temporal and spatial analysis in surface and underground waterbodies.

Nitrate by spectro photometer,

Colliform bacteria analysis in microbiological lab

TDS by TDS digital meter

This is the website of EPA National Service Center for Environmental Publications: nepis.epa.gov. There you can find all the procedures by the number. The following references (websites) can help you: https://www.standardmethods.org/

https://beta-static.fishersci.com/content/dam/fishersci/en_US/documents/programs/scientific/technical-documents/white-papers/apha-water-testing-standard-methods-white-paper.pdf

https://www.edgeanalytical.com/wp-content/uploads/Waste_SM4500-NO3-.pdf

Normal tests for lower atomic number contaminat elements can be conducted in enviornmental laboratory and for coliform bacterial in the microbiology lab and for heavy metals and rare earth metals,XRF spetrometer results can be analysed. The permissible limits can be compared with WHO norms. 2018

Thank You Dra Tijana Milićević

Best Regards

I recommend dear Dr. Tijana Milićević

I wanted to neglect the fact you mentioned economical. But then I knew that standard methods exist for water quality studies , check Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. The stress is on standard methods. Therefore use AAS for the required parameters, get your water quality test kits and do the needful. Check out a publication on my profile on the impacts of urbanization on groundwater. I analysed for nitrates, TDS and conductivity too. TDS can be resolved with TSS/ TS

Thank you Charles Anukwonke

Very interesant your work in Nigeria.

Best Regards!

TDS easily determine by TDS digital meter. Colliform bacteria analysis in microbiological lab

Leônidas Luiz Volcato Descovi Filho, TDS can be calculated by multiplying the EC value with factor from 0.5 to 0.70 in respect to the quality of the water sample used. If the water is clean and fresh then 0.5 factor can be used. If it is saline water then the factor could be 0.70.

You can see the pdf below

So true Md. Saiful Islam

I agree with Dr. Saxena’ answer.

Subhasis Basu

I received little information on economic methods.

Regards

I think that the EPA National Service Center for Environmental Publications: nepis.epa.gov is a good choice on economic methods

Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater

Assessment and evaluation of water quality based on the standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater.

In order to determine the water quality, the efficient methods of analysis are well described in "Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater", published by APHA. Here both economic as well as costly methods are there. In cases of analysis of micro amount, generally, costly and sophisticated methods are applied. Toxic substances are present in micro level and determination are costly.

ICP - OES for trace elements and coliforms for microbial analysis.

Before discussing on the most economical and efficient way of analysing surface and Groundwater samples, it is important to talk about the sampling methods. They way and manner water samples are collected greatly affect the outcome of the analysis irrespective the instrumentation. The ICP-MC and GC are very effective, efficient and economical on the long run as a result of their high precision.

Yes I know that ICP-MC and GC Method is quite effective, efficient and economical but is there any place in Nigeria that have this type of high precision equipment. I am very interested in using it for my future research in water quality assessment. Thank you and Kind Regards