Water quality standards for health and survival of aquatic life: A review of the important parameters and the status of Iranian aquatic ecosystems

1. Introduction 1
1.1. A brief history of water quality importance 1
1.2. Specifications of water quality standards 4
1.3. Importance and benefits of water quality standards and criteria 5
1.4. Components of water quality standards 6
1.5. Objectives for the determination of water quality standards and criteria 7
2. Water quality parameters and standards 9
2.1. Chemical parameters 9
2.1.1 pH 9
2.1.2. Dissolved oxygen (DO) 13
2.1.3. Biochemical/ Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) 20
2.1.4. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 24
2.1.5. Hardness 27
2.1.6. Phosphate 29
2.1.7. Nitrite 34
2.1.8. Nitrate 36
2.1.9. Ammonia 39
2.1.10. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 43
2.1.11. Sulfate 45
2.1.12. Alkalinity 46
2.1.13. Trace elements 48
2.1.14. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) 87
2.1.15. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) 91
2.1.16. Pesticides 93
2.2. Physical parameters 103
2.2.1. Turbidity 103
2.2.2. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) 106
2.2.3. Temperature 110
2.2.4. Electrical Conductivity (EC) 115
2.2.5. Color 117
2.3. Bacteriological parameters 119
3. Water quality parameters in Iranian waters and comparison with the standards 125
3.1. Marine waters 127
3.1.1. Northern part of the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman 127
3.1.1.1. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (coastal area of Khuzestan Province) 127
3.1.1.2. Northern part of Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman 133
3.1.1.3. Northern part of the Persian Gulf 133
3.1.1.4. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (waters of Bushehr Province) 134
3.1.1.5. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (waters of Bushehr Province) 135
3.1.1.6. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (waters of Hormozgan Province) 135
3.1.1.7. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (waters of Bushehr Province) 136
3.1.1.8. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (coastal waters of Hormozgan Province) 139
3.1.1.9. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (waters of Hormozgan Province) 141
3.1.1.10. Northern part of the Persian Gulf (waters of Hormozgan Province) 141
3.1.2. Southern part of the Caspian Sea 142
3.1.2.1. Southern part of the Caspian Sea (2008-2009) 142
3.1.2.2. Southern part of the Caspian Sea (2009-2010) 143
3.1.2.3. Southern part of the Caspian Sea (2010-2012) 144
3.1.2.4. Southern part of the Caspian Sea (2010-2011) 145
3.1.2.5. Southern part of the Caspian Sea (2009-2010) 147
3.1.2.6. Southern part of the Caspian Sea (2011-2012) 148
3.2. Inland waters 149
3.2.1. Cheshmehkileh River 149
3.2.2. Yamchi (Balkhlichai) River 152
3.2.3. Aras River 153
3.2.4. Haraz River 155
3.2.5. Tajan River 158
3.2.6. Shahid Rajaei Reservoir 160
3.2.7. Zarrineh River 161
3.2.8. Bahookalat River 163
3.2.9. Anzali Wetland 165
3.2.10. Zayanderood River 166
3.2.11. Neur Lake 168
3.2.12. Gamasiab River 170
3.2.13. Bahmanshir River 172
3.2.14. Gahar-roud River 174
3.2.15. Shafarud River 175
References 177
Appendix 195