Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality : Guideline technical document - turbidity

Turbidity also has different implications for water quality and treatment depending on the nature of the particles involved and the location of the turbidity within the drinking water system. [...] Turbidity has different implications for water quality and treatment depending on the nature of the particles involved and the location of the turbidity within the drinking water supply chain. [...] An understanding of the type and source of the turbidity can be valuable when assessing the implications on the water quality or treatment. [...] Turbidity levels above this value may be acceptable depending on a variety of factors including the source water quality, the nature of the particles causing the turbidity and the design and operation of the treatment system. [...] The manner in which particles interfere with light transmittance is dependent on a number of factors, including the size, shape, number, composition, colour and refractive index of the particles, the wavelength (colour) of light that falls on them and the refractive index of the water.