---
title: "Objectives of supply; wholesome water requirements"
subject: "Water Supply Engineering"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_5/water_supply_engineering:objectives-requirements-wholesome"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/objectives-requirements-wholesome
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Objectives of supply; wholesome water requirements

Water Supply Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2081 Baisakh, 2+2 marks; 2074 Chaitra, 2+2 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [What is Wholesome water Sterilized water , Contaminated water , Potable water , Polluted water etc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk2EzHF7C6Y) — Civil Engineering Power
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/objectives-requirements-wholesome
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/chapter-1

## Question

What are the objectives of a water supply scheme? Enlist the requirements of wholesome water.

## Short answer

Objectives: supply safe, adequate, affordable water at all times with good pressure, protect public health, support development. Wholesome water: free from pathogens and toxic substances, clear, colourless, odourless, pleasant taste, pH 6.5-8.5, low turbidity, zero E. coli per 100 ml, meets Nepal Drinking Water Standards.

## Answer

#### Objectives of a water supply scheme
1. To supply safe and wholesome water to all consumers.
2. To supply an adequate quantity of water for domestic, public, commercial, industrial and fire-fighting needs.
3. To supply water at all times, with sufficient pressure at the tap.
4. To protect public health by preventing water-borne diseases.
5. To make water available at an affordable cost and at convenient distances.
6. To promote economic development and better standards of living.

#### Requirements of wholesome water
Wholesome water is safe to drink and pleasant in appearance, taste and odour. It should:
- Be free from disease-causing organisms (bacteria, viruses, protozoa, worms).
- Be colourless, clear (low turbidity), odourless and pleasant in taste.
- Be free from toxic substances such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, fluoride and nitrate above their limits.
- Contain minerals in permissible amounts (hardness, iron, manganese, chloride, sulphate, TDS).
- Have a pH near neutral (6.5 to 8.5).
- Be free from excess dissolved gases and organic matter.
- Not be corrosive, and not cause scaling in pipes.
- Be palatable and cool, and be available in adequate amount.
- Meet the national standards (Nepal Drinking Water Quality Standards 2062) or WHO guideline values.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Wholesome water should have pH in the range:
   A. 4.0 to 6.0
   B. 6.5 to 8.5
   C. 9 to 11
   D. 1 to 14 any value
   Answer: B. The recommended pH is near neutral, 6.5 to 8.5. (Key point: pH range)

2. Wholesome water should be:
   A. Corrosive to clean pipes
   B. Scale forming to coat pipes
   C. Neither corrosive nor scale forming
   D. Highly mineralised
   Answer: C. Water must not be corrosive and must not cause scaling in pipes. (Key point: Corrosion)

3. Besides quality and quantity, a scheme should supply water:
   A. Only in the monsoon
   B. Only at night
   C. At low pressure always
   D. At all times with sufficient pressure at the tap
   Answer: D. Continuous supply with sufficient tap pressure is a stated objective. (Key point: Objective: pressure)

## Related in Water Supply Engineering

- [Wholesome water and its requirements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Awholesome-water-requirements) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Objectives of water supply and components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aobjectives-ws-rural-diagram) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Importance and objectives of water supply](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aimportance-objectives-ws) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1
- [Necessity and impacts of water supply scheme](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Anecessity-impacts-ws) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Potable, wholesome, polluted, contaminated water](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Apotable-wholesome-polluted-contaminated) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1
- [Potable, wholesome water; function in body](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Adefine-potable-wholesome-function) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1

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