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Physical Characteristics of Water

Scientist ClipartThe physical characteristics of water are perhaps the oldest set of factors that people have used to assess water quality.  For the most part, these features can be crudely evaluated simply by using our five senses, although special instruments are used to accurately measure them.  The five most commonly considered physical characteristics are temperature, taste, colour, odour and turbidity.

 
 
Reprinted from Focus On Water Quality  (1993) with permission of Alberta Environment.
Updated July 26th, 2001 by KP