1. When water is impure, it cannot be used for human consumption.
2. Small amount about 0.1% impurities in water also makes the water polluted.
3. In domestic sewage, there are dissolved salts such as nitrates, phosphates, other nutrients and toxic metal ions as well as organic compounds.
4. Sewage also contains biodegradable organic matter and harmful bacterial and virus.
5. Organic matter can be decomposed by bacteria and other microorganisms. But such water is not potable.
6. Industrial effluents also contain harmful heavy metals and other solids.
7. Solids can be easily removed from water but the dissolved salts cannot be separated.
8. Biodegradable organic matter in sewage water is calculated by measuring Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).