The characteristics of water which define its use in terms of physical, chemical, biological, bacteriological or radiological characteristics by which the acceptability of water is evaluated  
Notes:
Some parameters being used to monitor water quality are: Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) which is a measure of the approximate quantity of oxygen required by bacteria to decompose organic matter in water; Electrical Conductivity which is a measure of salt water intrusion in ground water; Total Colliform Count which indicates fecal contamination in water.