I understand that an ORP meter is a portable tester that gives quick ORP (oxidation reduction

potential) reading of water, in mV.

I wish to know if this reading can be used to test the water quality, and if it can be used the
method or working of it. And also on how to analyse the data generated ( limits of ORP for good
quality water).
Can this reading give knowledge about dissolved oxygen status, pathogens or other parameters
that can be of importance for drinking water quality?
Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), otherwise called redox potential or Eh, is a measure of a
water systems capacity to oxidise (i.e., lose electrons) or reduce (i.e., gain electrons). Reduced
substances in water predominate when Eh is negative and oxidized substances predominate when
Eh is positive. Low-oxygen water is known from its low Eh and high-oxygen water from its high
Eh.
Eh can be measured using a pH meter with millivolt reading capability with automatic
temperature compensator; 0.1-mV sensitivity; scale to at least 1,400 mV; BNC connector and
redox electrodes (either platinum and reference electrode or combination electrode). ZoBells
solution is the standard solution used for testing the redox instrument and aquaregia for cleaning
electrodes.
Hydrogen-ion concentration (pH), on the other hand, characterises the relative state of a system
for receiving or donating hydrogen ions to act as a base or an acid. Although pH is a commonly
determined constituent to understand the chemistry of natural waters, the same is not true with
Eh. No limits for Eh in drinking water or wastewater discharged into the environment are
prescribed.
Determination of Eh has not become popular owing to difficulties inherent in its theoretical
concept and its practical measurement. It has only a limited use when water is from a clean
environment and devoid of redox-active species such as metals such as iron, strong oxidising
agents such as chlorine and strong reducing agents such as sulphite. Adding oxygen to reduced
water results in soluble divalent iron oxidising into insoluble trivalent iron for easy removal
through filtration.
It is known that unfavourable values of Eh in water can cause excessive corrosion of pipelines.
The life span of bacteria in water is more dependent on Eh rather than on chlorine concentration.
Thus, water with more than 700 mV Eh and near neutral pH does not generally allow any
bacteria to survive in it. A value between 350 and 390 mV is best suited for fish to survive in salt
water aquariums. Provided that the system configuration is suitable, the redox potential can be
used for the process control of a water treatment system.

The Redox Potential ( Eh )can be measured using an ORP tester. But certain precaution one has
to take
i. The tester has to be standardized using Zobell Solution. It consists of Potassium Ferro cyanide,
potassium ferricyanide and potassium Chloride. It has a standard potential of 428 at 25 degree
centigrade.
ii. As oxidation-reduction state of water will change on exposure to the atmosphere Eh
measurements have to be carried out in a sealed flow cell at the wellhead preferably.
iii. To get a stabilized Eh measurement it may take up to 30 minutes.
iv. The electrode of Eh meter consists of platinum foil /wire which get temporarily poisoned
when the sulphide concentration is high. So it needs to be polished to get an accurate stable
result.
The redox potential value is for qualitative measurements and can be used to understand the
nature of metal species in the solution and possible corrosive effect of ground water upon well
materials.
When pH and Eh are plotted together on an Iron stability diagram one can find out the waters
tendency to corrode or protect iron surface of a borewell made out of Iron.
ORP meter does indicate the dissolved oxygen content in water. If water has organic matter
balance, it will use up the oxygen present in it. In case of treated water from plant, there shall be
oxygen scavenging. Thus, ORP meter is a device for the plant operator to get the reading which
he/she shall be able to use for inference of the plant parameters.
The manual of the plant provider shall provide information on how to use the meter as well as
the meaning of the readings obtained under different situations
This versatile instrument is not taught and used extensively in the water industry because the
reading can easily get interfered by pH or heavy metal contamination.
Without the contamination, ORP shows the dissolved oxygen status of water. Positive
reading(zero to 999 mV) indicates positive oxygen balance and negative reading(zero to -999
mV) shows deficit of oxygen(BOD). Positive reading, thus indicates zero BOD.
Let us first see how pH affects this reading.

Lemon water has high ORP, this is why we use lemon in our food and also to wash our hands
after a good meal. This is also a reason why we used to clean our utensils in the past, using a
lemon peal.
It is nitrates that reduce the ORP, negative ORP breeds pathogens and pests, also may create
odour.
Negative ORP can be 'manipulated' by using limited amount of organic acids.
Higher pollution, however, needs an alkali for such a manipulation. That is why we use soap to
clean ourselves, our dishes and clothes. People who take bath without any soap, are probably
cleaner and hence use just plain water is wash away their sins(nitrates).
Use of chlorine produces acidity, this is why chlorine is used to manipulate ORP of drinking
water.
Use of alum or copper sulphate is also practised by 'smart' people to get 'blue water' in their
swimming pools, this is also ORP manipulation.
Pathogens and pests can easily 'fooled' by such a manipulation. Later, we also get fooled when
the heavy metals take our toll.

Water Pollution Continuous Monitoring Technology in Japan

Principles of Analyzers for Water Pollution Continuous Monitoring

2. Automatic Analyzers for Water Pollution Monitoring Station

2.2 Oxidation-Reduction Potential(ORP) Meter
1. Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP)
When metal is immersed in a solution, electric potential is detected according to that solution.
This electric potential represents the oxidation or reduction force of the solution. This force
(potential difference) is called the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the solution, from
which the oxidation or reduction ability of the solution can be obtained.
To measure the ORP, noble metals such as platinum and gold are used. Since the potential
difference cannot be detected by merely using a metal electrode, a reference electrode is used in
combination with the metal electrode.
2. Measuring Method
The ORP meter consists of a metal electrode, a reference electrode, and a potentiometer. The
metal and reference electrodes are immersed in the solution to be measured, and then the electric
potential between the two electrodes is measured. Thus, the ORP of the solution is measured.

The ORP meter is used for wastewater treatment. Since cyanic compound wastewater is very
toxic, chlorine or a hypochlorous acid solution is generally added to decompose CN ions through
oxidation. However, chlorine or a hypochlorous acid solution is minimized because it is strong
oxidizing agent. It is used in the ORP meter to measure the ORP and to control the residual
amount of hypochlorous acid. It is also used to monitor the reaction state of activated sludge in
the activated sludge treatment process at a sewage disposal plant. In addition, chlorine or a
hypochlorous acid solution may sometimes be used to measure the ORP of sedimentary sludge in
rivers and other water areas so that the state of that sludge can be found.
The measurable range of the ORP meter is generally between -1200 and +1200 mV, between
-1000 and +1000 mV, or between -700 and +700 mV.

Fig.4.2.3 Configuration of the ORP meter