Correct option is D
The correct answer is (d).
According to the highly strict Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) IS 10500:2012 code regulating exact drinking water quality, the "acceptable limit" for total massive water hardness is specifically 200 mg/L.
However, strictly in the "absence of an alternate source," the absolute maximum legally permissible extended limit rockets up to 600 mg/L.
Information Booster
- Total hardness is primarily caused by massive concentrations of completely dissolved divalent metallic cations, absolutely overwhelmingly dominated by calcium (Ca2+) and massive magnesium (Mg2+) ions.
- Hardness is universally expressed and quantified as totally equivalent milligrams of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) perfectly dissolved per single liter of water.
- Water exhibiting extreme hardness completely fails to form a stable lather with standard soaps, massively frustrating basic sanitation and generating immense amounts of scum.
- When vigorously heated in massive industrial boilers, hard water instantly drops severe, completely solid scale deposits, disastrously crushing thermal efficiency and causing catastrophic explosions.
- While consuming extremely hard water generally poses no severe direct medical threat (and may provide dietary calcium), massive 600+ mg/L levels taste intensely foul.
- Permanent hardness, strictly caused by massive dissolved chlorides and dense sulfates, completely requires highly advanced ion-exchange resins to effectively remove.
- Temporary hardness, strictly caused by massive dissolved bicarbonates, can be rapidly neutralized simply by vigorously boiling the massive water volume.
- Option A: 200 mg/L is accurately defined strictly as the absolute optimal "acceptable limit," universally desired when completely pristine water sources are heavily abundant.
- Option B: 250 mg/L strictly represents the exact "acceptable limit" exclusively for highly salty Chlorides under the exact same strict IS 10500:2012 water standard.
- Option C: 1000 mg/L strictly represents the absolute maximum legally permissible extended limit exclusively for massive Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), definitely not water hardness.
- Understanding precise chemical regulatory limits is the absolute bedrock for engineering massive, legally compliant municipal water purification infrastructure globally.