Barium and water quality
Barium: Barium is a yellowish-white alkaline earth metal. Barium combines with water to
produce barium hydroxide and is found in nature as barites, BaSO4, witherite (BaCO3) and other
ores. Barium and its salts are often used in metallurgical industries for special alloys, in paints,
and concrete. Because of the insolubility of most of its compounds, it is not considered to be an
ecological threat.
Criteria: The allowable level for water to be used as a domestic water supply is 1.0 mg/L.
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