This guide presents all biological and chemical elements that can be found in the water with their impact on the quality when considering recreational uses, aquatic life or for consumption by animals or humans. Basic information on the processes involved with the contamination of water by these elements, the chemical and bacteriological reactions and the consequence on the environment and health are presented.

The guide consulted was in French but English version are also available. It is a very big guide and covers many possible contaminants that are not a concern in agriculture. However it contains interesting information particularly for nitrogen and bacteria. Most of the elements in the guide present a threat to health at high concentration.