Sulfate is a neutral and soluble compound. In the case of sulphate minerals (such as gypsum and hard gypsum), drinking water may show high levels of sulfate. Sulfates are released in several processes to enter the wastewater; and there are man-made cause, such as fertilizers and acid rain.
The WHO recommends that the amount of sulfate in drinking water should not exceed 250 mg/L SO42-, because high levels of sulphate can cause a bitter taste in water and can even cause lung corrosion. Therefore, it is very important to detect and control the content of sulfates in water bodies.
