What term defines the degree of purity of water by measuring substances in the water besides water molecules?

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The degree of purity in water is described by water quality. Water quality covers the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, looking at substances dissolved or suspended in the water in addition to the water molecules themselves. By testing for a range of contaminants—such as dissolved ions, metals, organic compounds, and microorganisms—and evaluating properties like pH, conductivity, and turbidity, we assess whether the water meets regulatory standards and is suitable for its intended use. That broad focus on how clean or impure the water is, across many potential substances, makes it the best answer.

Potability is about whether water is suitable to drink, which is related but narrower. Hardness refers specifically to calcium and magnesium content, and turbidity measures cloudiness from suspended particles; neither describes overall purity the way water quality does.