Water quality parameters as indicators to study the interactions of nanoparticles in an aqueous environment

•The change in the surface charge of inorganic colloids due to NPs interactions was indicated by the change in hardness, chloride, TDS & colour removal.•At alkaline pH, the isomorphous substitution of high valence Si4+ by low valence NPs was indicated by the reduction in hardness, chlorides and TDS.•The water quality parameters in the solution greatly influenced the replacement of hydroxyl ions by anionic species from the solution.