Physico-Chemical Assessment of Quality of Surface & Ground Water & its suitability for Drinking Purpose in Nawabshah City, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To determine the quality of surface and ground water and its suitability for drinking purpose in Nawabshah city, Sindh. Study Design: Comparative, observational study. Place & Duration: The work reports the analysis of groundwater and surface water samples collected from different towns ofNawabshah city during the period from 5th Dec, 2013 to 30th Jan. 2014. Material and Methods: Sixty five groundwater and sixty surface water samples ( water supply scheme) were collected from different parts of the Nawabshah city. Different physico-chemical parameters of water samples were measured at the field and in the laboratory. The conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured with Orion 115 conductivity meter at the field, p1-1 was recorded with Orion 420A pH meter. Total hardness, chloride and alkalinity were determined by titration with standard EDTA, silver nitrate and hydrochloric acid. Sulfate was determined by turbidimetty as BaSO4 using Hitachi spectrophotometer. The metal ions Na, K, Ca and Mg were determined with Varian Spectr AA-20 atomic absorption spectrometer with standard burner head and air acetylene flame at conditions recommended by the manufacturer. Results: The results of physical and chemical parameters of the water samples were varied in the following ranges. pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS) and concentration of essential metal ions Na, Ca, Mg and K. The results were varied within the ranges; pH 6.64-8.87, EC 240-10170 la S/cm and TDS 158-6050 mg/1, alkalinity 56-1225 mg/1, total hardness 84-1695 mg/1, chloride 32-1852 mg/I, sulfate 25-2170 mg/l. The concentration of essential metals was found in the ranges; Na 34-1725 mg/1, Ca 26-515 mgll, Mg 13-430 mg/1, K 2-92 mg/1 respectively. Presence of E.coli count ranged from 2-291100 as most probable number index/100 ml (MPN I 00/m1). Conclusion: The analysis revealed that a number of ground water samples (70%) confirm their majority of parameters above the maximum permissible limits prescribed by WHO. Therefore the ground water of Nawabshah city may not be considered as safe to be used for drinking purpose. However, out of 60 samples only four surface water samples may be used for drinking purpose.