Assessment of physiochemical characteristics of drinking water quality in Kohat Development Authority, NWFP, Pakistan
Keywords:
Drinking Water quality; physio-chemical and biological characteristics; KDAAbstract
This study was conducted to investigate the physiochemical characteristics of drinking water in Kohat Development Authority (KDA). Water samples were collected from various point and non point sources located at different sectors of phase1 and 11 in the study area. Several analytical techniques including titration, flame photometer, spectrophotometer, and multi water quality checker were used to determine the quality of the drinking water in the area under investigation. The findings indicated that all physical parameters such as temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total solid and total dissolved solid were within the permissible limits of WHO for drinking water. Whereas the values of total suspended solids in few samples were found beyond the permissible limit particularly collected from phase-11. The chemical parameters include sodium, potassium, sulphates, nitrates, nitrites and chloride contents were within their respective permissible limits set by WHO. The values of total hardness of all samples except one fall within the permissible limit. Whereas the calcium and magnesium values in terms of hardness were found higher in few samples as compared to WHO standards. The overall analytical data suggested that the higher values of calcium and magnesium contents and total suspended solid in few samples, particularly collected from phase-11, reflect the presence of dissolved bi-carbonates released into the water aquifer from sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomite and gypsum. Such type of hardness in the water is considered as temporary and non hazardous and can be removed easily by simple boiling or Clark’s method (by adding Calcium Hydroxide) and filtration, respectively. It is concluded that the drinking water of KDA is safe in all respect for drinking purposes.
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