Drinking water quality assessment of groundwater in Bara Khao, Islamabad (P-0767) (MFN 3004)

Abstract

Eight samples of groundwater are analyzed for the determination of hydrochemistry. The variables analyzed include the cations Ca, K, Mg, Na and anions NO3, HCO3, SO4, Cl and Total dissolved solids (TDS), Hardness, Turbidity, pH, alkalinity and Electrical conductivity (EC). The samples were selected at random locations to cover the whole area for the understanding. The standard procedures were adopted by American Public Health Association (APHA). The samples were analyzed at the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) laboratory. The results of the samples compared with the standards by World Health Organization (WHO) and Pakistan Standards Quality Control Association (PSQCA) showed that the groundwater is in a state of vulnerability by the anthropogenic activities in the study area. Nitrate was found out to be the main contaminant in the study area. The spatial variation suggests that the behavior of the nitrate was anomalous that is probably related to the use of fertilizers. TDS and Calcium were lower in concentration in the groundwater. The Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Nitrate and Magnesium had higher values than the standards. Hardness also showed higher concentration but within the permissible limits of World Health Organization (WHO). Alkalinity, Potassium and Bicarbonate had no WHO guidelines.