ASSESSMENT OF BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF DRINKING WATER QUALITY OF KOTLI SATTIAN, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Water is the necessity of life. Water is not only needed for quenching thirst but is also required to regulate body temperature, carry nutrients and oxygen to the cells, help in digestion of food, and excretion of waste from the body. This study was conducted to determine the water quality of Kotli Sattian. A total of 30 samples were collected to analyze the physio-chemical concentration by using standard operating procedures and titration methods; the micro biological contamination (total coliform and S.S for the Salmonella and Shigella) was tested by the standard plate count method. The results shows that pH range (7.07-8.35) mg/l. TDS ranged (130-246) mg/l, total hardness range (0.7-0.88) mg/l, Total solid range (34.8-178), electrical conductivity ranged (63.9-349) us/cm, chloride range (17.7-81.5) mg/l, sodium range from (29.3-32) mg/l. All the results were compared with WHO, NEQs and NSDWG guidelines, it was found that TDS, TS, sodium, and chlorides were below the permissible limits, while pH was above the minimum permissible limits of 7 in all samples. The chemical parameters were also tested in the same samples and results show that all were below the permissible limits except the ORP value in Water sample 2,3,5,11,13,14,16,23,24, and 26 shows the value above the maximum limit. All water samples showed the presence of bacteria in it with bacterial counts ranging from 09 to 106. The presence of total coliform was detected in sample 11, 12, and 13, while the presence of Salmonella and Shigella (SS) were detected in the sample 4,5,9,11 and 14 value ranging from 1 to 3, while the sample 12 contain 11 value SS and sample 19 and 24 contain SS value 55 and 56 respectively. All water samples collected showed the presence of bacteria and thus is unfit for drinking purposes.