Abstract:
Fresh water resources of Pakistan are being deteriorated in terms of quality and quantity
and the effects are being disseminated due to over population and climate change. The
inhabitants of Wah Cantonment generally consume drinking water from community sources
such as filtration plants, tube wells and household sources such as bore wells and tap water.
This study aimed to assess the Physico chemical, heavy metal and biological parameters in
filtration plants, tube wells and storage tanks that supply water to the community of Wah
Cantonment. Heavy metal in drinking water samples were analyzed using atomic absorption
spectrometer. Some of the parameter like pH, was analyzed on site whereas physicochemical
and heavy metals were carried out in environmental laboratory of Pak EPA by using standard
procedure. Result of research samples showed that the physicochemical parameters (pH,
Conductivity, TDS, and Chloride) in all the sources were found below the permissible limit
but total hardness was found in higher concentration within few samples of tube wells, filtration
plants, and storage tanks water sample above the permissible limit of Pak EPA. Heavy metal
concentration i.e. copper , cadmium and manganese, were found within permissible limit of
Pak EPA whereas few metals such as arsenic, aluminum , cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel,
and selenium were found below detection level .The microbial analysis of filtration plant
revealed that the filtration units and storage tank water had microbial contamination. The study
concluded that microbial contamination was the main water quality issue of Wah Cantonment
instead of trace elements pollution.
