INVESTIGATION OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL PRAMETERS AND HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS OF DRINKING WATER IN WAH CANTONMENT, RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN

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.