Abstract:
In this study, physical, chemical and biological characterizations of water samples collected from Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) and Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG) from Sectors G-9, G-10, F-10, I-8, and F-8, Islamabad, Pakistan were studied. Sampling was done three times at 10 different locations, which are sources of drinking water for students over there. Samples were collected in sterilized plastic bottles for analysis. The Physical parameters including pH, E.C (µs/cm), TDS (ppm), Salt (ppt) and Temperature (C) were measured using a Multi-Parameter Tester. Chemical parameters including Carbonate (CO3-), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Na2CO3 (Sodium Carbonate), NaHCO3 (Sodium Bicarbonate), Na⁺ (Sodium), Cl⁻ (Chloride), NaCl (Sodium Chloride), Alkalinity, Hardness and Arsenic concentration were calculated by standard methods. Water Samples were analyzed bacteriologically for total viable count by heterotrophic plate count method in three media culture plates namely Nutrient Agar (NA), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) Agar and Salmonella, Shigella (SS). The Results for Electric Conductivity of samples from IMCG (I-8/4), IMCB (I-8/3), IMCB (I-10/4), IMCG (G-9/1), IMCB (F-8/4), IMCG (F-8/1), IMCB (F-10/4) and IMCG (F-10/2) were exceeding the permissible limits prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO) which is 400 µS/cm. Microbial Analysis showed that water samples contain microbial counts of different bacteria grown on nutrient agar. The quality of drinking water of government institutes of Islamabad must be monitored by relevant regulatory authorities. The government as well as public participation is needed to remediate and solve the problem.
