Comparative Study Of Physicochemical And Microbiological Parameter Of Water From Rawal Dam And Its Silt Control Tank

Abstract

Water plays vital role on this planet it is very important factor for living of almost every species. Water resource has been depleting, exploiting, and polluting day by day due to the exposure to different hazardous contaminants and misuse of water. Urbanisation and population growth increase the risk of water quality degradation of water resources. This study was conducted on physicochemical and microbiological analysis to determine the water quality of Rawal dam, its tributaries and their comparison with the water quality of silt control tank of Rawal dam which is WASA filtration tank. The main objectives of this research work was to access the water quality consumed by the public and to find out whether the water quality parameters are complying with the standards or not. Water sample were collected from the main Rawal dam, and from its tributaries which are entering the dam .All the five water samples were analyzed separately to get the results and were compared with water quality standard prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO) and PAK-EPA. The samples were collected in sterilized plastic bottles during the months of October and November 2019. Physicochemical and Biological parameters (pH, Temperature, Turbidity, ORP, EC, Salts, Total Hardness, Total alkalinity, Carbonates, Chlorides, Calcium, Magnesium, Total and Fecal coliform) were analyzed at the Chemistry Lab of Bahria University Islamabad campus. It was revealed from the results that most of the parameters from upstream to the main dam were exceeding the standards, while most of the parameters of Dam samples and all parameters of WASA water samples were within the permissible limits given by WHO and PAK-EPA. Microbiological analysis showed that the water samples contain high microbial counts of different pathogens like Salmonella, Shigella and Total Coliforms in Dam and its tributaries as compared to the WASA filtration plant (silt control tank). It is recommended to the regulatory authorities to analyze, inspect and monitor the drinking water quality regularly and it needs immediate attention of governmental bodies and public participation.