Drinking Water Quality Assessment Of Government Schools Of Rawalpindi

Abstract

In this study, physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters of water samples gathered from Government School and Colleges of Rawalpindi, Pakistan were examined. Sampling was done at 20 different sites, which are source 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 (mg/l), Salt (mg/l) and Temperature (C°) were measured using a Multi Parameter Tester. Turbidity (NTU) was measured using Turbidity kit. Chemical parameters including Carbonate (CO3-), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Na2CO3, (Sodium Carbonate), NaHCO3 (Sodium Bicarbonate), Na+ (Sodium), Cl- (Chloride), NaCI (Sodium Chloride), Alkalinity and Hardness 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 shows that all the sample except FP7 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 Rawalpindi must be monitored by relevant regulatory authorities. The government as well as public participation is needed to remediate and solve the problem.