Water Quality Assessment of Filtration Plants Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the water quality of Islamabad filtration plants installed in the city. The total of 96 samples were analyzed for physicochemical, heavy metals and the micro-biological contamination (coliform/ E coli). The results showed that pH ranged from before treatment (6.85-7.92)mg/L and after treatment (6.91-7.93)mg/L, TDS ranged before treatment (379-750)mg/L, after treatment (305-521)mg/L, hardness ranged before treatment (265-315)mg/L, after treatment (175-533)mg/L, Electrical conductivity ranged before treatment (615-639)mg/L, after treatment (510-409)us/cm, Chloride ranged before treatment (31-39)mg/L, after treatment (30-32)mg/L. All the results were compared with NEQS guidelines, it was found that pH, TDS, hardness and Chlorides were within the permissible limits, while EC were above the permissible limits in few samples. The heavy metals such as iron, cadmium and manganese were also tested in the same samples and results show that iron were above the permissible limits in many samples while cadmium and manganese were within the permissible limits. The microbial analysis showed that out of 32 samples, water samples collected before filtration from I-10 Markaz, 1-10/2, 1-9 Mangal Bazar, 1-8/2, G-10/2, F-10/1, Pak secretariat, Parliament house, G-7/1, G-7/2 Sitara Market and 1-8/3 showed the presence of E.coli. Samples collected after filtration from 1-10 Markaz, I-10/2 Chanmbali road, G- 8/1, G-10/2 and F-10/1 showed the presence of E.coli. The biological analysis of water determines the portability of water. The reason for higher number of bacterial colonies might be due to inadequate maintenance of water, these results suggest that the regular monitoring and maintenance of filtration plants should be monitored.