Assessment Of Drinking Water Quality In University Town Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

The study was conducted to find physiochemical and biological contamination of drinking water in University Town Peshawar (UC-36). A total of Fifty (50) water samples were collected from various sources and analyzed in PCSIR lab. The physical parameters like pH (7.13-7.81), electrical conductivity (613-791 µS/cm), total dissolved solids (417- 597 mg/L) and turbidity (1-2 NTU) were within the permissible limits set by PCSIR, WHO and EPA. The chemical parameters analyzed included hardness (342-426 mg/L), chlorides (52-100 mg/L), sulphates (70-77 mg/L), sodium (30-36.8 mg/L), nitrites (0 mg/L) and alkalinity (135-246 mg/L). Most parameters were within the permissible limits except magnesium in some samples. Heavy metal concentrations of Nickel and Cadmium were found to be dangerously high at 0.175 mg/L and 0.6mg/L respectively. Microbiological analysis was carried out by testing for total plate count, total coliforms and fecal coliforms and 27 out of 30 samples crossed microbial contamination limits suggesting contamination of groundwater sources. A questionnaire survey containing different questions about water quality and waterborne diseases from 30 respondents showed that there is not a significant difference in the taste of water. It also indicated that the major source of contamination as groundwater, lack of proper cleaning of storage tank, rarely using measures to improve drinking water quality at household level. Lack of proper cleaning of water tanks, limited filtering/boiling of drinking water and lack of awareness on waterborne diseases was observed. The study concludes that the drinking water is contaminated in University Town which calls for monitoring of groundwater quality and proper supply system maintenance. It highlights the need for creating awareness on water borne diseases and building capacities for water quality testing.