Analysis of Drinking Water Quality of Tehsil Kotli Sattiyan, District Murree, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

A study was carried out in Murree, District Kotli Sattiyan, to evaluate the quality of drinking water. A total of 50 water samples from bore and spring sources were collected from ten randomly selected villages, with five samples taken from each village, including Lahtral, Chanat, Ghuniya, Batahal, Kotli, Parchan, Burj, Phofandi, Khalabut, and Bun. These samples underwent physicochemical, bacterial, and elemental analyses, alongside a questionnaire survey to assess villagers' perceptions regarding the quality of their drinking water. The physical parameters from bore water in villages Lahtral, Chanat , Ghuniya, and Batahal indicated that pH, salts, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) exceeded safe limits, while other parameters were within acceptable ranges. The water quality of the villages can be ranked in the following decreasing order: Chanat (2) > Ghuniya (3) > Batahal (4) > Lahtral (1). The villages Kotli, Parchan , Burj , Phofandi , Khalabut , and Bun had pH, Salt and (TDS) above the safe limits, and other parameters were within the permissible range. The quality can be shown in the following decreasing order: Bun (10) > Phofandi (8) > Khalabut (9) > Kotli (5) > Burj (7) > Parchan (6). The results of chemical parameters showed that villages Lahtral, Chanat, Ghuniya, Batahal had hardness, Alkalinity, magnesium and calcium ions above safe limits. Other parameters such as Na, Cl, (NaCl) were within the limits. The water quality of the villages can be ranked in the following decreasing order: Ghuniya (3) > Lahtral (1) > Chanat (2) > Batahal (4). The results of villages Kotli, Burj, Khalabut, Phofandi, Parchan, Bun had same parameters above the safe limits. The quality can be shown in the following decreasing order: Kotli (5) > Burj (7) > Khalabut (9) > Phofandi (8) > Parchan (6) > Bun (10). Total bacteria, SS species, and coliforms were found in all water samples. Village Batahal had poor water quality compared to the other three villages with the highest coliform and total bacterial species in groundwater samples. Villages Kotli and Bun had the highest number of coliforms and total bacterial species in the spring water samples, making it unfit for consumption. All elements in drinking water samples (Bore and spring) from 10 villages were within World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQs) limits, except for Selenium (Village Bun) and Barium (Villages Burj and Khalabut) which exceeded allowed limits. The study revealed that heavy metal levels in drinking water were within recommended limits, yet 70% of villages expressed concern about water quality. While 65% of respondents relied on boiling and handmade filters instead of Formal water testing, awareness of local water quality policies was low, with only 22.4% informed about them. The findings emphasized the urgent need for increased awareness and actions to ensure access to safe drinking water. Although respondents prioritized water quality, issues such as taste, odor, and residue were noted, there is a need for further research in this area.