Abstract:
Field work was conducted from October-November, 2015 to study the impact of industrial effluents on ground water quality of Sector I-9, Islamabad. A total of 25 water samples were collected (11 waste water samples from industries/open drains and 14
ground water samples). The samples were analyzed for physiochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids), cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr). Physical parameters such as EC, pH and TDS
were analyzed on-site with the help of portable instruments. Cation analysis was done using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and heavy metal analysis was carried out by polarograph 797 Computrance VA-83 using Hanging Mercury Dropping Electrode (HMDE). After obtaining the results from on-site and laboratory analysis, statistical techniques such as Pearson’s correlation and Principal Component Analysis were employed for better interpretation of results. After analyzing water samples for the concentration of the aforementioned cations and heavy metals, it was found that Ca, Na, Pb and Cu in industrial effluent exceed WHO limits whereas ground water was found to be within limits. PCA results revealed that sources of cations appear to be natural whereas sources of heavy metals were possibly anthropogenic. Slight positive and negative relationships exist between the industrial effluents and ground water which revealed that industrial effluents presently do not affect the ground water quality. However, this does not negate the possibility of contamination of ground water in
future. Therefore, to prevent the water from potentially becoming contaminated and unsuitable for human consumption, it is advised that appropriate waste water treatment should be done prior to the discharge of effluents. Overall based on physiochemical properties, the ground water is found to be suitable for drinking purposes, but it is still recommended that biological parameters should also be analyzed to see the overall suitability of ground water for drinking purposes.
