Physical and chemical characteristics of drinking water in coastal area of Taluka Keti Bandar, Sindh, Pakistan: A case study

Abstract

The present study was carried out for quantitative assessment of the drinking water quality consumed by people of area under study. Physico-chemical parameters like pH, TH, EC, TDS, Cl-, SO42- HCO3-, NO3—N, o-PO43--P, F-, and Turbidity were determined. Titration and spectroscopic methods were used to analyze SO42-, NO3-—N, o-PO43---P, F-, and Turbidity. The Ca2+ and Mg2+ were measured with complexometric titration procedure, while Na+ and K+ were determined by FAAS. The study showed that pH, nitrate-nitrogen and fluoride were found within the safe limit of the WHO. The TDS (1000 mg/L) and EC (1500 mg/L) of twelve villages were found above permissible limit. Samples of two villages Ali Hassan Mirgh Baloch and Pir Usman Shah Jhaloo showed high TH content. The chloride content was found within the safe limit only in three villages M. Essa Khaskheli, Abdullah Mallah and Haji Gul Muhammad Jat, whereas higher chloride content was found in the remaining villages. Higher sulfate content of 292 mg/L was observed in drinking water of Village Ali Ahmed Mirgh Baloch, while drinking water samples of all other villages under study were found safe for sulphate content. In the water of eight villages turbidity was found higher than allowable limit of 5 (NTU). Concentration of macro elements such as, Ca2+ (191 – 33 mg/L), Mg+2 (22 – 92 mg/L), Na+ (56 – 345 mg/L) and K+ (1 – 11 mg/L) were measured in the groundwater samples. Analytical data revealed that there are different parameters which may cause aesthetic and health hazards in the studied area.