Assessment Of Drinking Water Quality Using Physicochemical Parameters In Durbakheil, Tehsil Halimzai, District Mohmand, Pakistan

Abstract

Water is one of the most essential natural resources in order to maintain life and environmental balance. The availability of clean and safe drinking water is the most important to human health. This study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical quality of drinking water in Durbakheil, Tehsil Halimzai, Mohmand District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of fifteen groundwater samples were manually obtained at the various locations in line with the standard sampling procedures and later analyzed in the Environmental Science Laboratory. The parameters studied included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride and total alkalinity. The obtained values were compared with the allowable values of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) on drinking water. The pH was recorded between 6.79 and 7.21, which showed the presence of neutral water. The value of electrical conductivity was 611 to 1374 µS/cm, and total dissolved solids were 400 to 800 mg/L. Turbidity measured 3.5 to 4.9 NTU. Total hardness was 180-355 mg/L; calcium 48-148 mg/L and magnesium 172-281 mg/L. The chloride was 32.5 to 145.18 mg/L and the total alkalinity was 235 to 400 mg/L. The measured parameters were found to be within the acceptable limit provided by WHO and NEQS, implying that groundwater in the study area is suitable for drinking purposes. However, continuous observation is recommended to provide the permanent security of the drinking supply of water among the local residents.