Physicochemical investigation of the drinking water sources from Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

摘要

A total of 39 drinking water sources were analyzed for important physicochemical parameters to evaluate their suitability for human consumption. Samples were collected from the ground water supplies (tube wells, open wells and hand pumps) of highly populated 13 union councils from the urban area of district Mardan.Physical parameters studied include temperature, color, taste, odor, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity.The chemical parameters analyzed were, total hardness, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), bicarbonate (HCO3)and alkalinity. Results showed that EC of 38%, taste of 23%, hardness of 20% and TDS of 15% samples were not in the permissible ranges specified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pakistan recommended standards for drinking water. The deterioration of various drinking water sources were found to be dependent upon the geological strata of the area, waste sources and damaged outlived distribution system passing through sewage lines.