STATUS OF THE DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN SCHOOLS OF BONGAIGAON AREA OF BONGAIGAON DISTRICT OF ASSAM

摘要

Water samples from 15 different schools of Bongaigaon area were studied to assess the suitability of drinking water. A total of 21 physico-chemical parameters including heavy metals as well as bacteriologicalwater quality parameters have been investigated. The anions viz., sulphate, chloride and fluoride, and heavy metals viz., arsenic, lead and chromium were within the permissible limit, while mercury was present in 20%, and copper and iron in 33.3% of the total water samples studied. Sixty-seven percent of water samples were acidic, while in 40% of the samples turbidity was above the permissible limit. Water samples, particularly from ring wells, have been found bacteriologically contaminated.