Assessing the drinking water quality of educational institutions at selected locations of district Swat, Pakistan (original) (raw)

Environmental Earth Sciences, 2021

Abstract

Water pollution is a primary environmental concern in Pakistan due to its serious health effects. Over more than 1.25 million people in the Swat district rely on surface and groundwater sources for drinking, agricultural purposes. Hence, the need to ascertain the drinking water quality and associated human health risks were considered highly significant. In this study, eighty water samples (40 for chemical parameters and 40 for biological parameters) were randomly collected from schools and colleges at Mingora city, district Swat. The mean values of physico-chemical water quality parameters such as pH (6.3), TDS (410.7 mg/l), EC (709.7), temperature (25.83 °C), turbidity (0.47 NTU), alkalinity (104.8 mg/l), salinity (910.0 mg/l), total hardness (348.15 mg/l), dissolved oxygen (DO) (2.35 ppm), chlorine (5.4 mg/l), fluoride (1.12 mg/l), nitrate (NO3) (44.52 mg/l) and nitrite (NO2) (4.05 mg/l) were measured using standard methods recommended by World Health Organization and the American Public Health Association. Besides, the mean value of total coliform bacteria, including fecal coliform, was found; (0.32) with standard deviation; (0.572) whereas, the mean value of Escherichia coli was found (0.3) with a standard deviation of (0.564). This study also finds the drinking water sources highly contaminated by fecal coliform bacteria, including Escherichia coli, which is the main reason for many waterborne diseases such as gastroenteritis, dysentery, and diarrhea. Additionally, residents of the area also reported some instances of viral hepatitis. Moreover, the significant variations among various water quality parameters were attributed to growing urbanization trends, nearby agricultural runoffs, lack of proper sewerage/solid waste disposal systems, and direct discharge of waste effluents containing human and animal fecal material. Hence, the need for adequate education on health hygiene and water treatment practices was highly recommended. Similarly, the execution of routine drinking water quality monitoring by relevant organizations was considered indispensable.

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