Assessment of Drinking Water Quality of Latur Region, Maharashtra, India

 

Dawle Jairaj K.* and Suryawanshi V.B.

Research Laboratory of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Maharashtra Mahavidyalaya, Nilanga 413521, Dist. Latur (M.S.) India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: amritkund_jk@yahoo.com>

ABSTRACT:

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The physico-chemical studies of bore well waters of Latur (west) region, (Nilanga Taluka) Maharashtra, is being reported here because people of this area do not have access to safe drinking water. This area has least access to safe drinking water. This area mostly has the water of bore wells used for drinking and other domestic purposes. The bore wells of this area are very deep hence water of these bore wells are less likely to be polluted. To ensure the quality of water, the analysis of water samples of this area is undertaken and the observed data is compared with the standard data recommended by IS and WHO to evaluate the pollution level.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Bore samples from 20 villages of Nilanga Taluka of Latur (west region) were collected in brown glass bottles, with necessary precautions, during March 2007 to April 2008.

Sample collection and preservation were done following the standard methods (Fresenius et al., 1988).  All physico-chemical analysis was carried out using APHA (1989) methods. Methods employed for examination of physico-chemical parameters are shown in Table 1.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The physico-chemical data of the bore well water samples of specified 20 villages collected in March 2007-April 2008 are presented in Tables (2, 3). The depths of various bore wells varied from 180ft to 350ft. There was a large variation in the concentration of different ionic species in the different samples due to different depths and different lands, underground water conditions, rain variations etc.

 

The pH value of drinking water is an important parameter of acidity; alkalinity and resulting values largely explain acidic-basic interactions between mineral and organic components. pH below 6.5 starts corrosion in pipes. (APHA) resulting in release of toxic metals. In present investigation, pH varied from 7.17 to 8.01, which lies within the range, prescribed by APHA. In the present investigation, dissolved oxygen ranges from 0.5 mg/L. to 2.9 mg/L. Depletion of dissolved oxygen in water supplies can activate microbial reduction of nitrate to nitric and sulfate to sulfide, gives rise to odour problem. (K. Park.) B.O.D. ranges from 0.19 mg/L. to 1.9 mg/L, C.O.D. ranges from 0.0 mg/L to 3.9 mg/L. Out of 30 samples analyzed.

According to WHO and Indian Standards, the TDS values should be less than 1500 mg/L for drinking water.  In the present study TDS ranged from 400 mg/L to 1920 mg/L. out of 20 samples analyzed.

 

In the present investigation, carbonate ranged from 3.8 mg/L. to 42 mg/L. and bicarbonate ranged from 250.0 mg/L to 501.3 mg/L respectively.

 

 

Table 1 Methods employed for examination of physics chemical parameters.

Parameter	Method employed
PH	PH_metry
EC	Conductometry
TDS	Conductometry
Chloride	Argentometry
Alkalinity	Titrimetry
Hardness as Ca	EDTA Titration
Mg	EDTA Titration
Sulphate	Turbidometry
D.O., B.O.D.	Wrinkler’s Method
Mg+2	Flame photometry
SO4-2	Colorimetry
NO3-	Spectrophotometry

 

Table 2.  Reported values of  some  physico-chemical parameters of  bore well water of Nilanga (Latur west) region

Sample No.	Name of Village	Depth of bore well in feet	pH	Cond mhos/cm x 10-3	COD mg/L	DO mg/L	BOD mg/L	TDS mg/L
1	Jau	185	7.17	2.4	0.0	2.0	0.2	1920
2	Jauwadi	190	7.43	2.4	0.0	1.5	0.5	1752
3	Nanand	250	8.06	2.2	4.0	2.5	0.3	1759
4	Dhanora	260	7.84	3.3	0.0	2.2	0.4	409
5	Bamni	200	7.90	3.5	0.0	2.7	0.5	887
6	Hadga	180	7.79	2.1	0.0	2.4	0.5	1505
7	Omerga	250	7.95	1.9	0.1	1.5	0.3	1241
8	Chincholi	190	7.58	2.8	0.0	1.8	0.5	1376
9	Lambota	340	7.81	3.4	0.1	1.7	0.3	1388
10	Limbala	350	7.97	3.5	0.0	1.7	0.6	1387
11	Dadgi	100	7.30	3.0	0.0	0.4	0.2	1357
12	Madansuri	280	7.83	2.5	0.0	1.6	1.1	1220
13	Hangarga	340	8.16	1.85	2.0	2.5	1.1	1774
14	Shirshi	340	7.79	2.4	1.0	2.8	1.2	1810
15	Anandwadi	210	7.89	2.8	0.0	2.6	1.2	1231
16	Zari	310	7.91	2.45	0.0	2.9	1.2	1130
17	Dapka	210	7.85	2.1	0.0	2.5	0.5	1492
18	Dapka(B)	310	7.60	2.4	2.0	2.5	0.5	1796
19	Sawangira	305	7.96	1.55	1.0	2.3	1.4	1855
20	Talekhed	195	7.94	3.4	0.0	2.9	1.0	1654
WHO – Desirable Limit			7.0 to 8.0					500
WHO-permissible Limit			6.5 to 9.2					1500
ISI – Desirable Limit			6.5 to 9.2	500
ISI – Permissible Limit								2000

 

 

The chloride content in the samples is in the range from 170.0 mg/L to 580.2 mg/L. Limits for maximum concentration of chloride has been set on the basis of taste preferences. Large amounts of chloride, calcium and magnesium. As is also present, lead to increase in corrosiveness of water and may adversely affect water quality by corroding metallic pipes, through which it is transported for use. The importance of chloride as an indicator of sewage pollution has been emphasized by Thresh. The presence of sulfate in drinking water can cause noticeable taste. Taste impairment varies with the nature of the associated action. It is generally considered that taste impairment is minimum at levels below 250 mg/L (K. Park). In the present investigation, sulfate concentration varies from 28.0 mg/l to 180.0 mg/l. Phosphate range is found in the range of 2.4 mg/l to 102 mg/l. The values of phosphate concentration in the present study are higher than prescribed value (APSFSL). The higher values of phosphate concentration are mainly due to the use of fertilizers and pesticides by the people residing in area. If phosphate is consumed in excess, phosphine gas is produced in gastro-intestinal tract on reaction with gastric juice. This could even lead to the death of consumer (APSFSL) .In present study, silicate ranged from 16 mg/L to 30.3 mg/L. For human beings, in general, vegetable are the main source of nitrate intake when nitrate levels in drinking water are below 10 mg/L. When nitrate level in drinking water exceeds 50 mg/ L., drinking water will become the main source of fatal nitrate intake. The guideline value for nitrate in drinking water is solely to prevent methanoglobinaemia, which depends upon the conversion of nitrate into nitrite.  Bottle-fed Infants of less than 3 months of age are most susceptible (K. Park). In this area, the range of nitrate from 2.5 mg/L to 56.5 mg/L was observed.

 

High level of fluoride leads to dental and skeletal fluorosis.  The observed value of fluoride content in this area varied from 0.5 mg / L to 4.4 mg/L.

 

The presence of Ca²⁺ in the drinking water system is due to natural geological source, industrial waste, and agricultural waste.  Maximum permissible limit of Ca²⁺ is 200mg/L by IS. The amount of calcium present in these water samples was much below the permissible level.

Table 3 -   Reported values of  some  physico-chemical parameters of  bore well water of  Nilanga (Latur west) region

Sample No.	Ca+2 mg/L	Mg+2 mg/L	Na- mg/L	CO3-2 mg/L	HCO-3 mg/L	Cl- mg/L	SO3-2 mg/L	NO3- mg/L	PO4- mg/L	SiO3- mg/L	F- mg/L
1	55.2	25.0	361.0	7.0	412.0	321.0	10.0	5.0	50.0	32.0	1.1
2	46.4	33.6	331.0	3.5	408.0	314.0	125.0	5.4	42.5	28.0	1.1
3	36.8	24.0	298.0	28.2	394.0	247.5	102.0	9.5	36.3	30.0	2.1
4	70.6	38.4	471.0	24.7	390.0	518.5	114.0	11.8	96.3	21.9	1.1
5	99.2	65.8	440.0	7.6	250.7	602.2	172.0	5.0	96.5	19.4	0.6
6	40.8	31.2	286.0	7.0	372.0	318.0	73.0	11.0	50.0	15.0	2.2
7	30.4	28.6	280.0	7.6	380.0	210.0	31.0	15.0	95.0	31.0	3.4
8	44.0	25.0	406.0	3.5	465.0	284.0	128.0	12.0	95.0	18.0	2.2
9	57.6	32.2	531.0	1.1	394.0	555.0	47.0	21.2	100.0	15.0	2.0
10	43.2	38.4	556.0	24.7	433.3	590.0	36.0	42.5	87.2	17.5	1.9
11	80.0	76.3	318.0	3.5	537.1	399.0	48.0	56.5	105.0	16.9	1.0
12	52.8	22.6	315.0	21.1	458.3	352.0	73.0	21.0	61.2	26.3	2.5
13	17.0	10.0	300.0	42.0	372.0	170.0	145.0	3.4	247.0	17.0	3.1
14	36.0	27.0	375.0	28.0	466.0	260.0	148.0	20.0	61.2	26.3	2.5
15	36.8	23.5	450.0	21.1	501.1	320.0	195.0	14.5	40.0	22.0	2.8
16	36.0	26.9	360.0	21.1	400.0	550.0	106.0	25.0	37.0	26.0	1.9
17	24.0	23.0	308.0	17.6	400.0	234.0	140.0	18.0	32.0	29.0	2.9
18	40.0	28.0	360.	21.0	390.0	320.0	130.0	23.0	44.0	26.0	3.0
19	20.0	18.0	242.0	21.0	343.0	160.0	90.0	4.0	24.0	17.0	1.5
20	55.0	28.0	540.0	21.0	450.0	540.0	150.0	16.0	34.0	20.0	2.5
WHO Desired	75.0	--	--	--	200.0	200.0	45.0	--	--	0.7	--
WHO Permissible	200.0	--	200.0	---	--	600.0	400.0	--	--	--	1.5
ISI Desired	75.0	--	--	--	--	250.0	200.0	45.0	--	--	1.0
ISI Permissible	200.0	--	175.0	--	--	1000.0	400.0	100.0	--	--	1.5

 

Magnesium also enters in the drinking water system from natural geological sources. Mg²⁺causes nausea, muscular weakness and paralysis at about 400 mg/L. as prescribed by WHO. In this area, magnesium concentration ranged from 10.0 mg/L. to 76.3 mg/L, below the permissible level.  Sodium controls intercellular and intra cellular osmosis maintains pH balance of blood and controls normal activities. Limit of sodium in drinking water is 175 mg/L. The concentration of sodium was found in the range from 155 mg/L to 556 mg/L.

 

Excess amount (more than 10 mg/kg) causes rapid increase in respiration, pulse-rate and coagulation in blood vessels, hypertension and drowsiness. (Manuyadas Gupta Adak). In this area, the concentration of iron was below detectable level (BDL) by spectrophotometry. The concentration of aluminum was found to be below detectable level. (BDL) by spectrophotometry.

 

CONCLUSION:

The whole Nilanga (Latur west region) depends on ground water. Nilanga Latur west region has 18 samples having excess nitrate concentration, 09 samples having excess nitrate concentration, 11 samples having more than 1500 mg/L of TDS etc. In all 10 water samples were found to be proper for drinking purpose, where as 6 samples require proper chemical treatment to reduce the toxic levels and 04 samples require minor chemical treatment.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are grateful to the management of Maharashtra Shikshan Samiti Nilanga, Principal, M.M. Nilanga and departmental colleagues Shree P. Chandrashekhar and Shree S.G. Kulkarni for their help, valuable suggestions and discussions during this work.

REFERENCES:

1.       APHA, AWWA and WPCE (1989), Standard for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (17 th Ed). American public Health Association Washington. D.C.

2.       APSFSL. (1988). Andhra Pradesh State Forensic Science Laboratories Annual Report. Assessment of the Water Quality in Rajganpur Industrial Complex-II

3.       Fresenius, W., Quentin K.M. and Scheider, W.(1988). Water Analysis –In a Practical Guide to Physico-chemical and Microbiological Water Examination and Quality Assurance,  Springier Vartage page 804 Barlin-Heidelber

4.       ISI (1991). India Standards Tolerance Limits for Inland Surface Water: Subject of Pollution. Indian Standard Instruction IS 10500

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7.       Mohapatra U.K. and Singh, B.C. (1998) Inorganic Anions in Drinking Water collected From different sources in the old Capital city of Cuttack, Ind. J.of Env. Prot. 18(7): 535-53

8.       Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine 1997 by K. Park

9.       Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Water Examination and Quality Assurance Springier Verlag. (P.804) Berlin-Heidelberg

10.     Thresh I.C., Suckling E.Y. and Beale J.E. (1944). The Examination of Water and Water Supplies, London

11.     Vogel’s Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis (Fifth edition) by Vogel’s A.I. ELS.

12.     WHO (1984). The Guideline for Drinking Water Quality (Vol.1) Recommendation, World Health Organization, Geneva.

 

 

 

Received on 30.04.2010        Modified on 12.05.2010

Accepted on 24.05.2010        © AJRC All right reserved