Assessment of Freshwater Springs, Associated Diseases and Indigenous Perception in Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Shaukat Ali,Rubina Rubina,Sadiq Hussain

doi:10.12669/pjms.341.13956

Shaukat Ali, Rubina Rubina + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.341.13956

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Abstract

Objective:To assess the quality of freshwater aquifers (springs) associated diseases, and indigenous perception in Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the department of environmental science, Karakoram International University Gilgit after approval from departmental research committee. In order to get the most accurate results, 18 water samples in triplicates were collected according to our lab own set of sampling standard operating procedures (SOPs) using pre-sterilized bottles of 100 ml from June 2016 to August 2016 along with associated diseases record and structured interviews from indigenous population. For physicochemical and microbial assessment, samples were tested before five hours after collection and associated diseases and indigenous perception was analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques.Results:Findings revealed that levels of pH, EC, phosphates, TDS, and nitrite, fall within WHO standards except nitrate, temperature and turbidity. The highest concentration (mgL-1± SE) of Hg in Barkolti and Barsat springs were (0.01±0.005) and (0.02±0.001) while Zn was (0.04±0.02) respectively. The concentration of Cu in Barkolti spring was (0.2± 0.03) while in Barsat spring below the detection level. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Fe in both springs fall within WHO permissible limits. The mean value of E. coli recorded in both Barkolti and Barsat aquifers were (1.08cfu ±0.45) and (2.11cfu±0.56) respectively. The prevalence of water-associated diseases recorded in the order diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and their incidence increases at high peak in summer. Irrespective of physicochemical and microbial components, indigenous population believed that the spring water has curative properties.Conclusions:Physiochemical and microbial parameters of spring's water fall within WHO standards except nitrate, turbidity, temperature, and E. coli, and incidence of certain associated diseases. However, indigenous population is unaware about the fact and believed that spring water very safe.

Highlights

Quality of water is substantially more important than amount of water for keeping up a decent wellbeing and rural profitability.[1]
In the present study; the mean values of nitrate, nitrite, pH, Zn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Cd and Pb were fall within national and WHO standards but temperature, turbidity, phosphate, Hg, and E. coli were above the WHO standards (Table-I)
In the past there is no study available in the region that addresses the quality of drinking water, associated diseases, and indigenous perception

Summary

Introduction

Quality of water is substantially more important than amount of water for keeping up a decent wellbeing and rural profitability.[1] Environmental contaminants including physical, chemical and biological can enter the aquatic environment through naturally occurring events as well as anthropogenic activities, can accumulate in the sediment and may be rereleased. Freshwater aquifers (springs) are concentrated release of ground water showing up at the ground surface because of streaming of water. Springs water are more contaminated and showed positivity of different bacteria like E. coli, Total Coliform bacteria, Salmonella, contaminate the exposed water through fecal, human and animal wastes on the land surface problems infiltration of contaminated surface water.[4] Water may contain toxic inorganic chemicals, which may cause either acute or chronic health effects. Like cancer, birth defects, organs damage, disorder of the nervous system and damage to the immune system are usually more common.[5]

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