Assessment of Groundwater Quality: A Sample Study of Selective Drinking Water Sources in Diplo Area of Sindh

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the quality parameters of underground drinking water found in Diplo, a sub-district of Tharparkar. The quality parameters examined in the water samples were pH (acidity), total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC). A total of 20 samples were randomly collected from different sources of drinking water, namely dug well and hand pump, from the study area. The results showed that the quality parameters of water samples taken from the hand pump were not within the appropriate range (pH range was 5.7-6.0 and TDS range was 1579-2120 mg/L), while those of well water samples were within range (pH range was 5.09-6.60 and TDS range was 497-1182 mg/L). Therefore, it was concluded that water from the well sources was safe for consumption as per the guidelines set by WHO and EPA and could be used for drinking purposes. The findings revealed that water from the hand pump sources had high TDS and EC (greater than WHO limit), which pose several health risks. It was noted that TDS is directly proportional to electrical conductivity and inversely proportional to the pH level of water. Further, it was recommended that future studies need to be conducted at regular intervals to evaluate the quality of drinking water in rural areas of Sindh province, so that authorities can promptly provide solutions to such issues.
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