Assessment of water quality and its effects on the health of residents of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Achieving efficient, effective and cost effective water purification methods for the community is the key to human survival and development, as water management is a current global concern. Water is the basic resource necessary for sustaining all human activities, so its provision in desired quantity and quality is of utmost importance. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world, which consequently harms human health and the natural environment. The present cross-sectional study is focussed on measuring the quality of drinking water in rural areas of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan and its effects on human health as told by the people living in these areas. Various analyses including physical, chemical and microbiological assessment were carried out on the water samples collected from the villages. The samples were found to have high pH, indicating alkalinity of the water samples, and high chromium content. Microbiological quality was also questionable in most of the cases. On the contrary to these findings, majority of people living in these areas were not suffering from various water borne diseases. So the study argues about the need and importance of water purification and water management systems in current times. Key words: Water quality, chromium, cross sectional study, microbiological.