Physico-chemical & biological study of groundwater at different locations of Lucknow City

Abstract

Water plays a crucial role in supporting life on our planet. Initially, groundwater was deemed a reliable source for drinking, but with the passage of time, it has faced contamination stemming from the release of untreated industrial waste and other human actions. This contamination of water has emerged as a significant factor in the proliferation of various illnesses, including hepatitis, jaundice, typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhea. In the city of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, both surface water and groundwater serve as sources of drinking water. The purpose of study was to evaluate the current quality of groundwater in Lucknow. Two stations were selected within the city to collect groundwater and surface water samples, which underwent a thorough physico-chemical and biochemical analysis. Parameters such as temperature, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, fluoride, total hardness, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, sulphate, Bod, Cod, E Coli & T Coli were measured using standard methods. The findings were compared with the IS drinking water standard 10500, and it was observed that some parameters at all sampling stations were above & some were within the acceptable limits. However, some parameters like TDS, total hardness, alkalinity& chloride exceeded the standard limits at certain stations. Whereas T Coli & E Coli was found in slight increases at both the stations. This highlights the importance of monitoring and managing water quality to ensure a safe and healthy water supply for the residents of Lucknow