Water Quality Assessment of Schools in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh

Aarti Sharma,R K Aggarwal

doi:10.12944/cwe.15.2.13

Abstract

Assessment of drinking water quality was done by selecting Nine Government senior secondary schools of three blocks in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The water quality parameters such as physical, chemical and biological parameters of water samples were analyzed. The water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, EC, TDS, temperature, BOD and COD ranged from 18.3 to 21.2°C,6.95 to 7.13, 0.24 to 0.51 dS m-1, 107.90 to 194.02 mg l-1, 0.69 to 2.26 mg l-1 and 56.50 to 119.75 mg l-1; trace elements (As, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn and Ni) nil, 0.000 to 0.001 mg l-1, 0.001 to 0.003 mg l-1, 0.00 to 0.01 mg l-1, 0.00 to 0.02 mg l-1, 0.03 to 0.06 mg l-1 and 0.00 to 0.02 mg l-1respectively and biological parameters like total coliform as 20.00 to 54.00 MPN ml-1, which were within the permissible limits except Fe which ranged from 0.63 to 0.95 mg l-1 was above the permissible limits. The water quality index of drinking water for nine schools was in the rangeof 25.80 to 36.38,which categorized as excellent.

Highlights

Water is consideredas most essential and important natural resources for human beings, animals and plants
The study aimed to assess the water quality supplied to the educational institutes of Solan district by evaluating the physico-chemical characteristics and bacteriological quality parameters expressed as water quality Index (WQI) which is best technique to provide information to policy makersby combining complex data and giving a score toexpress WQI.[5]
The observed procedure wasrelated to EPA 410.4 US Standard method 5220 D, and ISO 15705.The trace elements such as As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni and Zn were estimated by using standard kits and Inductively Coupled Plasma of Atomic Emission Spectroscopy-6300 DUO (ICAP-6300 Duo) and expressed as mg l-l

Summary

Introduction

Water is consideredas most essential and important natural resources for human beings, animals and plants. The available total water quantity remains constant globally and is sufficient to meet demands of world living beings, its quality and improper management poses concerns of water crises. Our planet has nearly 71 per cent of water, only 3 per cent of it is fresh.[1] Potable and drinking water plays an important role in the growth of the good health of a nation. Polluted water is responsible forwater borne diseases.The trace elements in water play harmful roles to health of living beings. The impurities present innatural water are, living impurities, organic impurities and water borne micro organism. These necessitate the need to manage and use water more efficiently. The study aimed to assess the water quality supplied to the educational institutes of Solan district by evaluating the physico-chemical characteristics and bacteriological quality parameters expressed as water quality Index (WQI) which is best technique to provide information to policy makersby combining complex data and giving a score toexpress WQI.[5]

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions