Drinking Water Quality Standards Research Articles

Impact of leachate on groundwater quality using physicochemical characteristics

ABSTRACT This study assesses the impact of Koshe open dump site leachate on nearby groundwater quality. Groundwater quality is threatened by open dump sites. Groundwater samples around Koshe open dump sites showed elevated levels of various physicochemical characteristics, including Electrical conductivity (EC), Potassium (K), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr3), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Total Alkalinity, Nitrate (NO3−), Phosphate (PO4+), Cadmium (Cd), Bicarbonates (HCO3−), Arsenic (As), Salinity, Cobalt (Co), and Silicon (Si), exceeding Ethiopian, WHO, and EPA drinking water quality standards. Among the sampled wells, the one located at Ayer Tena High School, upstream of Koshe, exhibited significantly lower concentrations of parameters indicating leachate impact on groundwater quality As, Cd, Cr3, Pb, Hg, Molybdenum (Mo), NO3-, K, and PO4+ compared to others. The presence of these parameters in nearby groundwater wells suggests a substantial impact of the Koshe dump site on groundwater quality. Traditional landfills and dump sites must be outlawed, and new hygienic landfills must be constructed in a convenient location to end the continued groundwater pollution.

Shallow groundwater quality and health risk assessment of fluoride and arsenic in Northwestern Jiangsu Province, China

Assessing groundwater quality is critical to regional water resource conservation and human health safety, especially in areas with co-existence of toxic constituents fluoride (F−) and arsenic (As). In this study, fourteen groundwater samples were collected in Feng County, Northwestern Jiangsu Province to identify dominant contaminants and their spatial distribution and health risk. The composition and variation characteristics of major ions (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, SO42−, HCO3−, and NO3−) and trace elements (F−, As, and Mn) were analyzed. The hydrochemical results revealed that high F− groundwater was mainly distributed in the northern areas whereas As-riched groundwater was primarily distributed in southern areas. Notably, over 85.7% and 21.4% of the shallow groundwater samples exceeded the drinking water quality standard of 1.5 mg/L for F− and 10 µg/L for As, respectively. Based on the water quality index (WQI) appraisal result, 71.4% of the groundwater in the study area is classified as “poor”, and thus unsuitable for drinking directly. We assessed the human non-carcinogenic health risk of F− (HQFluoride) and As (HQArsenic) and the carcinogenic health risk of As (CRArsenic). The calculated hazard quotient (HQ) for F− indicated nearly all groundwater samples have an unacceptable risk (HQ > 1) for each age group. However, HQArsenic values revealed that 28.6%, 21.4%, 21.4%, and 21.4% of groundwater samples posed potential non-carcinogenic health risks for infants, children, females, and males, respectively. The calculated results of CRArsenic showed that 0%, 21.4%, 28.6%, and 28.6% of groundwater samples posed unacceptable health risks (CR > 1.0 × 10−4) to infants, children, females, and males, respectively. The groundwater irrigation suitability assessment results showed that 21.4% of samples were doubtful to unsuitable for irrigation, and 85.7% owed magnesium hazards. The findings of this study will assist policymakers in formulating proper remedial policies and mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of drinking and irrigation water.

Modeling on comprehensive evaluation of groundwater quality status using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Water Quality Index (WQI): a case study of Bahir Dar City, Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract Groundwater is the most important natural resource, and many people throughout the world rely on it for drinking, particularly in rural areas. The present study was carried out to assess the status of groundwater quality and to check its suitability for domestic purposes in urban centres of Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. Twelve shallow wells were selected for sampling. The sampled water was taken during the dry and summer seasons of the year 2019/2020. pH, turbidity, EC, TDS, chloride (Cl−), nitrate (NO3−), phosphate (PO4−3), total hardness, and Escherichia coli were measured for the suitability analysis. Comparison of measured results with those of WHO and Ethiopian drinking water quality standards was done. Moreover, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Water Quality Index (WQI) data analysis techniques were applied in order to investigate the groundwater quality. The spatial distribution map showed that the city's core area had the poorest groundwater quality status. The WQI result obtained from the analysis showed that 41.67, 33.33, and 25% of the sampled groundwater has low, extremely poor, and unsafe quality for drinking purposes, respectively. The present study revealed that anthropogenic activities have a great impact on the quality of groundwater in the area, necessitating immediate mitigating actions.

Physicochemical Analysis of Surface Water in Rohri Canal from Sukkur Barrage to Mehrabpur

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of domestic and industrial waste discharge on the surface water quality of Rohri Canal in the stretch of the canal from Sukkur Barrage to Mehrabpur town. Eight sampling points were selected along the canal focusing on canal locations near major settlements. The parameters studied were temperature, pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids and suspended solids, chlorides, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and E-coli. The average value of BOD and COD at the sampling stations were recorded as 212 mg/L and 423 mg/L respectively, which exceed the permissible surface water limits for drinking and irrigation purposes. The results indicate significantly higher value of BOD in sampling locations where there are major settlements and there is a continuous inflow of untreated sewage into the canal. The pH values at all the sampling sites were found within the drinking and irrigation water quality standards whereas the TDS values at only sampling stations (3 and 4) exceeded these limits. The turbidity values of the samples ranged from 237 to 821 NTU, exceeding the WHO drinking water quality standards for this parameter. The values of the water quality parameters including hardness (range 146 to 300 mg/L), chlorides (range 36 to 103 mg/L) and alkalinity (range 120 to 230 mg/L) were found well below the limits of WHO drinking water quality standards. The turbidity values of the samples ranged from 237 to 821 NTU and exceeded the WHO drinking water quality standards for this parameter. At all the sampling sites located near major settlements low levels of dissolved oxygen and the presence of E.coli were recorded. The results revealed that the continuous inflowing of untreated or un-treated sewage and industrial effluents into the canal has changed its physicochemical and biological characteristics, which make it unfit for human consumption and can have long-term irrevocable ecological threats if left unmanaged

Lead occurrence in North Carolina well water: importance of sampling representation and collection techniques

Private wells often lack centralized oversight, drinking water quality standards, and consistent testing methodologies. For lead in well water, the lack of standardized data collection methods can impact reported measurements, which can misinform health risks. Here, we conducted a targeted community science testing of 1143 wells across 17 counties in North Carolina (USA) and compared results to state testing data primarily associated with new well construction compiled in the NCWELL database. The goal of our study was to explore the impacts of sampling methodology and household representation on estimated lead exposures and subsequent health risks. At the household scale, we illustrated how sampling and analytical techniques impact lead measurements. The community science testing first draw samples (characterizing drinking water) had a 90th percentile lead value of 12.8 μg l−1 while the NCWELL database flushed samples (characterizing groundwater) had a value below the reporting level of 5 μg l−1. As lead was associated with the corrosion of premise plumbing, flushing prior to collection substantially reduced lead concentrations. At the community scale, we examined how the lack of representation based on household demographics and well construction characteristics impacted the knowledge of lead and blood lead level (BLL) occurrence. When simulating representative demographics of the well populations, we observed that the 90th percentile lead level could differ by up to 6 μg l−1, resulting in communities being above the USEPA action level. This translated to a 1.0–1.3 μg dl−1 difference in predicted geometric mean BLL among infants consuming reconstituted formula. Further, inclusion of less common well construction types also increased lead in water occurrence. Overall, under- and overestimations of lead concentrations associated with differences in sampling techniques and sample representation can misinform conclusions about risks of elevated BLLs associated with drinking water from private wells which may hinder investigations of waterborne lead exposure.

Impact of water quality on reprocessing equipment: Assessment of neurosurgical instruments cleaning and biofilm formation in hospital pipes

Background The presence of contamination and microorganisms at any stage of processing renders a method unsafe, leading to a high risk of cross-transmission and cross-infection. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the cleaning quality of aspirator instruments used in neurosurgical procedures. Methods The experimental study was conducted at the materials and sterilization center, as well as the microbiology laboratory, of a philanthropic hospital in Brazil. A study protocol was implemented, which involved the analysis of 10 samples of Yasargil aspirators with varying dimensions. The samples were subjected to protein tests to detect the presence of organic matter and microbiological analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results The results indicated that 40% of the instruments tested positive for protein after manual cleaning. Furthermore, after automated cleaning, samples showed an increased microbiological load, with Escherichia coli accounting for 20% and Klebsiella aerogenes for 10% of the identified microorganisms. Conclusion This study provides evidence of failures in the cleaning process of healthcare products and highlights the presence of biofilm in the pipes, thereby compromising the drinking water quality standard.

Physicochemical and Microbial Quality of Drinking Water at Gorkha, Nepal

To assess the drinking water quality of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality-6, situated in Gorkha district of Nepal, the physicochemical parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, ammonia, and nitrate content were investigated using standard procedures. Likewise, for microbiological parameter coliform presence and absence was analyzed. A total of 37 samples were collected from four sampling stations ( the water source, water reservoir, point of collection, and household water storage) in the last week of November 2022 using simple random sampling for tap water and stratified random sampling for household water storage. When comparing the results with the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS), 2005 and World Health Organization (WHO), 2004 guidelines, it was observed that most of the physiochemical parameters were within the standards. Based on the microbiological parameter, in most of the water samples during the study coliforms were detected indicating potential health hazards. Therefore, the findings suggest that water from these sources can be considered safe for drinking only after undergoing purification treatment. Urgent attention from relevant authorities is imperative to implement treatment measures for drinking water to ensure its safety before consumption.

Developing a safe water atlas for sustainable drinking water supply in Sonargaon Upazila, Bangladesh

Bangladesh has been relying heavily on groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes since the 1960s. The access to safe drinking water has always been a challenge for Bangladesh due to the geogenic contamination in shallow aquifers. The objective of this study was to identify the depth for extracting safe water and to develop a safe water atlas for different unions of Sonargaon Upazila to ensure a year-round safe water supply. The concentrations of Arsenic, Iron and Manganese in groundwater were measured from 63 random water samples and compared with WHO and national drinking water quality standards. A lithological profile of the study area was developed to validate the indigenous knowledge of targeting safe depth based on sediment color. To address the challenges of groundwater depletion and contamination, the study identified and developed the technique of preparing safe water atlas for a specific region in Bangladesh, serving as a decision-making tool for households. The atlas identifies depths at which tube-wells can be installed to obtain uncontaminated groundwater, helping people make informed choices and avoid potential health risks. Additionally, the safe water atlas can support the development of safe drinking water distribution plans and assist local drillers and residents in decision-making processes.

TINJAUAN BAB XIV DALAM PERATURAN DAERAH KABUPATEN SAMBAS NOMOR 7 TAHUN 2010 TENTANG PERUSAHAAN DAERAH AIR MINUM (PDAM) TIRTA MUARE ULAKAN KABUPATEN SAMBAS TERHADAP PELAYANAN PERUSAHAAN UMUM DAERAH AIR MINUM CABANG TEBAS

Population growth, development and increasing standards of living cause the need for clean water to continue to increase. This makes the quality of services of companies providing and managing clean water much needed by the community. To get quality water that meets drinking water quality standards, water treatment is needed that can guarantee the desired quality is met. The Regional Public Drinking Water Company is one of the business entities that processes and serves clean water needs. The services provided are still not optimal, this can be seen from the fact that there are still many consumer complaints, including problems with water not flowing, cloudy water, weak water pressure and rising bills. The aim of this research is to find out how the services of the Regional Public Drinking Water Company, Tebas Branch, provide drinking water to customers. Review of Chapter which is a supporting and inhibiting factor in the service of the Regional Public Company for Drinking Water, Tebas Branch, in providing services to customers This research uses field research methods with an empirical approach. The approach used to obtain knowledge resulting from observations of phenomena that actually occur. This research uses observation, interview and documentation data collection techniques. The data analysis techniques used are data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions The results of this research show that the supporting factor in service is the existence of laws and regulations regarding service, apart from that the inhibiting factor in service is the lack of human resources. The Regional Public Company for Drinking Water, Tebas Branch, has distributed water twenty-four hours a day, with the aim of providing the discharge or pressure as expected. Apart from that, to maintain quality in water treatment, two chemicals are used, as stated in Article 46

Assessment of drinking water quality based on trace elements concentrations in the semi-arid region, Morocco

Human health and sustainable socio-economic growth are closely linked to water quality. Due to increasingly intense human activity, pollutants, and in particular trace elements, are entering the aquatic system and harming humans. The main objective of this study is to analyse and compare the impact of the trace elements on the water quality of natural springs. The concentrations of ten trace elements in 12 spring water samples collected in 2022 were analyzed using ICP-MS to determine the spatial variability of natural water quality in the Ouislane watershed. Nine major trace elements (boron, cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, and vanadium) were measured using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique. The average values of these elements followed the descending trend: B > Ni > Cr > Co > Zn > Mn > V > Cu > Pb in spring water samples. Some trace elements measured in certain water samples exceed the upper limits set by Moroccan drinking water quality standards (NM) and the World Health Organization (WHO). From the principal components analysis (PCA), 83% of the variation is explained by the first three main components. B, Co, Cr and Ni have a strongly impact on water quality explain by their strong correlation with CP1 (R2 > 0.70). The calculated water quality index (WQI) values ranged from 61.18 to 95.11, with an average of 78.47. Approximately 17% of the water samples were categorized as excellent quality water (WQI < 50), with the remaining 83% classified as good quality water (50 < WQI < 100). According to the WQI index, all the natural spring waters investigated are deemed suitable for human consumption.

A Comprehensive Assessment of the Quality of Supplied Drinking Water in Galyang Municipality of Syangja, Nepal

A thorough assessment on the municipally supplied water samples from Malunga and Galyang cities; two different places in the Syangja district focused on analyzing various water quality parameters. These parameters included pH value, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, turbidity/suspended solids, chloride contents, and the presence of acid and basic radicals (heavy metal ions).
 The results obtained from standard laboratory probes carried out on-site and at the chemistry laboratory of Amrit Campus, indicated that the pH value, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, chloride contents, and the presence of acid radicals (nitrate, sulfate, and chloride) and basic radicals (toxic heavy metal ions) in the water samples were all within the safe limits for potable water as suggested by both the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS) of Nepal and the World Health Organization (WHO).
 However, it was disclosed that the total suspended solids in the water samples existed in higher concentrations, leading to coagulation and the formation of thin, flat, whitish lumps during long-term storage of the samples.
 Overall, while the study determined that the water samples concurred the safe limits for most parameters set by NDWQS and WHO, the higher concentration of total suspended solids during prolonged storage suggests a potential attention to be paid for the improvement of the quality.

A nationwide investigation on the characteristics and health risk of trace elements in surface water across China

Rapid urbanization accelerates the release of anthropogenic heavy metals from local to wider water systems, posing a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health. The characteristics of trace elements were investigated to evaluate the environmental status of surface water in 40 cities of China. The concentrations of 22 elements in surface water ranged from 7.00 × 10−4 to 4.37 × 105 μg/L. The water quality can be classified as “excellent” except Songhuajiang. The levels of As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg are all within the limits permitted by national drinking water quality standards. An obvious regional distribution characteristic was observed, with concentrations of Zn, Mn, Ni, Cu, Co, U, and Cr higher in surface water collected in the north than in the south, while the trends for Cd, Tl, and As are opposite. Notably, Tl shows significant geographical divergences, with the level of surface water collected from the south nine times higher than that from the north. The regional distribution of the mineral, industrial, or agricultural activity might be responsible for the south-to-north difference of these elements. The hazard index (HI) and total cancer risk (TCR) through oral or dermal contact with water-related heavy metals were further calculated. The average HI was 0.54 in the north and 0.29 in the south for adults, while HI for children was relatively higher. The value was 1.01 and 0.55 in the north and south, respectively. TCR in the north is 2.58 × 10−4 and mainly contributed by Cr (88.1 %), while TCR in the south is 4.48 × 10−5 and mainly contributed by As (98.4 %). The research results can provide essential data for effective water resources management and human health protection in China.

Evaluasi Aspek Teknis Kualitas Air Membran Ultrafiltrasi dalam Pengolahan Air Minum (Studi Kasus: IPA Krian Perumda Air Minum Sidoarjo)

The Sidoarjo Regional Public Company (Perumda) is a regionally owned business entity that participates in managing and providing clean water which will be distributed to the people of Sidoarjo Regency. The Sidoarjo Drinking Water Company, especially the Krian IPA, uses the main channel to supply raw water from the Mangetan Canal which passes through seven sluice gates to irrigate 17,583 Ha of rice fields. The series of air treatment installations at Perumda Air Minum Sidoarjo are coagulation units, flocculation units, sedimentation units and ultrafiltration membranes. However, not all technology can be implemented optimally due to considerations of costs and Perumda personnel. The problem is that the ultrafiltration membrane unit at Perumda Air Minum Sidoarjo is not activated. Therefore, the aim of the research is to determine the ineffectiveness of ultrafiltration membranes at Perumda Air Minum Sidoarjo in terms of technical aspects, namely the quality of water resulting from membrane processing in 2016-2020. The results of the research on the technical aspect, namely data on water quality parameters for turbidity and color for 2016-2020, have complied with Minister of Health Regulation Number 2 of 2023 for drinking water quality standards, the rejection percentage for turbidity parameters was 69.39%. - 95.48%; the percentage of color parameter rejection was 43.60% - 61.6% with the resulting flux value decreasing.

Probabilistic Risk of Nitrates to Human Health Via Drinking Water: A Case Study of Water Supply for Dandan Station and its Quarters in Mosul, Iraq

Background: The primary objective of this study was to assess the nitrate ion concentration in drinking water and determine the potential health risks associated with nitrate contamination for humans. Methods: A total of 100 water samples were collected from ten sites, including the Dandan water supply station and adjacent residential neighborhoods on the right side of Mosul city between September 2021 and February 2022. Results: The results of the study revealed that the concentration of nitrate ions ranged between (0.95-3.614 mg/L). Based on the study’s results, all of the analyzed water samples fell within the international drinking water quality standards set by the World Health Organization. The concentrations of nitrate ions corresponded to low values of both chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ or QI), which ranged from 0.05162 to 0.18164 mg/kg/day and 0.03226 to 0.11357, respectively. Consequently, the hazard index (HI) for this study remained within safe limits for drinking water. The study also revealed that infants and individuals within the age group of 21 and older were the most susceptible to potential nitrate-related health risks, while the age group of 16 to 18 exhibited the lowest susceptibility to such risks. Conclusion: The study recommends the use of examined water for drinking due to its safe and healthy nitrate ion concentration. It further suggests the continuation of periodic assessments of drinking water supply stations to ensure ongoing consumer safety, as no potential health risks, including cancerous and non-cancerous risks, were identified.

Assessment of Physicochemical and Bacteriological Parameters of Borehole Water: A Case Study from Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

Access to clean and wholesome water is one of the fundamental human rights, despite billions of people around the world still lacking access to this basic necessity. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of borehole eater was carried out, using Lekki in Lagos state as a case study area. The city is a fast growing where a significant proportion of the populace rely on borehole water supply. The study assessed the quality of the raw water samples and the effectiveness of the conventional treatment methods employed by most residents in the study area. The findings indicate that there are significant deviations in the various parameters of the raw water samples from the approved levels of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigeria Standards for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ), showing the need for improved water treatment techniques. The use of Hypochlorite, Soda ash, Alum, and a three-stage filtration system was proposed and tested, yielding significant improvements in both the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of the water samples when compared with the control standards. The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge targeted at improving water quality, especially in regions that depend heavily on borehole water supply. The findings emphasize the benefits of implementing comprehensive and efficient water treatment methos, including the need for continuous optimization and monitoring of these techniques. This is important for promoting public access to safe and wholesome potable water, thereby contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Further research is recommended to explore the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the improved treatment method for wider application.

A study on ceramic composite filters utilizing rice husk for enhancing groundwater quality

Summary: This study addresses the persistent reliance of certain communities on groundwater for drinking purposes, despite its failure to meet quality standards due to the presence of harmful coliform bacteria. To meet these standards, a cost-effective and environmentally friendly filtration method is proposed, utilizing clay and rice husk as formative elements. The research focuses on creating a ceramic composite filter by blending rice husk with clay in varying compositions (30 %, 40 %, and 50 %). The mixture is processed into a paste, shaped into a green body, air-dried, and fired at different temperatures (875 °C, 900 °C, and 925 °C). Compression, porosity, and flow tests are conducted to evaluate the filter's performance. An increase in rice husk composition leads to higher flow rates, indicating improved water flow through the filter, suggests a positive influence of rice husk on the hydraulic characteristics of the filter material. The ceramic composite filter effectively filters coliform bacteria, achieving a 93 % reduction, although it falls short of meeting drinking water quality standards. The optimal sintering temperature is identified at 900 °C with a forming pressure of 30 MPa. This study emphasizes the potential of clay and rice husk-based ceramic filters as a viable option for improving groundwater quality, acknowledging their positive impact on porosity and flow characteristics. However, further refinement is required to fully align with established drinking water quality standards, suggesting avenues for future research and development in this critical field. This research explores the potential development of technology ceramic composite filter with the hope of making a positive contribution to advancing clean and sustainable energy solutions in the future

Fuzzy-Based Human Health Risk Assessment for Shallow Groundwater Well Users in Arid Regions

The conventional point-estimate human health risk assessment (HHRA) primarily uses average concentrations of a limited number of samples due to the high monitoring costs of heavy metals in groundwater. The results can be erroneous when concentrations significantly deviate from the average across the collected samples in an investigation region. The present research developed a hierarchical fuzzy-based HHRA (F-HHRA) framework to handle variations in limited data sets and subjectively established a broader range of risks for various exposure groups. Groundwater samples from 80 to 120 m deep in shallow wells were collected from agricultural farms along Wadi Rumah in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia. Laboratory testing found total dissolved solids much higher than the promulgated drinking water quality standards. As the aftertaste issue eliminated the raw water potability, the study considered dermal exposure for HHRA. The collected samples were tested for thirteen potential heavy metals (HMs), including barium (Ba), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), silver (Ag), strontium (Sr), thallium (TI), and zinc (Zn). Cu, Fe, Pb, Ag, and TI were lower than the detectable limit of the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry device. Concentrations of the remaining HMs in wastewater outfalls that were much less than the groundwater eradicated the impact of anthropogenic activities and affirmed natural contamination. Apart from 10% of the samples for Mn and 90% of the samples for Sr, all the other HMs remained within the desired maximum allowable concentrations. Point-estimate and fuzzy-based approaches yielded ‘low’ dermal non-cancer risk and cancer risk for all groups other than adults, where dermal cancer risk of Cr remained in the ‘acceptable’ (1 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−5) risk zone. Although dermal risk does not require controls, scenario analysis established the rationality of F-HHRA for more contaminated samples. The proposed hierarchical F-HHRA framework will facilitate the decision-makers in concerned agencies to plan risk mitigation strategies (household level and decentralized systems) for shallow well consumers in Saudi Arabia and other arid regions.

Evaluation of bottled drinking water and occurrence of multidrug-resistance and biofilm producing bacteria in Nepal

Health consequences arising from unsafe drinking water and water insecurity lead to increased reliance on usage of bottled water. Biofilm-producing antibiotic-resistant bacteria in bottled water may pose a risk to public health. This study aims to assess the quality of bottled drinking water with a focus on biofilm-producing and drug-resistant coliform. We analyzed 60 bottled water samples of 30 different brands purchased from Kathmandu for physicochemical and microbial analysis. The parameters pH, iron, total coliform count, Escherichia coli count, and fecal coliform count exceeded National Drinking Water Quality Standards, 2022 in 30.00%, 16.67%, 66.67%, 23.33%, and 16.67% of samples, respectively. Water quality index measurement showed 36.67% and 6.67% of bottled water samples were categorized as grade A and grade B indicating excellent and good water quality, respectively. However, 56.67% of bottled water samples fall under grade E meaning unsuitable for drinking. Among 14 coliform isolates, 85.71% and 14.29% were identified as E. coli and Klebsiella spp, respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that 28.57% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant and Gentamicin resistant isolates comprised 71.43%. However, none of the isolates were carbapenem (meropenem) resistant. In this study, 42.87% of the isolates were found biofilm producers with 14.29% each of strong, moderate, and weak biofilm producers. The genetic potential of biofilm-producing capacity of the isolates was assessed by Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification of bcsA and csgD genes. Our results showed that 66.67% and 50.00% of the isolates harbored bcsA and csgD genes, respectively. This study highlights potential public health hazards associated with the consumption of bottled water containing biofilm-producing and drug-resistant bacteria in Nepal.

Strategi Penanganan Permukiman Kumuh Dalam Mendukung Peningkatan Kualitas Lingkungan Hidup Di Kelurahan Karang Anyar Pantai Kota Tarakan

The city of Tarakan is one of the target cities for migrants (urbanists) to live in. The economic limitations of migrant communities and local communities to have decent housing will then trigger the growth of new slum settlements. The aim of the study is to evaluate slum management strategies, identify environmental conditions and reformulate slum management program strategies. The research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach. Research tool with Questionnaire and Laboratory Analysis. The research locus was in 12 RT in the Karang Anyar sub-district, Tarakan City. Communal WWTP wastewater samples, solid waste data, river water and clean water. Data analysis used the Pollution Index, Sanitation Risk Index, Quality Standards and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods. The results of the research on the evaluation of slum management strategies with a score of 18 so that they are still in mild slum conditions. There are four aspects of the performance achievement level with the realization of a very high performance achievement rate of above 90%, one aspect of a high performance achievement level of above 76%, and the environmental road aspect with an achievement level of 54.01% is a low level of realization. Results Identification of environmental conditions at inlets, outlets, bodies of water with parameters COD, TSS, Ammonia, Oil and Grease did not meet quality standards and analysis of Pollution Index (Pi) in Light Polluted conditions. The quality of waste management is based on the Sanitation Risk Index (IRS) score for 12 RTs with an average high-risk area. Clean Water Quality with parameters (Total Coliform and E. Coli) results meet drinking water quality standards. From the results of the AHP analysis, the Infrastructure and Facilities Development Strategy is a top priority. Consistency value of 0.05 or <0.1 comparison matrix is consistent.

Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable human consumption in arid areas based on GIS and water quality index in the watershed of Ain Sefra (SW of Algeria)

Groundwater quality in arid areas is an issue that requires attention, as often the only source of irrigation and drinking. In this manuscript, a research area of 4590.2 Km2, which depicts important problems of water scarcity and water-poor quality in an arid environment, was assessed. Therefore, GIS-based mapping of the region was carried out to examine the adequacy of groundwater quality. Forty-three (43) groundwater samples were gathered in the fieldwork in March 2022, and various physicochemical limits were analysed within Gibbs and Piper diagrams. Likewise, spatial distribution maps of twelve (12) main water quality parameters were performed using the Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation method (IDW) in the ArcGIS tool. The Water Quality Index (WQI) has been calculated considering Algerian drinking water quality standards and to know the suitability of water for human consumption. A Pearson’s test was carried out to explore the correlations among the different variables. Major results of the study showed that, among anions and cations, sulphates (SO_{4}^{ - 2}) and calcium (Ca) were the most common ions. The WQI showed that 30.23% of the samples have excellent water quality, 62.79% belong to the good water category, and 6.97% fall into the poor water quality category. Thus, the correlation study between many physicochemical properties also showed significant positive relationships between WQI, TDS, EC, TH, {text{SO}}_{4}^{ - 2}, {text{Ca}}^{ + + }, and {text{Mg}}^{ + + }. In agreement with the Gibbs diagram, most of the samples fall into the field of rock-water interaction dominance. Hence, this research shows that using GIS and WQI as joint approaches could be useful tools for the decision-making process of local and international authorities and water resources management.