Drinking Water Quality in Capital City of Pakistan

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the quality of drinking water in selected areas of capital of Pakistan and its adjacent city Rawalpindi. Drinking water samples collected from selected localities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are analyzed for different water quality parameters such as pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids, chloride, bicarbonates, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphates, phosphates, nitrates lead, copper, cadmium, cobalt, iron and zinc. Total viable count, coliforms, fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli were also part of the study. Analyzed samples provide information that the level of pH, alkalinity, lead, copper, nitrates, phosphates, cadmium, cobalt, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, sulfate, bicarbonates and chloride are under the limit specified by WHO and PSQCA. While some water quality parameters such as calcium, sodium, total dissolved solids, and hardness were found to be above the WHO and PSQCA specified limit in some regions of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Total viable count test performed to analyze the microbial quality of water samples revealed that all the samples were heavily loaded by microbial growth and considered unsafe for drinking purposes. Presence of coliforms, fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli clearly revealed that water is not fit for drinking purpose in the twin cities of Pakistan.

Keywords: Drinking water; Water quality; Chemical contaminant; Microbial quality; Pakistan