Assessment of Drinking Water Quality Status and its Impact on Health in Tandojam City

Unsafe drinking water is one of the major concerns in developing countries. The southern Sindh is province of Pakistan that adjoins the Arabian Sea coast where the drinking water quality is deteriorating due to unrefined urban waste and excessive use of agro-chemicals. Present study aimed to assess the quality of ground water source and to compare it with WHO standards. Water borne diseases associated with drinking it in the vicinity Tandojam city were identified. Water from ground water source was sampled at selected locations in the study area. The samples were collected mostly from pumped waters. The samples were analyzed for physico-chemical properties in order to identify the quality problems and suggest safe source for drinking purpose. Findings revealed that the ground water quality in Muzaffrabad colony is deteriorating. The situation was much worse in Muzaffrabad colony, Jam Ghar and Mir colony with high TDS and salty taste, respectively at few sampling locations. In addition, laboratory analysis of the water quality parameters revealed the detail of variation in the groundwater. TDS, hardness, sodium (Na), chloride (Cl) and magnesium (Mg) etc. were considerably beyond the WHO permissible limits. The poor quality of the water has created different waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea etc. Moreover, the samples of SAU Colony and Amar Town showed that the water quality of these areas was within acceptable limits according to WHO standards and was suitable for the purpose of drinking.


INTRODUCTION
Safe drinking water is essential for all humankind.In excess of one billion people around the world do not have access to safe water for drinking purpose [1].Only 2.5 % of earth water is fresh and thus is suitable for consumption.More than two-third of available fresh water is locked aside in glaciers and is not easily available to fulfil the growing demands of society [2].
In Pakistan, the availability of groundwater is limited.In most cases is it unsafe for drinking purpose.The problem of ground water pollution is many parts of the country have become so acute that extensive ground water resources are rapidly deteriorating [3].
Groundwater quality is the result of all those reactions and processes that affect water.It quality varies with space and time.It differs from one place to other and with depth of water table.Reid [4] it is estimated that about 75% of the population of developed countries lacks access to safe drinking water and so many other problems.The other problems include: adequate sanitary facilities and landfills that are located near the water bodies [5].
*Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Energy & Environment Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan; Tel: 0092-300-6458944; E-mail: arslanuaf44@hotmail.com Water pollution directly affects drinking water lakes, rivers and oceans in different parts of the world, which consequently harms human health and natural environment.Poor water quality includes wastewater and sewage, marine dumping, oil pollution, atmospheric deposition, underground storage & leakages, radioactive waste, global warming, industrial waste etc.
The contaminated water may cause waterborne diseases.Mostly children are widely affected due to consumption of poor quality of groundwater and open channels [6].It has been reported that between 100 and 150 children die every day due to diarrhea infection caused by unsafe drinking water and unhygienic conditions in Pakistan [7].Moreover, diarrheal diseases represent a major health problem in developing countries and some estimates suggest that global death toll from diarrheal diseases is about two million per year (between 1.7 and 2.5 million deaths).Worldwide, the death toll due diarrheal diseases ranks third among all infectious diseases [8].
The improvement of drinking water quality for human consumption and agriculture depends on reliable analytical measurements.Thus, the analytical testes color, odor, EC, pH, flavor, turbidity, bicarbonate, alkalinity, carbonate, magnesium, calcium, water hardness, potassium, sodium, chloride, sulfate, phosphorus, TDS and nitrate are very important water quality parameters and play a significant role [9].
The ground and surface water resources are deteriorating every year due to increasing population growth, urbanization and un-planned water usages.In most of the area of Pakistan, the groundwater is main source of drinking water.The most common tools for the extraction of groundwater in rural areas are hand pumps and electric motor pumps.The quality of water in many areas of Sindh province is poor.In the areas with no filtration plants, peoples are compelled to drink poor quality water.The depletion of water resources and deteriorating quality of ground water leads to increased water borne diseases, which are transmitted to human beings through this water [10].
Keeping the above aspects of drinking water, the present study was undertaken to investigate the quality of groundwater and its impact on health of local residence in different locations of Tandojam Hyderabad.

Description of the Study Area
Tandojam city is situated in district Hyderabad, which lies at latitude of 25°25'60 N and longitude 68°31'60 E at an elevation of approximately 23 m above the sea level.The weather of this zone is moderate.However, from April to June the weather is very hot during day time.The monsoon dominates from July to September.December and January are the coldest months.

Sampling Methodology
In order to assess the groundwater quality and its related diseases, samples were collected in monsoon season at seven different locations viz.: SAU Colony, Mir Colony, Amar Town, Muzaffarabad Colony, Jam Bungalows, Jam Ghar and Liaquat Town.The details on each location with source of drinking water are shown in Table 1.Five water samples at each selected location were collected from motor pumps in 500 ml polyethylene bottles and got tested in DRIP lab.The averages of five sampling locations are shown through graph.The samples were collected, systematically labeled and analyzed for different physical (i.e.color, odor etc.) and chemical properties (i.e.pH, EC, TDS, Ca, Mg, HCO 3 , Hardness, Na, NO 3 , Cl, K, SO 4 ).

Data Comparison
The results of groundwater physical and chemical parameters were compared with WHO drinking water standards.In addition, to assess the overall physicochemical quality of water and main waterborne diseases in study areas, a field survey was conducted and data was gathered through questionnaire.

Water Quality Status in Study Area
Water quality is the physical and chemical characteristics of water in relation to some set standards.These characteristics are directly related to the safety of the drinking water to human use.Water quality characteristics provide important information about the fitness of a water body.These characteristics are used to find out the quality of water fit for drinking purpose.During health survey, waterborne diseases were also investigated using a questionnaire.

Analysis of Physico-Chemical Parameters of Water
Both physical and chemical water quality parameters of collected water samples were analysed in the laboratory of Drainage Reclamation Institute Pakistan (DRIP) in Tandojam and the results are given in Table 2.The physical parameters that were tested included colour and odour and the chemical characteristics included: pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and Total dissolved solids (TDS), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), bicarbonates (HCO 3 ), chloride (Cl), sulfate (SO 4 ), hardness, sodium (Na), potassium (K) and nitrate (NO 3 ).The WHO standards set for these parameters are also shown in Table 2.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The present study has provided information of health survey and analysis of drinking water quality status of groundwater from seven selected locations of Tandojam city and safety level for drinking water compared with WHO standards.Ground water samples were collected from each proposed location from the source pump to investigate the water quality of drinking water.The pump was main source of water for drinking purposes in study area.As the quality of water in some locations was not appropriate for drinking purpose, so the local community was mainly dependent on market filtered water.

Colour and Odour in Water
The results on colour and odour reveal that the sampled water is colour-less and odourless.Any decomposition arising from organic material and leakage from sewage may not have reached the groundwater hence its colour was not affected.In the study area, the water samples collected at all locations were odorless and all samples were apparently safe for drinking purpose.However, their quality was further determined from chemical analysis.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
The results on total dissolved solids TDS are shown in Table 2 and illustrated in Figure 1.

Electrical Conductivity (EC)
The results on EC are shown in Table 2 and presented in Figure 2.

pH
The results on pH for different locations are plotted in Figure 3.It shows that the pH values at all sampling locations i.e.D 1 D 2, D 3, D 4, D 5, D 6 and D 7 were within acceptable limits set by WHO, hence were fit for drinking.The highest pH was found at D 3 location while, the lowest values observed at D 2 location.

Potassium
The results on potassium (K) present in the water samples are illustrated in Figure 4.

Sodium
The results on sodium in water samples collected at various locations are shown in Figure 5.

Calcium
The results on calcium in water samples collected at various locations are described in Figure 6. Figure shows that all values of calcium in sampled water were within the acceptable limits set by WHO hence, water was fit for drinking purpose.The highest values of calcium (90 mg/l) was found at D 1 location while, the lowest values of calcium (52 mg/l) were observed in D 3 location.

Hardness
The results on hardness are illustrated in Figure 8.

Chloride
The results on chloride concentration in water sampled at different locations illustrated in Figure 9. Figure shows that the values of chloride at two sampling locations i.e.D 2 and D 4 crossed the acceptable limits set by WHO and were unfit for drinking.The highest values of chloride (300 mg/l) were found at D 4 location while, the lowest value of chloride (145 mg/l) was observed at D 1 location.

Nitrate
The results on nitrate are shown in Figure 10.   the lowest value of bicarbonate (240 mg/l) was observed at D 1 location.

Sulfate
The results on sulfate concentrations present in water are shown in Figure 12. Figure shows that the values of sulfate in water sampled at all locations were within the acceptable limits set by WHO and water was suitable for drinking.The highest value of sulfate (210 mg/l) was found at D 7 location while, the lowest value of sulfate (90 mg/l) was observed at D 1

Diseases by Poor Drinking Water Quality
The results on waterborne diseases during monsoon season in the study areas are shown in Figure 13.Results reveal that at some places residents were under the threat of many water related diseases such as cholera, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and typhoid etc.It was observed that about 12.3% people in the study area were suffering from diarrhoea and about 4.8% were suffering from typhoid, about 5.3% were suffering from cholera and about 15.5% had abdominal pain due to the continuous use of poor quality water.The poor quality of water caused water borne diseases and it is harmful for human health.While, on overall basis, about 62.2% of local community was free from water related diseases.
The results of present study suggest that the colour, odour, pH, potassium (K), bicarbonates (HCO 3 ), calcium (Ca), sulfate (SO 4 ) and nitrate (NO 3 ) were within allowable limits for human consumption, while, TDS, Mg, EC and Na were slightly higher in several samples Cl -and Hardness were found beyond the permissible limits set by WHO standards at few locations.The similar findings were reported by Tay [11] who concluded that physico-chemical constituents of ground water were within limits for drinking.However, the TDS concentrations were found high and above the permissibility limits, while Cl-ion concentrations in some boreholes crossed the limits.The continuous intake of water having higher TDS, and Cl-ion can cause serious health effects.These results are further supported by Kempster and Kuhu [12] who reported that the maximum acceptable concentration of TDS especially in drinking water is above 2450 mg/l, which is considered critical value.The long-term use of this water can cause health problems due to excessive concentration of the dissolved particles.These results are further supported by Purohit and Saxena [13] who reported that the Mg also occurs in all kinds of ground waters along with concentrations of calcium (Ca).However, high concentration of calcium and magnesium in the drinking water can cause the kidney disease.According to Guru [14] high concentration of sulphate in water can cause diarrhea and laxative effects.However, Mohsin [15] conducted that the ground water quality has been deteriorated due to significant variation in physico-chemical parameters.
Similarly, poor water quality has created different waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, jaundice, cholera and kidney stone etc.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Groundwater quality in Tandojam city is deteriorating like other major cities of Pakistan.In the study area, the quality of groundwater samples was poor at some locations and was unsafe for human consumption.
The drinking water quality at SAU Colony and Amar Town was better than other locations.Similarly, according to interviews on health issues created by drinking poor quality water in the study area suggest that, in some places, residents were under the threat of many water related diseases such as cholera, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, typhoid and skin diseases etc.The many residences were not applying any water purification treatment technique hence; they were more prone to waterborne diseases due use of such unsafe drinking water.
The groundwater quality has deteriorated due to natural underground pollution activities and quality of drinking water has become inferior that has often resulted in high incidence of contaminants and ultimately contagious diseases.District government and other water supply entities must take responsibility to provide drinking water to all citizens.The waste disposal sites should be kept away from the residential areas.Based on the results of waterborne diseases, there is a need to rescue human life which is precious.Therefore, regular monitoring of drinking water quality should be practiced.
Figure shows that the values of TDS at sampling locations i.e.D 2 , D 4 , D 5 , D 6 and D 7 were unfit for drinking.The highest TDS value (1760 mg/l) was observed at D 4 location, while the lowest TDS value (756 mg/l) was observed at D 1 location.
Figure shows that the EC values at D 2 , D 3 , D 4 , D 5 , and D 7 sampling locations crossed the acceptable limits set by WHO and were unfit for drinking.The values of electrical conductivity (EC) were higher than those set by WHO standards.The highest EC value (2.7 dS/m) was found at D 4 location, while the lowest EC value (1.1 dS/m) was observed at D 1 location.

Figure 1 :
Figure 1: Values of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in Study Areas.

Figure 2 :
Figure 2: Values of Electrical Conductivity (EC) in Study Areas.

Figure 3 :
Figure 3: Values of pH in Study Areas.
Figure shows that the values of potassium at all sampling locations D 1, D 2, D 3, D 4, D 5, D 6 and D 7 were within the acceptable limits set by WHO hence, water was fit for drinking purpose.The highest value of potassium (8.8 mg/l) was found at D 4 location while, the lowest value of potassium (4.0 mg/l) was observed at D 3 location.

Figure 4 :
Figure 4: Values of Potassium (K) in Study Areas.
Figure reveals that the values of sodium at different sampling locations i.e.D 2 , D 4 , D 6 and D 7 crossed the acceptable limits set by WHO hence use of this water could be avoided as it was unfit for drinking.The highest value of sodium (340 mg/l) was found at D 4 location while the lowest value of sodium (130 mg/l) was observed at D 1 location.

Figure 5 :
Figure 5: Values of Sodium (Na) in Study Areas.

Figure 6 :
Figure 6: Values of Calcium (Ca) in Study Areas.Magnesium

Figure 7 :
Figure 7: Values of Magnesium (Mg) in Study Areas.
Figure shows that the values of hardness at D 4 location crossed the acceptable limits set by WHO hence this water can be treated as hard water.It should be used after proper treatment otherwise it is unfit for drinking.The highest value of hardness (520 mg/l) was found at D 4 location while, the lowest value of hardness (200 mg/l) was observed at D 3 location.

Figure 8 :
Figure 8: Values of Hardness in Study Areas.
Figure shows that the values of nitrate in all sampling locations i.e.D 1, D 2, D 3 D 4, D 5, D 6 and D 7 were within the acceptable limits set by WHO and water was fit for drinking from nitrate point of view.The highest value of nitrate (3.6 mg/l) was found at D 2 location while, the lowest value of nitrate (2.3 mg/l) was observed at D 6 location.

Figure 9 :
Figure 9: Values of Chloride (Cl) in Study Areas.

Figure 13 :
Figure 13: Water borne diseases in study area.