Chemical and Biological Analysis of Drinking Water of Lahore Government Schools to Assess Its Quality

Abstract

Clean drinking Water is basic need and right of human beings but in Pakistan situation is going worst regarding condition of water. The present study was carried out to check the quality of drinking water of Government Schools of Lahore on the basis of Chemical and Biological parameters; TDS, F-, As, NO3- (Chemical) and E. coli (Biological). The samples were collected from all 9 towns of Lahore with Random Sampling Technique. The health related and source type information was obtained through Questionnaire survey (n=800 i-e for students=500, staff=100, residents=100, health care units=100). Results showed that 55% drinking water is unsafe as polluted with different selected parameters. As TDS ranges from low level and permissible limit i-e 1000 mg/l to 1532 mg/l in different sample. Fluoride ranges from low level and permissible limit i-e < 1.5 mg/l to 1.972 mg/l in different samples. Nitrate ranges from low level and permissible level i-e < 50 mg/l to 110.2 mg/l in different samples. Arsenic ranges from low level and permissible level i-e < 0.05 mg/l to 3.04 mg/l. E. coli ranges from permissible limit i-e 0 CFU/100ml to 30 CFU/100ml. Questionnaire survey identified the sources of drinking water in the surveyed schools which are of two types 1: WASA (61%) 2: Motor Pumps (39%) and the more polluted source is motor pump as it is 80% polluted with TDS and WASA with 20%, 78.5% polluted with Fluoride whereas WASA with 21.4%, 63.3% polluted with Arsenic and WASA with 36%, 85.7% with Nitrate whereas WASA with 14.2% but E. coli more or less same in both sources as Motor pump source is polluted with 48.8% and WASA with 51.1%. Respondents (suffered=40.8% students, 31% staff, 53% residents) found with one or combination of diseases Hepatitis-A, Diarrhea, Gastroenteritis, Dental problems, abdominal cramps and Stones. So the presence of these parameters and health issues indicates that there is need of treatment of water and proper monitoring and application of sound policies in Government Schools of Lahore City.