Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Drinking Water inCoastal Areaof Taluka Keti Bandar, Sindh, Pakistan:ACase Study

The present study was carried out for quantitativeassessment of the drinking water qualityconsumed by people of area under study. Physico-chemical parameters likepH, TH, EC, TDS, Cl-,SO42-HCO3-, NO3—N, o-PO43--P, F-, and Turbidity were determined. Titrationandspectroscopicmethods were used to analyze SO42-, NO3-—N, o-PO43---P, F-, and Turbidity. The Ca2+and Mg2+were measured with complexometric titration procedure, while Na+and K+were determined byFAAS. The study showed that pH, nitrate-nitrogen and fluoride were found within the safe limit ofthe WHO. The TDS (1000 mg/L)and EC (1500 mg/L) of twelve villages were found abovepermissible limit. Samples of two villages Ali Hassan Mirgh Baloch and Pir Usman Shah Jhalooshowed high TH content. The chloride content was found within the safe limit only in threevillages M. EssaKhaskheli, Abdullah Mallah and Haji Gul Muhammad Jat, whereas higherchloride content was found inthe remaining villages. Higher sulfate content of 292 mg/L wasobserved in drinking water of Village Ali Ahmed Mirgh Baloch, while drinking water samples ofall other villages under study were found safe for sulphate content. In the water of eight villagesturbidity was found higher than allowable limit of5(NTU). Concentration of macro elements suchas, Ca2+(191–33 mg/L), Mg+2(22–92 mg/L), Na+(56–345 mg/L) and K+(1–11 mg/L) weremeasured in the groundwater samples.Analytical data revealedthat there are different parameterswhich may cause aesthetic and health hazards in the studied area.