Water quality assessment of open wells in Malappuram district, Kerala

Abstract

Most of the open well water is of low pH and polluted by an excess of turbidity, acidity, and iron in the district of Malappuram, Kerala, India. In this work, water samples were collected in a random manner from 15 blocks of Malappuram in between the post- and pre-monsoon seasons and studied their quality using standard analytical procedures. Based on the experimental analysis, various physicochemical characteristics, namely turbidity, temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, and iron have been evaluated. It is found that all samples under investigation were of low pH and some samples were contaminated by turbidity, acidity, and iron. However, total dissolved solids and total alkalinity are within the desirable limit in all samples. Samples having excess turbidity and iron show a reddish brown color and it can cause coloration and stain to sanitary fittings, clothes, etc. Excess iron also causes an unpalatable metallic taste to the drinking water.