Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Drinking Water in Coastal Area of Taluka Keti Bandar, Sindh, Pakistan: A Case Study

Abdul Raheem Shar, Ghulam Qadir Shar, Wahid Bux Jatoi, Noor Zaman, Zubeda Bhatti, Noor Ul Hassan, Mazhar Iqbal Khaskheli, Qurat-Ul-Ain Shaikh, Ghulam Mujtaba Jogi and Atta Hussain Rind Institute of Chemistry, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan. Department of Physics, Shah Abdul Latif University, Kheirpur, Sindh, Pakistan. Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Hyderabad, Pakistan. Department of Chemistry, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan. *Corresponding Author Email: saifiraheem3863920@gmail.com Received 14 April 2020, Revised 08 June 2020, Accepted 11 June 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract The present study was carried out for quantitative assessment of the drinking water quality consumed by people of area under study. Physico-chemical parameters like pH, TH, EC, TDS, Cl, SO4 2HCO3 , NO3 N, o-PO4 3-P, F , and Turbidity were determined. Titration and spectroscopic methods were used to analyze SO4 , NO3 —N, o-PO4 --P, F, and Turbidity. The Ca and Mg were measured with complexometric titration procedure, while Na and K were determined by FAAS. The study showed that pH, nitrate-nitrogen and fluoride were found within the safe limit of the WHO. The TDS (1000 mg/L) and EC (1500 mg/L) of twelve villages were found above permissible limit. Samples of two villages Ali Hassan Mirgh Baloch and Pir Usman Shah Jhaloo showed high TH content. The chloride content was found within the safe limit only in three villages M. Essa Khaskheli, Abdullah Mallah and Haji Gul Muhammad Jat, whereas higher chloride content was found in the remaining villages. Higher sulfate content of 292 mg/L was observed in drinking water of Village Ali Ahmed Mirgh Baloch, while drinking water samples of all other villages under study were found safe for sulphate content. In the water of eight villages turbidity was found higher than allowable limit of 5 (NTU). Concentration of macro elements such as, Ca (191 – 33 mg/L), Mg (22 – 92 mg/L), Na (56 – 345 mg/L) and K (1 – 11 mg/L) were measured in the groundwater samples. Analytical data revealed that there are different parameters which may cause aesthetic and health hazards in the studied area.