Characteristics In Drinking Water Quality Of Kanpur

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

http://www.sciencepub.net/nature 11 [email protected]

Comparative Study of Seasonal Variation in Physico - Chemical

Characteristics in Drinking Water Quality of Kanpur, India With

Reference To 200 MLD Filteration Plant and Ground Water

Priyanka Trivedi1,

*

, Amita Bajpai2

, Sukarma Thareja1

,

1. Department of Chemistry, Christ Church College, CSJM Kanpur University, UP, India

2. CWA Kanpur Jalsansthan Benajhawar Kanpur

1

E-mail:[email protected]

Abstract: In the present work various physico chemical parameters i.e. Turbidity, temperature, pH, total

hardness , Iron, Chlorides, Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Sulphate, Nitrate, Fluoride, Chromium, total alkalinity

are analyzed for various seasons; Summer, Monsoon, Autumn,Winter, Spring for the period (April-December-

2008 and (January- March-2009) in the surface water, ground water and filtration plant treated water of

Kanpur city. Significant variation of physico - chemical parameters of surface water were observed; various physico-chemical parameters for the water samples were within highest desirable limit (HDL) prescribed byWHO for drinking purposes for all seasons except for pH in summer, Total alkalinity and Fe contents in spring,autumn and winter; Total dissolved solids in winter, Turbidity in all seasons. The observations imply that Ganga water in monsoon is better than winter seasons, where as the ground water was found better in winter compared to that of summer season. The results suggest that the quality of surface water improved aftertreatment in filtration plant as compared to ground water.

Keywords: Physico-chemical Parameters, Ganga water,Canal Ganga Water, Treated water, Ground water.

1. Introduction

Water is the principal need of life on earth, and is an essential component for all forms of lives,

from micro-organism to man. The unplanned urbanization and industrialization (Singh et al.,

2002)1 has resulted in over use of environment (Petak, 1980)2 in particular of water resource. A kind of crises situation has made getting clean water a serious problem. It is a known fact that when pure water is polluted its normal functioning and properties are affected. Ganges is a sacred river of India. The increased anthropogenic activities due to industrialization have contributed to decline in water quality of Ganges. Several works have been reported on water quality of river Ganges at Kanpur (Sinha et al., 20003a; Pandey and Pandey, 19803b and Tare etal., 20033c) and other parts of country (Pahwa, and Mehrotra, 1966)4

. The authors studied river Ganges from Kanpur city, west state UP, to Rajmahal city east state Jharkhand, covering total length of about 1090 kms. The maximum turbidity (1100-2170 ppm)

was observed in monsoon and minimum (less than100 ppm) during January to June. The minimum value Ph of the river water ranged between 7.45 (minimum) observed during June to August and 8.30 (maximum) during January to May. A comprehensive study of physico-chemical properties of Ganga water at Buxar (Unnao) UP (Sinha,1986)5

, Narora and

Kannauj,U.P (Khan et. al ,1984)6

, in and around

Haridwar (Kaur and Joshi, 2003)7

has also been

reported. The seasonal analysis of Kanpur (Zafer

and Sultana, 2007)8

water showed that extent of

pollution varied in different seasons. The steep

growth in population due to rapid urbanization and

industrial development of Kanpur city has increased

the demand of water manifold. At present drinking

water demand of the city is 650 MLD which is

partially met by Kanpur Jalsansthan Benajhawar

having the capacity of 200 MLD filtration plant. In

the present work we report the drinking water quality

of the filtration plant and other sources.

2. Study Area

Kanpur Jalsansthan Benajhawar’s filteration

plant gets 200 MLD water from Bhairav Ghat

(Ganga), Panki (lower canal Ganga). The water

samples were collected from the following sites;

Ganga (GW), lower canal Ganga (CGW) coming for

treatment to filtration plant (TW), close by hand Nature and science,2010:8(4) Trivedi,et al,comparative study of seasonal variation in water

http://www.sciencepub.net/nature 12 [email protected]

pumps, and from points close to the point where

water come out after treatment from filtration plant

for the period during April-December, 2008 and

January – March, 2009.

3. Sampling

In the present work we report quality of

water taken from 200 MLD filtration plant site and

ground water resources. The sites are GW, CGW,

TW and ground water sampling site is named as PSP

i.e. postal station pumps (hand pumps ). These PSP

samples are collected from six different zones of

Kanpur during Monsoon, Autumn, Winter, Spring

and Summer seasons for the period the years April,

2008 - March, 2009.

4. Methods and Materials

The laboratory analysis of samples was done

using standard methods (APHA, 1998)9

. Analytical

method used for determination of different physicochemical parameters for surface waters of Ganga

river, CGW and TW at 200MLD and ground water at

PSP Kanpur are listed in Table-1.10 The water

samples were collected from different sites in plastic

bottles and transported to the laboratory in an icebox

jars to avoid unpredictable changes in different

physico- chemical parameters. The selected

parameters including Water Temperature (WT), pH,

Turbidity, Total alkalinity (TA), Total dissolved

solids (TDS), Total hardness (TH), Ca+2, Mg+2, Cl-

,

NO3

-

, SO4

-2, Cr+6, Fe, F-

were analyzed at regular

intervals. The observed values of various physicochemical parameters of water samples were

compared with standard values recommended by

World Health Organization(WHO)11 for drinking

purposes.

Table-1 : Water quality parameters and analytical

methods used in analysis of water samples.

Parameter Analytical method

WT (°C) Mercury thermometer

Tu (NTU) Turbidimeter[10b]

pH pH-meter

TA (CaCO3

mg/l)

Titrimetric

Cl-

(mg/l) Argentometric Method

[10a](Silver nitrate method)

NO3

- (mg/l) Colorimetric method

TH (CaCO3

mg/l)

EDTA Titrimetric

Method[10c]

Ca+2(mg/l) EDTA Titrimetric

Method[10c]

Mg+2(mg/l) EDTA Titrimetric Method[10c]

TDS (mg/[) Gravimetric method

SO4

-2 (mg/l) Aplab turbidity meter[10b]

Cr (mg/l) Atomic absorption

spectrophotometer

Fe (mg/l) Atomic absorption

spectrophotometer

F

- (mg/l) Colorimetric method

* WT: temperature; Tu: turbidity; TA: alkalinity; Cl:

chloride;NO3

-

: nitrate;

TH: total hardness; TDS :Total dissolved Solids,

The analysis period was divided in to 5

seasons i.e. monsoon (July and August), autumn

(September and October), winter (November to

January) spring (February and March) and summer

(April to June). Experimental values of various

physico-chemical parameters in different seasons are

reported in Table- 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. Data

provided the extent of pollution removed by

treatment of water in filtration plant and proved to be

an indicator to evaluate the suitability for drinking

the treated samples. Nature and science,2010:8(4) Trivedi,et al,comparative study of seasonal variation in water

http://www.sciencepub.net/nature 13 [email protected]

Tables- 2: Physico-chemical parameters in

Monsoon season.

GW CGW TW PSP

WT (°C) 30 31 29 28

pH 8.4 7.8 7.7 8.6

Turbidity 470 75 3.0 4.0

TA 140 96 96 224

TDS 256 181 202 442

TH 108 80 94 140

Ca+2 28 25.6 30.4 32.8

Mg+2 9.234 3.888 4.374 14.094

Cl- 8 5 12 78

NO3

- 1.772 1.772 Nil 0.886

SO4

-2 91 45 36 44

Cr Nil Nil Nil Nil

Fe 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.2

F - Nil Nil Nil Nil

Tables-3: Physico-chemical parameters in

Autumn season.

GW CGW TW PSP

WT (°C) 29 30 29 27

pH 8.5 7.9 8.2 8.5

Turbidit

y

100 8.0 1.0 1.0

TA 216 118 180 340

TDS 440 250 380 550

TH 190 116 178 70

Ca+2 45.6 32 40.8 20

Mg+2 18.468 8.748 18.468 4.86

Cl- 14 8 20 135

NO3

- Nil Nil Nil Nil

SO4

-2 50 43 43 89

Cr Nil Nil Nil Nil

Fe 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.2

F - 0.2 Nil Nil Nil

Table- 4: Physico-chemical parameters in Winter

season.

GW CGW TW PSP

WT (°C) 16 18 14 12

pH 8.5 7.8 7.7 8.0

Turbidit

y

15 12 1.0 2.0

TA 260 134 180 140

TDS 540 290 430 330

TH 246 146 216 160

Ca+2 80 32 44 24

Mg+2 11.178 16.038 25.758 29.3

Cl- 26 9.0 30 30

NO3

- 3.544 Nil 1.772 Nil

SO4

-2 47 38 55 48

Cr Nil Nil Nil Nil

Fe 0.4 0.4 0.3 Nil

F - 0.4 0.4 Nil Nil

Table- 5: Physico- chemical parameters in Spring

season.

GW CGW TW PSP

WT (°C) 20 22 20 19

pH 8.5 7.8 7.9 8.5

Turbidity 22 15 1.0 2.0

TA 232 120 196 364

TDS 485 250 440 610

TH 216 116 206 120

Ca+2 49.6 27.2 33.6 23.2

Mg+2 22.356 11.664 29.646 15.066

Cl- 25 10 32 118

NO3

- 0.443 Nil Nil 1.772

SO4

-2 58 11 38 40

Cr Nil Nil Nil Nil

Fe 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2

F - 0.4 0.2 Nil Nil Nature and science,2010:8(4) Trivedi,et al,comparative study of seasonal variation in water

http://www.sciencepub.net/nature 14 [email protected]

Table- 6: Physico - chemical parameters in

summer season

GW CGW TW PSP

WT (°C) 30 32 31 28

pH 8.9 8.0 7.8 8.6

Turbidity 20 9.0 1.0 2.0

TA 104 114 132 284

TDS 400 260 352 684

TH 170 134 174 114

Ca+2 24 28 28.8 32

Mg+2 26.73 15.552 24.786 8.262

Cl- 30 11 45 280

NO3

- 1.772 0.443 Nil Nil

SO4

-2 50 36 56 61

Cr Nil Nil Nil Nil

Fe 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.6

F - 0.4 0.4 Nil Nil

5. Result and Discussion

The water quality analysis of different raw

water, TW, Ground water samples has been carried

out for fourteen physico-chemical parameters i.e;

Temperature, pH, turbidity, TA, TDS, TH, Ca+2

,

Mg+2, Cl-

, NO3

-

, SO4

-2 , Cr, Fe and F -

.

Temperature:

In present study the temperature varied from

14 o

C to 32 o

C. The variation in the water

temperature may be due to different timing of

collection and influence of season (Jayraman et

al.,2003)12 In 2002 and 2003 (Zafer and Sultana),

monsoon temperature was 25.8 oC, 26.1 oC

respectively, however, for same seasons in 2008 - 09

temperature is found to be 30 o

C. In spring and

summer of years 2003 and 2004 (Zafer and Sultana,

2008 ) temperature was found to be 20.6 oC, 33.8 oC :

20.7 oC, 34 o

C respectively, we found temperature of

20 0

C and 30 0

C for the same season. It indicates that

over passage of time from 2002 to 2008 -09 the

monsoon season temperature has increased

significantly.

Hydrogen Ion Concentration (pH):

The pH of water is important because many

biological activities can occur only within a narrow

range. Thus, any variation beyond an acceptable

range could be fatal to a particular organism. In 2002

and 2003, Zafer and Sultana, 2007 reported pH of 7.6

and 7.55 respectively of GW sample for monsoon

season. In present study the same is found to be 8.4.

However, for spring and summer seasons it is 8.5,

8.9 respectively compared to 7.8,7.7; 8.0,7.7

respectively for same period of 2003 and 2004

(Zafer and Sultana) 8 . It indicates that with passage of

time the pH of water for a specific season has

increased.

Present study also shows pH is alkaline in most of

samples and it ranges from 7.7 to 8.9. pH value of

different studied samples in different season is with

in HDL prescribed by WHO which is 6.5 to 8.5

except during summer the pH of surface water of GW

exceeded HDL prescribed by WHO .

Total Alkalinity:

We measured TA of 140 mg/l in surface

GW for monsoon season compared to 102.0 and 75

mg/l respectively for same period of 2002 and 2003

(Zafer and Sultana-8, 2007) . However, for five

seasons TA varied from 104 mg/l- 260 mg/l. The

variation of TA is in accordance with fluctuation in

pollution load (Parashar et al., 2006)13 Total

alkalinity for all seasons for treated water and GW is

within permissible limit of WHO which is 200 mg/l

except in winter season for GW samples TA is

greater than HDL prescribed by WHO. TA for GW is

lowest during summer and highest during winter

Total Hardness:

Hardness is an important parameter in

decreasing the toxic effect of poisonous element.

The measured value of TH for monsoon season

increased to 108 mg/l compared to 81.70, 97.45 mg/l

respectively of GW samples in 2002 and 2003 (Zafer

and Sultana, 2007). The TH of surface water in GW

and CGW and ground water samples at PSP and

treated water was found to be in range of 80 mg/l -

246 mg/l, within prescribed limit of 300 mg/l by

WHO .

Turbidity:

The turbidity is a major problem in the river

water of all states. The turbidity value was found

higher during monsoon season. In 2002 and 2003 in

monsoon season turbidity was 66.2, and 56.4 NTU.

Present study results show that turbidity of GW

sample in monsoon season has increased

tremendously to 470 NTU. Values of turbidity for

TW samples and a ground water samples at PSP for

all seasons were found to be lower than HDL

prescribed by WHO, but surface water samples in Nature and science,2010:8(4) Trivedi,et al,comparative study of seasonal variation in water

http://www.sciencepub.net/nature 15 [email protected]

GW and CGW show higher values than HDL. During

festival season immersion of idols in urban water

bodies have grown in number and size over the years

and therefore urban water bodies are facing an

increasing nutrient load (Vyas et al, 2006)14. This

could be the reason of high value of turbidity shown

by surface GW samples during festival season in

autumn (September and October) in our study.

Total Dissolved Solids:

TDS indicate the total amount of inorganic

chemicals in solution. TDS of GW, CGW and PSP

showed seasonal fluctuation for the study period.

TDS values of ground water samples at PSP in

spring, autumn and summer are higher than HDL 500

mg/l prescribed by WHO. Samples of surface water

in GW in winter season showed values of TDS

within Maximum desirable limit (MDL) prescribed

by WHO of 600 mg/l.

Chloride:

Chloride concentration in water indicates

presence of organic waste particularly of animal

origin (Thresh et. al, 1949)15

. Increase in chloride

concentration on discharge of municipal and

industrial waste has been reported (Ownby and Kee,

1967)

16. In river Ganga at Varanasi (Chaudhary and

Ojha, 1985)17 it was found that chloride value ranged

from 5.9 to 7.9 mg/l. However, in Allahabad region

the rivers do not show chloride beyond 42.0 mg/l. In

monsoon of 2002 and 2003 Cl-

contents were 9.75

and 9.9 mg/l respectively ( Zafer and Sultana, 2007).

In our present study maximum Cl- contents are found

to be 280 mg/l in summer season in PSP water

samples. In the present study chloride contents of

GW samples in monsoon season are found to be 8

mg/l. In TW water samples for monsoon, spring,

autumn winter and summer seasons the Cl-

contents

are 12, 20, 30, 32 and 45 mg/l. respectively. This

indicates there is no appreciable seasonal variation in

chloride concentration of TW although it is slightly

higher in summer (Table- 6). Least and maximum

Cl-

contents in sample ground water at PSP are

present in winter and summer seasons respectively

For surface water samples in GW, Clconcentration increases from monsoon, autumn,

spring, winter to summer season in the range of 8-30

mg/l. The high Chloride content in drinking water

may indicate possible pollution from human sewage,

animal manure or industrial waste. Present study

results show that in summer ground water samples

at PSP, the chloride concentration exceed HDL

prescribed by WHO which is 250 mg/l.This High

chloride contents in PSP water makes it taste salty

and also promote pipe corrosion .

Nitrate:

In present study in PSP samples NO3

-

levels

are below 1mg/l in monsoon, autumn, winter and

summer season, but in spring season it is 1.772 mg/l.

In GW samples in autumn and spring seasons it is

less than 1mg/l, but in monsoon, winter and summer

it is more than 1mg/l and its highest value is in winter

season of 3.544 mg/l. In CGW samples it is less than

1mgl/l in all seasons except in monsoon. In TW,

NO3

-

contents are nil in all seasons except for winter

season. This shows that TW, surface water and PSP

samples have nitrate contents less than 50 mg/l

prescribed HDL of WHO for safe drinking water.

Fluoride:

Fluoride contents are nil in PSP and TW

samples in all seasons. In GW and CGW samples

fluoride contents ranged from 0 to 0.4 mg/l, less than

1 mg/l prescribed HDL of WHO for good health.

Sulfate:

Value of SO4

-2 contents for surface water in

GW, CGW , ground water at PSP and for TW is far

below the maximum allowable concentration for

sulfate ions in drinking water prescribed by WHO

which is 250 mg/l.

Iron:

Water containing iron does not show

deleterious effect on human health, its presence in

drinking water is not desirable for various reasons.

Excessive iron content makes the water turbid,

discolored and imparts an astringent taste to water.

Present study shows that in monsoon, spring and

autumn seasons iron contents of CGW is greater than

GW and values are greater than HDL prescribed by

limit of WHO which is 0.3 mg/l. Fe contents of TW

samples in autumn season and ground water samples

at PSP in summer are higher than prescribed limit of

WHO. It indicates that filteration plant is not

effective for reducing iron contents of surface water

during autumn season

Ca+2 and Mg+2 contents:

Ca+2 and Mg+2 are important contributors to

water hardness. For all season surface water at GW,

CGW and ground water at PSP and for TW, contents

of Ca+2 is greater than Mg+2 except for summer

season surface water samples at GW contents of

Mg+2 is greater than Ca+2. The values of Ca+2 and

Mg+2 obtained from surface water samples in GW,

CGW and ground water samples at PSP and for TW

for all seasons except winter are with in HDL Nature and science,2010:8(4) Trivedi,et al,comparative study of seasonal variation in water

http://www.sciencepub.net/nature 16 [email protected]

prescribed by WHO which is 75mg/l and 30mg/l

respectively. But the Ca+2 contents in surface water

of GW in winter was detected just above the

drinking water permissible level of 75 mg/l.

6. Conclusion

Significant seasonal variation in the physico

– chemical parameters of surface water of Kanpur

city were observed during study period April –

December, 2008 and January – March, 2009. With

passage of time from 2002 to 2008-09 the values of

some physico -chemical parameters like TH,

turbidity, TA, pH of sample water for GW in

monsoon season has increased considerably, yet

within HDL prescribed WHO value except turbidity

which is on higher side.

For all seasons the surface water samples in

GW show higher values of pH, turbidity, TA, TDS,

TH, Ca+2, Mg+2, Cl-

, NO3

-

, SO4

-2 than values of

respective parameters for CGW and ground water

samples at PSP and for TW. This quality

deterioration in GW is due to various reasons like

extent of pollution occurring due to urbanization and

anthropogenic activities.

In present study pH, Turbidity, TH and Clvalues for TW samples for all five seasons is less

than or equal to ground water samples at PSP. In

winter season surface water samples from CGW and

ground water samples at PSP were free from all

contamination. It indicates better quality of water at

PSP in winter compared to summer season.

In GW samples for all seasons the values

of eight parameters TH, Mg+2, Cl-

, NO3

-

, SO4

-2, and

F

-

,Ca+2, SO4

-2 were found to be within HDL

prescribed WHO for drinking. After treatment of GW

in filtration plant for all seasons the water quality is

improved as for GW water samples pH in summer;

TA and iron contents in spring and autumn ,winter

season; TDS contents in winter season reduced to

within HDL prescribed by WHO. It also indicates

that GW in monsoon is better than winter season.

PSP ground water source was found

contaminated with Cl-

in summer, TA in monsoon and

summer, TDS in autumn, spring and summer season

respectively as their values were found to be higher

than HDL prescribed by WHO meant for drinking

purposes.

Thus present study reveals that for all seasons the

quality of surface water is highly improved and is free

from all contamination after treatment in filtration

plant and it is better than ground water at PSP in

monsoon, autumn, spring and summer season. More

studies are required at different sites of GW, CGW

and PSP to compare the water quality of drinking

water of Kanpur, India with reference to 200 MLD

filteration plant and ground water at different time

and places. To create increasing awareness among

people that to maintain the Kanpur Ganga river water

at its highest quality and purity filteration plant plays

a crucial role, the present study may prove to be

useful in achieving this goal.

.