CODEN ECJHAO

E-Journal of Chemistry

Vol. 2, No. 2, pp 113 -120, March 2005 http://www.e-journals.net

Studies on Some Physico-Chemical and Microbiological

Characteristics of Potable Water Used in Some

Rural Areas of Surat District (Gujarat)

S.R.PATEL and K.K.DESAI*

Department of chemistry,

Veer Narmad South Gujarat University,

Surat-395007, India.

Received 30 December 2004; Accepted 9 March 2005

Abstract: A physico chemical and microbiological study of the ground water of some

villages of Surat district of Gujarat state (India) has been made. Physico chemical

parameters such as colour, odour, taste, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, TS,

TDS, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium,

chloride, sulphate, nitrate, fluoride and silica were determined. In microbiological

study, total coliforms, E. coli, sulfate reducing anaerobic bacteria, pseudomonas

aeruginosa, yeast and mould were investigated. Samples were taken from ten

sampling points in ten different villages viz. Parvat(S-1), Kharvasa(S-2), Bonand(S-

3), Vesu(S-4) Amroli(S-5), Kadodara(S-6), Chalthan(S-7), Variyav(S-8), Gaviyar(S-

9) and Bhairav(S-10). Samples were taken four times in year in the month of May,

August, November and February to check the seasonal effects. In village Gaviyar,

Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board has set up a treatment plant to supply good

quality potable water in few surrounding coastal villages. In all other cases samples

were taken from bore-well. Here study reported is for samples taken in May-2004 and

August-2004.For colour, iron, sulphate, nitrate, fluoride and silica, instrumental

methods like spectrophotometry were used. “Hach-Odyssey spectrophotometer”

which has facility to store calibration curves and which can display the value for that

parameter directly was used. In present study programmes of “Hach” with their

reagents were used while some programmes were prepared by us using our reagents.

This is an excellent instrument and results of this instrument are validated by USEPA.

Sodium and potassium was determined using flame photometer. It was found that

some water samples have higher TDS, chlorides, total hardness and total alkalinity

than the permissible limits. In all cases samples were not found to contain significant

quantities of bacteria and water was palatable from this point of view.

Key words: Physico-chemical, Characteristics, Potable water, Surat.

.

114 K.K.DESAI et al.,

Introduction

In continuation of earlier studies on ground water1, here we report the physico- chemical as well as

microbiological studies of potable water used in some rural areas of Surat district, Gujarat. Because of

the geographical isolation and remoteness, people residing in the rural area, mostly do not have access

to safe drinking water. In the absence of fresh water supply, the people are forced to take water from

any source that lies near their village. In most of the interior rural area, the borewell water is used for

drinking and other domestic purposes. Borewell water is the under ground water that has come mainly

from the seepage of surface water and is held in subsoil and pervious rocks. Borewell water is

generally of good quality and is difficult to pollute. The use of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides in

rural area, manure, lime, septic tank, refuse dumps, etc. are the main sources of borewell water

pollution2. The water used may be unsafe chemically as well as microbiologically. Chemically unsafe

water shows long term and slow effect while microbiologically unsafe water creates short term

problems such as dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice, gastrointestinal disorders, fever and amoeboisis which

may assume epidemic proportions3. The work on microbiological pollution is still lacking. Kaushik

and Prasad4, Thapliya et al.5, Shrivastav et al.6, Riccharia and Mishra7, Garoda et al.8 and J.Hussain et

al.9 are among the few workers who have worked on microbiological quality of water.

Experimental

Water samples were collected in the first week of May-2004 and the first week of August-2004. The villages

selected were Parvat(S-1), Kharvasa(S-2), Bonand(S-3), Vesu(S-4) Amroli(S-5), Kadodara(S-6), Chalthan(S-7),

Variyav(S-8), Gaviyar(S-9) and Bhairav(S-10). For physico-chemical analysis water samples were collected in

properly washed polyethylene bottles while for microbiological analysis sterile glass bottles were used. Standard

procedures were adapted for the determination of both physico-chemical and microbiological analysis.10

For spectrophotometric determination of colour, fluoride, iron, nitrate, sulphate and silica, “Hach -

Odyssey Spectrophotometer (USA)” was used. This instrument has facility to store calibration curves

and which can display the value for that parameter directly was used. In present study, programmes of

“Hach” with their reagents were used while some programmes were prepared by us using our reagents.

This is an excellent instrument and results of this instrument are validated by USEPA. Sodium and

potassium were determined with the help of microprocessor based flame photometer. Calcium,

magnesium, total hardness, chloride, total alkalinity were estimated by titrimetric methods.

For microbiological study, the modern, Membrane Filter Technique (MFT) were used. All the

culture media used were of “Hi-Media Products”.

Results and Discussion

All metabolic and physiological activities and life processes of aquatic organisms are generally

influences by water temperature. In the present study temperature ranged from 27-31ºC.

The pH of the water body indicates the degree of deterioration of water quality. In the present

study pH ranged from 7.07-8.10 which lies within the range prescribed by ISI11, which is 6.5-8.5.The

specific conductivity (SC), which is a measure of the dissolved ion concentration, was much higher

than the permissible limits. In the present study it ranged from 271-3130 µS/cm. maximum SC was

observed at vesu(S-4) during the study period. According to WHO12 and ISI, total dissolved solids

(TDS) value should be less than 500 mg/L for drinking water. In the present study it ranged from 110-

1524 mg/L. Most of the samples have higher values of TDS than the prescribed value.

Total hardness in water is mainly due to the salts of calcium and magnesium. In the present study it ranged

from 90-480 mg/L. Some samples have higher values than the prescribed by ISI, which is 300 mg/L. The limits

of calcium and magnesium have been prescribed in the range 75-200 mg/L and 50-100 mg/L respectively. In

the present study calcium and magnesium ranged from 14-100 mg/L and 7.29-97.2 mg/L respectively. Total

alkalinity of all samples ranged from 90-470 mg/L. All the samples have higher values than the prescribed

limits, 200 mg/L, except the value of S-9. The chloride content in the samples ranged from 33.75-795.50 mg/L.

The highest chloride observed in the sample of Vesu (S-4). This may be due to its location, near Sea. The

concentration of sulphate in all samples observed within the limits prescribed for sulphate content, 200 mg/L

and it varies from 4.2-104.2 mg/L during the study period.

Studies on Some Characteristics of Potable Water 115

Nitrate is one of the major constituents of organisms along with carbon and hydrogen as amino

acids, proteins and organic compounds in ground water. In the present study nitrate ranged from 1.99-

68.66 mg/L which lies under the prescribed limits.Fluoride limits in drinking water from 1.0-1.5 mg/L.

in the present study it ranged from 0.21-1.20 mg/L, which lies within the range.Iron is one of the most

abundant elements in the earth’s crust. Iron deficiency in the human body causes anaemia. In the

present study it ranged from 1.0-1.24 mg/L, which lies under the limits prescribed by WHO and ISI.

Sodium and potassium ranged from 31.6-295 mg/L and 0.3-174.4 mg/L respectively. Sodium

content more than 50 mg/L makes the water unsuitable for drinking purposes. The ground water of

Vesu was found to have higher concentration of sodium and potassium.Sodium is the most important

element, which influences the soil quality and plant growth either by affecting the permeability of soil

by clogging or replacing other cations. The extent of replacement of other cation by sodium is denoted

by sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) calculated by the following equation as described by Richards13.

SAR = Na+/ (Ca2+ + Mg2+/2)0.5 Where, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ are in meq/L.

SAR in present study ranged from1.154-7.294 meq/L. Salinity Laboratory of Agriculture

recommended the water classification according to the value of SAR. In present study SAR was found

below the prescribed limit.

The concentration of bicarbonate and carbonate also influence the suitability of water for irrigation

purpose13,14. One of these empirical approaches is based on the assumption that all Ca+2 and Mg2+ precipitate as

carbonate. Considering this hypothesis, Ealtron14 proposed the concept of residual sodium carbonate (RSC) for

the assessment of high carbonate waters. RSC is calculated by the following formula.

RSC = (CO32- + HCO3

-) – (Ca2+ + Mg2+)

The water with high RSC will have high pH and makes soil infertile by depositing black alkali on the

surface. According to a classification made by United States Salinity Laboratory water samples are safe for

irrigation purpose with RSC value below 1.25 meq/L while water samples with RSC value above 2.5meq/L are

unsuitable for irrigation purpose. In our study area RSC ranged from -1.977 to 5.807 meq/L.

Percentage sodium (PS) is another important factor to study sodium hazard. It is calculated as the

percentage of sodium and potassium against all cationic concentrations. It is also used for adjudging

the quality of ground water for the use of agricultural purpose. The use of high PS waters for irrigation

purpose stunts the plant growth. It is calculated by the following formula.

PS = [(Na+ + K+) / (Ca2+ + Mg2+ + Na+ + K+)] x 100

In the present study PS ranged from 23.469-74.338 meq/L. All the samples were found good to

permissible limit except S-4.Coliforms generally occur in drinking water due to contamination of

sewage water or unhygienic practices. Coliforms in drinking water can cause amoebic dysentery and

various other pathogenic complexities. In our present study it was not observed.

E. coli occurs in drinking water due to contamination of sewage water or unhygienic practices.

Three types of diseases may be produced (i) they can produced abscesses in internal organs,

septicemia, endocarditic, and meningitis (ii) produce a severe and often fatal type of epidemic diarrhea

in infants and (iii) they are the cause of sporadic, nonepidemic summer diarrhea which occurs in

children during their second and third summer of life. As coliforms was not observed, E.Coli was also

absent in the present study.

Fungi are present, and have been recovered from, diverse, remote, and extreme aquatic habits

including lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, estuaries, marine environments, wastewaters, sludge, rural and

urban strormwater runoff, well waters, acid mine drainage, asphalt refineries, jet fuel systems, and

aquatic sediments. The association between fungal densities and organic loading suggests that fungi

may be useful indicators of pollution. This organism often occurs in faeces of humans, but in lower

numbers than coliforms. It indicates faecal contamination. It helps in detecting the reconstitution of

rehydration mixtures, baby foods and pharmaceutical preparations as well as surveillance of bottled

water. In the present study it was absent.

Aearobic Microbial Counts are used to assess the general bacterial content of water. Sudden

increase in colony count from a groundwater source may be an early sign of pollution of the aquifer,

useful in evaluating the efficiency of water treatment processes – coagulation, filtration, and

disinfection. In the present study it was determined at two temperatures, 20ºC and 37ºC. They were

found within the limits.

Table-1 Physico-chemical analysis report of Potable waters in MAY-2004

*All the values except pH are in mg/L.

*BDL= Below Detection Limit

11

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S.No Parameter S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10

1 Colour BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL

2 Odour Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable

3 Taste Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable

4 Temp. (°c) 30 29 31 31 30 29 28 28 27 30

5 pH 7.83 7.60 7.73 7.47 7.11 7.89 7.94 7.91 7.17 7.07

6 SC (µS) 1152 1254 1213 2460 1217 1121 951 674 249 1081

7 TDS 1020 1120 1020 1524 1196 596 764 508 116 996

8 TS 1025 1123 1026 1530 1199 601 769 513 120 1000

9 TH 180 330 250 310 430 150 130 100 90 460

10 Ca Hardness 60 130 90 110 170 80 35 55 60 250

11 Mg

Hardness 120 200 160 200 260 70 95 45 30 210

12 TA 400 320 430 440 440 400 360 320 90 360

13 Carbonate 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

14 Bicarbonate 488 390.4 524.6 536.8 536.8 488.0 439.2 390.4 109.8 439.2

15 Sodium 122.2 109.7 120.7 295.0 99.7 127.7 119.2 101.7 38.3 67.7

16 Potassium 14.0 2.9 3.6 174.4 47.6 3.6 2.8 5.1 9.7 3.8

17 Calcium 24 52 36 44 68 32 14 22 24 100

18 Magnesium 29.16 48.6 38.88 48.6 63.18 17.01 23.085 10.935 7.29 51.03

19 Iron 1.0 1.11 1.20 1.24 1.18 1.15 1.18 1.12 1.14 1.02

20 Silica 14.00 10.1 14.50 6.5 20.50 16.70 18.90 13.55 2.59 37.22

21 Chloride 192.848 269.987 221.775 930.491 207.311 173.563 139.814 62.675 38.569 173.563

22 Sulphate 57.225 49.775 47.375 104.2 51.7 65.25 49.90 11.025 16.62 23.225

23 Nitrate 5.4046 4.3414 4.43 4.9616 5.5375 3.0124 4.873 3.987 1.9935 68.665

24 Fluoride 0.33 0.27 0.52 0.94 0.43 0.42 0.44 0.94 0.25 0.21

Table-2 Physico-chemical analysis report of Potable waters in AUGUST-2004

*All the values except pH are in mg/L.

*BDL= Below Detection Limit

S.No. Parameter S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10

1 Colour BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL BDL

2 Odour Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable

3 Taste Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable Agreeable

4 Temp. (°c) 27 28 27 27 29 28 28 27 29 28

5 pH 7.92 7.68 7.75 7.50 7.25 8.00 8.10 8.02 7.19 7.10

6 SC (µS) 1190 1443 1370 3130 1740 1275 990 717 271 1117

7 TDS 836 800 880 1350 1352 780 652 400 110 784

8 TS 842 809 888 1354 1355 785 658 408 115 789

9 TH 160 380 300 220 590 160 130 110 100 480

10 Ca Hardness 70 140 110 80 190 70 45 50 60 200

11 Mg

Hardness 90 240 190 140 400 90 85 60 40 280

12 TA 410 450 470 470 510 450 400 370 120 410

13 Carbonate 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

14 Bicarbonate 500.2 549.0 573.4 573.4 622.2 549.0 488.0 451.4 146.4 500.2

15 Sodium 111.7 99.7 108.2 239.4 92.7 111.7 100.2 87.7 31.6 57.6

16 Potassium 2.3 6.3 6.5 90.2 50.6 12.7 0.3 13.6 10.6 16.9

17 Calcium 28 56 44 32 76 28 18 20 24 80

18 Magnesium 21.87 58.32 46.17 34.02 97.2 21.87 20.655 14.58 9.72 68.04

19 Iron 1.16 1.12 1.12 1.20 1.12 1.24 1.16 1.12 1.12 1.16

20 Silica 15.00 11.1 15.25 7.7 21.5 17.75 19.90 14.85 3.40 38.22

21 Chloride 183.205 265.166 216.954 795.498 318.199 178.384 110.887 57.854 33.748 163.920

22 Sulphate 39.175 31.625 22.150 71.275 74.25 23.125 6.025 4.20 4.36 1.525

23 Nitrate 4.43 4.341 4.314 4.873 5.493 2.879 5.94 4.43 2.215 66.45

24 Fluoride 0.24 0.74 0.58 1.20 0.48 0.51 0.49 0.94 0.31 0.32

Stu

dies o

n S

om

e Ch

aracteristics of P

otab

le Water

11

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Table-3. Physico-chemical analysis report of Potable waters in MAY-2004

Table-4 Physico-chemical analysis report of Potable waters in AUGUST-2004

Sr.No. Parameter S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10

1 Sodium 4.858 4.337 4.706 10.413 4.032 4.858 4.358 3.815 1.374 2.505

2 Potassium 0.059 0.161 0.161 2.307 1.294 0.325 0.007 0.347 0.271 0.432

3 Calcium 1.394 2.788 2.191 1.593 3.78 1.394 0.896 0.996 1.195 3.98

4 Magnesium 1.799 4.797 3.798 2.798 7.996 1.799 1.699 1.199 0.799 5.597

5 Bicarbonate 8.2 9.0 9.4 9.4 10.2 9.0 8.0 7.4 2.4 8.2

6 SAR 3.845 2.227 2.719 7.027 1.662 3.845 3.826 3.642 1.376 1.154

7 PS 60.63 37.226 44.832 74.338 31.142 61.879 62.715 65.471 45.205 23.469

8 RSC 5.007 1.415 3.411 5.009 -1.576 5.807 5.405 5.205 0.406 -1.377

*All the values except pH are in meq/L

*SAR= Sodium Adsorption Ratio

*RSC= Residual Sodium Carbonate

*PS = Percentage Sodium.

S.No. Parameter S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10

1 Sodium 5.315 4.772 5.250 12.832 4.337 5.555 5.185 4.424 1.661 2.945

2 Potassium 0.358 0.074 0.092 4.460 1.217 0.097 0.072 0.131 0.248 0.097

3 Calcium 1.195 2.589 1.792 2.191 3.386 1.593 0.697 1.095 1.195 4.980

4 Magnesium 2.398 3.998 3.198 3.998 5.197 1.399 1.898 0.899 0.599 4.197

5 Bicarbonate 8.0 6.4 8.6 8.8 8.8 8.0 7.2 6.4 1.8 7.2

6 SAR 3.965 2.659 3.324 7.294 2.093 4.542 4.552 4.431 1.754 1.375

7 PS 61.224 42.386 51.703 73.642 39.287 65.366 66.951 69.553 51.553 24.895

8 RSC 4.407 -0.187 3.61 2.611 0.217 5.008 4.605 4.406 0.006 -1.977

11

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Table -5. Microbiological analysis report of Potable waters in MAY-2004

S.No Parameter S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10

1 E.Coli Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

2 Coliforms Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

3 SRAB Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

4 Pseudomonas

aeruginosa

Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

5 AMC

(a) At 20 °c 70 59 58 70 71 72 69 65 10 71

(b) At 37 °c 13 14 14 15 17 18 16 16 3 15

6 Yeast and

Mould

Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

Table-6 Microbiological analysis report of Potable waters in AUGUST-2004

S.No Parameter S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10

1 E.Coli Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

2 Coliforms Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

3 SRAB Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

4 Pseudomonas

aeruginosa

Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

5 AMC

(a) At 20 °c 80 78 78 76 79 72 78 71 12 75

(b) At 37 °c 10 12 11 10 13 12 10 12 4 10

6 Yeast and

Mould

Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent

SRAB=Sulfite Reducing Anaerobic Bacteria.

AMC = Aearobic Microbial Counts.

Stu

dies o

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aracteristics of P

otab

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120 K.K.DESAI et al.,

References

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2 Hamilton P A and Helsel D R, Ground water, 1995, 33, 2.

3 Rangwala S C, Fundamentals of Water Supply and Sanitary Engineering, Pradeep Publications,

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4 Kaushik N K and Prasad D, Env. Health, 1964, 5, 128.

5 Thapliya D C, Ahluwalia S S, Sethi M S and Nagi S K, Indian J. Env. Health, 1972, 14, 88.

6 Shrivastav A K, Dixit D, Mathur N, Ramteke P W, Bhattacharya J W and Gupta B N, Indian J.

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7 Richarya L K and Mishra R, J. Environ & Pollution, 1998, 5, 73.

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10 APHA, AWWA, WEF, Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Waste Water, 19th

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11 Indian Standard for Drinking Water, BIS, ISD-10500 1991.

12 World Health Organization, Guidelines for Drinking Water, Recommendations, Geneva,

Switzerland. 1964, 1, 130,

13 L A Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils, USDA Handbook, 60, p.160.

14 Ealton, E. M.; Geol U. S. Water Supply paper-2254, 1950.

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