Analysis of Surface & Ground Water Quality and its Suitability for Drinking Purposes in Pulwama City

Abstract

This study is an attempt to assess the physico-chemical characteristics of surface and sub-surface resources in Pulwama city. Water sample were collected from surface and Groundwater resources from 16 sampling locations in proximity of Pulwama for three continue month. The samplings were chosen to cover the entire radius of Pulwama and 20 km of Jhelum river and other three rivers such as ramshi, arapal and sasara river after preliminary survey of sampling area in and around Pulwama. The main focus is to assess various quality parameters like pH, DO, TDS, Turbidity, hardness, Ca2+, Mg2+ etc. In this study the value of all observed parameters shown in tables and represented in graphical format. pH, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, resistivity, salinity were analyzed using Systronic 9 parameter water analyzer, total hardness (TH), content of calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) were measured by EDTA titration method, total alkalinity (TA) was determined by titrimetric method, Fluoride (F-) was determined by using Systronic Spectrophotometer, DO, BOD and chloride (Cl-) by standard methods given by NEERI, APHA. In three months nearly 55 water samples were collected from different locations of Pulwama city. The samples were preserved in ice.  It has been concluded from this dissertation work that in Pulwama city, source of surface water of Jhelum River, sasara river, arapal and romshi river water quality is suitable for drinking purpose. Similarly, groundwater quality is not suitable for drinking purpose at Town Hall, Fruit market and Railway station of Pulwama city. In this study, the Town Hall area found nitrate (55 mg/l) above the permissible limit, Fruit market area found dissolved oxygen (2.7 mg/l) below the range of permissible limit and in the railway station area found fluoride (4.30 mg/l) higher the permissible limit of  IS: 10500 for the quality of drinking water.