Drinking Water Quality Assessment of Springs in Gokand Valley District Buner Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The quality of spring water in Gokand Valley, District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, is a matter of public health importance due to its use as a primary source of drinking water. This study was initiated in response to concerns about potential environmental and anthropogenic contaminations that could affect the water quality.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the drinking water quality from six different springs in Gokand Valley, assessing their compliance with the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

Methods: Conducted from October 2019 to October 2020, the study involved the collection and subsequent chemical analysis of water samples from six springs in the valley. The parameters analyzed included Total Hardness as CaCO₃, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Chloride as Cl, Sulphate as SO₄, pH, Sodium as Na, Nitrite as NO₂, Total Alkalinity as CaCO₃, Calcium as CaCO₃, Magnesium as MgCO₃, Potassium as K, and Conductivity.

Results: The results indicated a variation in water quality across the springs. Total Hardness as CaCO₃ ranged from 96.45 mg/L to 286.36 mg/L, and TDS values varied between 132.33 mg/L and 367.33 mg/L. Chloride levels were found to be between 5.36 mg/L and 14.28 mg/L. Sulphate concentrations ranged from 9.54 mg/L to 17.96 mg/L. The pH levels of all samples were close to neutral, ranging from 6.98 to 7.30. Sodium levels varied from 5.67 mg/L to 17.47 mg/L. Nitrite was not detected in any of the samples. Total Alkalinity as CaCO₃ ranged from 93.66 mg/L to 240.39 mg/L, Calcium as CaCO₃ from 53.73 mg/L to 200.68 mg/L, Magnesium as MgCO₃ from 41.42 mg/L to 109.40 mg/L, Potassium as K from 1.30 mg/L to 3.50 mg/L, and Conductivity values varied from 210.00 µS/cm to 596.67 µS/cm.

Conclusion: The study concludes that the water from the six springs in Gokand Valley generally meets the WHO and PSQCA standards for drinking water. This finding underscores the importance of these natural springs as a viable source of potable water for the local population. However, continuous monitoring is recommended to ensure sustained water quality in the face of potential environmental changes and anthropogenic activities.