Assessment of drinking water quality using ICP-MS and microbiological methods in the Bholakpur area, Hyderabad, India

Abstract

A total of 16 people died and over 500 people were hospitalized due to diarrhoeal illness in the Bholakpur area of Hyderabad, India on 6th May 2009. A study was conducted with immediate effect to evaluate the quality of municipal tap water of the Bholakpur locality. The study consists of the determination of physico-chemical properties, trace metals, heavy metals, rare earth elements and microbiological quality of drinking water. The data showed the variation of the investigated parameters in samples as follows: pH 7.14 to 8.72, EC 455 to 769 μS/cm, TDS 303.51 to 515.23 ppm and DO 1.01 to 6.83 mg/L which are within WHO guidelines for drinking water quality. The water samples were analyzed for 27 elements (Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba and Pb) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentrations of Fe (0.12 to 1.13 mg/L), Pb (0.01 to 0.07 mg/L), Cu (0.01 to 0.19 mg/L), Ni (0.01 to 0.15 mg/L), Al (0.16 to 0.49 mg/L), and Na (38.36 to 68.69 mg/L) were obtained, which exceed the permissible limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water quality guidelines. The remaining elements were within the permissible limits. The microbiological quality of water was tested using standard plate count, membrane filtration technique, thermotolerant coliform (TTC), and most probable number (MPN) methods. The total heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 1.0 × 10(5) to 18 × 10(7 )cfu/ml. Total viable bacteria in all the water samples were found to be too numerable to count and total number of coliform bacteria in all water samples were found to be of order of 1,100 to >2,400 MPN index/100 ml. TTC tested positive for coliform bacteria at 44.2°C. All the water samples of the study area exceeded the permissible counts of WHO and that (zero and minimal counts) of the control site (National Geophysical Research Institute) water samples. Excessively high colony numbers indicate that the water is highly contaminated with microorganisms and is hazardous for drinking purposes. Bacteriological pollution of drinking water supplies caused diarrhoeal illness in Bholakpur, which is due to the infiltration of contaminated water (sewage) through cross connection, leakage points, and back siphoning.

Diarrhoeal Diseases in Developing Countries: A Situational Analysis

“…As found out in Borakhpur, India, bacteriological pollution of drinking water supplies due to the infiltration of contaminated water through cross connection, leakage points, and back siphoning caused diarrheal illness. 19 The significant water risk factors as identified were the mode of water transportation, and the poor handling of water at the household level, including lack of or inappropriate water treatment methods. These, combined with the low education level further pre dispose the under five children to diarrhoea.…”

Phytoremediation Crops and Biofuels

“…Major contaminated sites in Greater Hyderabad = Tri cities (Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Cyberabad) H Hussain Sagar, J Jawaharnagar, K Katteda M Musi river, N Nakkavagu, P Patancheru Bholakpur area - Abdul et al (2012) Municipal solid waste dumping sites -Jawaharnagar - Ahmed et al 2011;Parth et al 2009Parth et al , 2011 Industrial waste contaminated areas - Ahmed et al (2011), Balanagar, Machender et al (2011 Kattedan - Sekhar et al (2006), Govil et al (2008Govil et al ( , 2012 Hussainsagar lake sediments -PTE -Gurunadha Rao et al (2004Rao et al ( , 2008, Jain et al (2010), Suneela et al (2008), Vikram Reddy et al (2012 Industrially contaminated sites of Hyderabad -Sekhar et al (2003 Patancheru Industrial Area - Dasaram et al (2011), Govil et al (2001 …”

Comparison of Cesium and silver levels in the water at the inlet to the bottled water factories and water treatment plant No. 2 in Ahvaz City and outlet water of them after the water treatment process

“…Organic and inorganic contaminants in water make waters non-potable and endanger human health. (2)(3)(4)(5). Over 1 billion people worldwide have no access to harmless drinking water (6).…”