Quality assessment of potable water of Khairpur city

This study is conducted to analyze the quality of potable water resources available to the inhabitants of Khairpur city. Eight sites of ground water and six sites of surface water are selected along the study area. The physico-chemical parameters like temperature, pH, EC, TDS, hardness, alkalinity, chlorides and sulfates, as well as, concentration and distribution of major elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) in both water resources are measured. The estimated levels of cations and anions are compared with the safe limits laid down by WHO and also with the literature. The r-coefficient of physicochemical parameters show significantly strong positive co-relation among the ground water parameters whereas surface water samples indicate rather no or poor co-relation. The stiff diagram shows the higher cations contents than anions and piper diagram reflects the meteoric water of mixed composition of both the water resources. (author)