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Evaluation of the Quality of Drinking Water in Kerala State, India

Karthick, B and Boominathan, M and Ali, Sameer and Ramachandra, TV (2010) Evaluation of the Quality of Drinking Water in Kerala State, India. In: India. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, 7 (4). pp. 39-48.

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Abstract

The quality of tap water from water supplies from 14 districts of Kerala state, India was studied. Parameters like pH, water temperature, total dissolved solids, salinity, nitrates, chloride, hardness, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium, fluoride, sulphate, phosphates, and coliform bacteria were enumerated. The results showed that all water samples were contaminated by coliform bacteria. About 20% of the tap water samples from Alappuzha and 15% samples from Palakkad district are above desirable limits prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards. The contamination of the source water (due to lack of community hygiene) and insufficient treatment are the major cause for the coliform contamination in the state. Water samples from Alappuzha and Palakkad have high ionic and fluoride content which could be attributed to the geology of the region. Water supplied for drinking in rural areas are relatively free of any contamination than the water supplied in urban area by municipalities, which may be attributed higher chances of contamination in urban area due to mismanagement of solid and liquid wastes. The study highlights the need for regular bacteriological enumeration along with water quality in addition to setting up decentralised region specific improved treatment system.

Item Type: Journal Article
Publication: India. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Tap-water quality;Drinking water quality;Kerala;Fluoride; Alappuzha;Palakkad
Department/Centre: Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited: 10 Oct 2011 08:47
Last Modified: 02 Mar 2012 05:24
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/41310

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