A Study of Water Quality of Sargodha City

A study was carried out to evaluate the water quality of Sargodha city water supply system. Water samples from four different sources (1 tubewell and 3 surface water sources) and eight house connections (2 from each source respectively) were collected making a total of twelve sampling points. Two set of samples, one before monsoon and one after monsoon were collected from each sampling point. A total of six parameters (four physiochemical; turbidity, pH ,hardness ,total dissolved solids and two bacteriological; total coliforms and faecal coliforms)were tested for each sample and compared with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water. The results of the study demonstrated that physical and chemical quality of all sources, except the New Satellite Town, was satisfactory. However, bacteriologically, all the source samples, except the tubewell source showed contamination before and after the monsoon. In the distribution system, physiochemical characteristics of all samples, except the New Satellite Town house connections, were satisfactory. Bacteriologically, all the samples from house connections were contaminated before and after the monsoon. It was concluded that inadequate treatment and no disinfection were responsible for bacteriological contamination at surface water sources. Possible causes of contamination at house connections were no disinfection, poor, old and leaking water lines along with inadequate and poorly maintained sewerage and drainage system. It was recommended that proper water treatment especially effective chlorination with residual chlorine be rendered at all sources in order to achieve safe water quality up to the consumer’s end.