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A study on drinking water quality at public utilities in Visakhapatnam, India

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 Global J. of Engg. & Appl. Sciences, 2015: 5 (1)

Research Paper: Sanjay Singh et al., 2015: Pp:1-2.

A STUDY ON DRINKING WATER QUALITY AT PUBLIC UTILITIES IN VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA

Sanjay Singh, R., Sireesha, S., Premalatha, M., Gouru Naidu+, K and K.V. Ramesh 1,*

Department of Chemical Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India.

+Department of Engineering Chemistry, GMRIT, Rajam-532127, India.
* Corresponding author: kvramesh69@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Visakhapatnam is a fastest growing city in India/Asia. Water samples in six locations which were visited by a
large number of people were analyzed for any possible microbial contamination. Analysis of these samples
was carried out using standard methods and instruments. Four samples were found to be contaminated by E.
coli and among them three are highly contaminated. Two more samples, although not contaminated by E. coli
but exhibited high value of pH. Therefore all samples were found to be not suitable for drinking purpose.
Keywords: Drinking water, water quality, E. coli, contamination, Visakhapatnam.

INTRODUCTION to ensure that the sample represents the ground

Recently it came to public notice that the internal
assessment of drinking water quality by northern
railway showed that all samples tested were
contaminated with E. coli
(www.nr.indianrailwy.gov.in). An NGO by name
Centre for Public Interest Litigation filed a PIL in
Delhi High Court seeking improvement of drinking
water quality (The Times of India, 2014). It is
indeed shocking to know that even at Delhi
railway stations are also no exception. In this
connection, it is felt to look into the biological
water quality in Visakhapatnam because
Visakhapatnam is one of the fastest growing cities
in India/Asia. Thus the authors selected 6
locations where several thousands of people visit
these places in a day. Table 1 presents the details
of these places along with the approximate
average number of visitors in a day. Since the
Visakhapatnam is a coastal city which lies on the
coast of Bay of Bengal, it is thought of testing the
waters for chlorides. If chlorides were in excessive
quantities then it can be thought that the waters
contained seeped sea water. Also the primary
indicators are PH and TDS and hence these two
were also measured. For biological quality of
water, measurements were carried out for E. coli
form.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Standard procedures were adapted for estimation
of various physical and chemical parameters in
the present investigation (Gouru Naidu, 1993 and
Clesceri et al., 1999). The samples were collected
in clean polythene bottles after rinsing the bottles
thoroughly with the water sample to be collected.
While collecting the samples, the containers were
filled completely without leaving any space. When
sample is collected from a bore well, sufficient
water is pumped out before collecting the sample
water. For biological water quality the samples
were collected in sterilized bottles ensuring that
the water is not exposed to air.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The samples were analyzed for PH, total dissolved
solids (TDS), chlorides and E. coli count. The
results were compiled in Table 2 along with the
desirable and permissible limits of these
parameters as specified by BIS 105000. A close
examination of the data in Table 2 revealed that
certain parameters were lower than the desired
limit, some values fell between the desirable and
permissible limits and some quantities exceeded
the permissible limit. These observations were
compiled in Table 3. An inspection of the data
from Table 3 reveals that all samples reported
chlorides below the desirable limit thus being safe
from this aspect. Five of the samples showed TDS
below the desirable limit and only one sample
exceeded the desirable limit and however fell
within the permissible limit. Hence the five
samples are acceptable for potable purposes from
TDS point of view however, for sample number 4
that had shown more TDS content; a RO plant is
more likely to solve the problem. All the samples
have exceeded the PH limit however, samples 1
and 2 close to the upper limit and sample 6 is
quite away from the upper limit. However, from
the biological quality side, samples 5 and 6 did not
contain any E. coli contamination. The remaining
samples contained E. coli contamination and
especially samples 1, 2 and 3 are not at all
recommended for potable purpose.
CONCLUSIONS
Six water samples from highly dense public
facilities have been collected in the

1 ISSN 2249-2631(online): 2249-2623(Print) - Rising Research Journal Publication

 Global J. of Engg. & Appl. Sciences, 2015: 5 (1)

Visakhapatnam City. These samples were tested 20IMPROVE%20WATER%20SUPPLY%20

for general drinking water quality. The values of
pH, TDS, chlorides and E. coli count were obtained
using standard methods and high quality
instruments. It is observed that the first three
samples were very highly contaminated with E.
coli and should not be used for potable purpose.
Sample number four is also contaminated with E.
coli whereas the samples 5 and 6 did not exhibit
any E. coli contamination. However, it is to be
noted that even the waters of samples 5 and 6 are
also of poor quality.
REFERENCES
1. www.nr.indianrailways.gov.in//downlo
adfile_2.jsp?...ACTION%20PLAN%20TO%
ON%20NORTHERN%20RAILWAY%20(2)
.pdf (16-09-2014)
2. The Times of India, 2014. Delhi HC notice
on railway water quality, The Times of
India, 04-04-2014.
3. Clesceri, C.L., Greenberg, A.E and A.D.
Eaton. 1999. Standard methods for the
examination of water and waste water,
20ed, American Public Health Association,
USA.
4. Gouru Naidu, K. 1993. Studies on the
systematic assessment of quality of
drinking water in Visakhapatnam, Ph.D
thesis, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
(1993).

Table 1. Locations chosen for samples collection

Sample Daily no. of Water purifier is

Location Source of water
No. visitors (approx.) there or not
1 A University Hostel 2500 Ground water Yes
2 A University Canteen 600 Ground water No
3 Visakhapatnam Railway 1500 Ground water No
Station
4 Visakhapatnam RTC Complex 700 Ground water Yes
5 A Govt. Degree College 1000 Municipal water No
6 A food parlour 3000 Municipal water Yes

Table 2. Water analysis

Sample No. Location Chlorides PH TDS Ecoli

Units  mg/l mg/lit Number/100 ml
Desirable limit  250 6.5-8.5 500 0
Permissible limit  1000 6.5-8.5 2000 0
1 A University Hostels 92 8.6 491 500
2 A University Canteen 49 8.7 305 >16000
Visakhapatnam Railway
3 Station 47 9.3 342 230
Visakhapatnam RTC
4 Complex 181 9.8 745 20
5 A Govt. Degree College 23 9.9 132 Nil
6 A food parlour 21 10.1 135 Nil

Table 3. Percentage of samples exceeding desirable and permissible limits.

Parameter Percentage of samples Percentage of samples Percentage of samples exceeding

below desirable limit below permissible limit permissible limit
PH 0 0 100
Chlorides 100 0 0
TDS 83 17 0
E. coli 33 0 67
****************

2 ISSN 2249-2631(online): 2249-2623(Print) - Rising Research Journal Publication

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