Physico-Chemical Assessment of Drinking Water Available to the Inhabitants of Low Income and Thickly Populated Areas of Karachi City

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the physico-chemical properties of drinking water available to the population of low income areas of Karachi city. The study incorporated the attention towards the fluoride content in water being used for domestic and drinking purpose by the inhabitants of low income and thickly populated areas of Karachi. Samples were collected from selected locations from all the districts of Karachi city. Laboratory tests were performed to analyze both physical and chemical characteristics of drinking water. It was observed in this study that except few of the locations, fluoride content was present either in low concentration or in high concentration. Medical data of the areas under study was collected through questionnaires and survey forms. The consequence of the variation of fluoride concentration was found to be in agreement with the findings of medical data analyzed from concerned areas where both cases of Fluorosis and dental cavities were reported. Correlation of fluoride with other parameters was analyzed using principle component analysis determined PC1 & PC2 as most significant components. PC1 showed dominance of TDS with salts while PC2 indicated loadings were temperature DO & pH. Monitoring of fluoride ion concentration and other health related parameters are essential for the development of efficient water management system. Fluoride content in drinking water should be regulated by periodic assessment and elevated levels can be controlled by adsorption or membrane techniques.

Keywords: Physico-chemical properties, drinking water, districts of Karachi, fluoride variation, correlation analysis, principle component analysis, water management system.

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-14-01

Publication date:July 31^st 2020