INTRODUCTION:

Water pollution is one of the major problems associated with the all living being on the earth. Since human body is made of 70% of water, thus it is an essential component of the humans and to all biotic components to survive. The current scenario suggest that the level of fresh drinking water get reduced day by day almost only 0.3% of fresh drinking water is available in undergrounds, lakes and in the atmosphere. Out of which the only source of drinking water remain is the underground water, but the level of ground water is getting very down in recent years.

It is well known to all that a healthy environment is required for the healthy growth than it may be humans or even microbes. pH and temperature are the two major factors that governs the growth and activity of microbes. These Microbes are responsible for the various degradation processes which are required to eliminate waste from the environment as they secrets a number of degrading enzymes. These enzymes have the ability to degrade different pollutants including heavy metals by sorption.^1,2

Across the world governments are trying to provide the facility of safe drinking water but still there is about more than one billion peoples who lack this facility and do not have safe drinking water to drink. Non availability of safe drinking water leads to various untoward pathological conditions to the humans which includes diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, jaundice, amoebiasis, hepatitis, lead poisoning, polymavirus infection and further still undiscovered diseases are there.³

We are listing some of the substances present in the underground water and problem associated with them in Table No. 1, whereas in Table no. 2 we are presenting permissible limits of some physical and chemical parameters as per the guideline.^4,5

Table 1: List of substances found naturally in some ground waters which can cause problems in operating wells

S. No	Substance	Types of problems
1	Iron (Fe⁺², Fe⁺³)	Encrustation, staining of laundry and toilet fixtures
2	Manganese (Mn^-2)	Encrustation, staining of laundry and toilet fixtures
3	Silica (SiO₂)	Encrustation
4	Chloride (Cl^-)	Portability, Corrosiveness
5	Fluoride (F^-)	Fluorosis
6	Nitrate (NO₃^-)	Methemoglobenemia
7	Sulphate (SO₄^-2)	Portability
8	Dissolved Gases	Corrosiveness
9	Dissolved Oxygen	Corrosiveness
10	Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S)	Corrosiveness
11	Carbon dioxide (CO₂)	Corrosiveness
12	Radio Nuclides	Portability
13	Miner Constituents	Portability, Health aspects
14	Calcium and Magnesium (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺)	Encrustation

Table No. 2 Physical and chemical properties of ground water as per IS 10500:2012

S. No.	Parameter	Unit	Acceptable Limit	Permissible Limit
1.	Color	Hazen Unit	5	15
2.	Odour	-	Agreeable	Agreeable
3.	Taste	-	Agreeable	Agreeable
4.	pH	-	6.5-8.5	No Relaxation
5.	Turbidity	NTU	1	5
6.	Total dissolved material	mgL^-1	500	2000
7.	Ammonia	mgL^-1	0.5	0.5
8.	Boron	mgL^-1	0.5	1
9.	Calcium	mg/l	75	200
10.	Chloride	mgL^-1	250	1000
11.	Fluoride	mgL^-1	1	1.5
12.	Magnesium	mgL^-1	30	100
13.	Nitrate	mgL^-1	45	45
14.	Total alkalinity	mgL^-1	200	600
15.	Sulphate	mgL^-1	200	400
16.	Total Hardness	mgL^-1	200	600
17.	Temperature	°C	-	-
18.	Sodium	mgL^-1	-	-
19.	Iron	mgL^-1	0.3	0.3
20.	Cadmium	mgL^-1	0.003
21.	Chromium	mgL^-1	0.05	0.05
22.	Zinc	mgL^-1	5	15
23.	Manganese	mgL^-1	0.1	0.3
24.	Nickel	mgL^-1	0.02	0.02

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The chloride ions in the water sample were quantified by titration method. In this titration the standard solution of silver nitrate was titrated with sample solution using potassium chromate as an indicator.

The Total hardness of the samples was determined by complexometric titration. In this a standard solution of EDTA was titrated with sample using Eriochrome black T as an indicator. The cadmium hardness of the water samples were determined by complexometric titration with EDTA using ammonium purpurate as an indicator.

Total alkalinity of the water sample was determine by calculating the pH of the sample using precalibrated (calibrated at pH 4, 7 and 9.2) Systronic pH meter, type 335. Then the sample was titrated against 0.1N H₂SO₄ for total alkalinity content using methyl orange indicator.

Na⁺ and K⁺ were estimated using flame photometer (128). NO₃^-, SO₄^--, F^- were estimated using U.V. Spectrophotometer.

TDS is measured by gravimetric method. EC Value under investigation was measured by Systronic E.C. meter

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The pH of water is the indication of quality of it, the usual range of pH prescribed by WHO in his guidelines is in between 6.5 - 8.5 as acceptable. The pH value of the sample ubder observation was ranged in between 8.84-9.81. The observed value was found to be out of limit but not much but it cannot be considered as good because it produces many harmful consequences when human health is considered.

Alkalinity of the water is one of the important parameter which is under consideration during the analysis of quality of water. The permissible limit for total alkalinity in water sample is 200mgL^-1. Alkalinity of water has lot to do with human health because there are various parts of the body which can properly work when their would be exact maintenance of the alkalinity level required by them. For an instance: Kidney, Gut functions, Cardiovascular dysfunction, Metabolic abnormalities and others. The value of underground water sample varies from 320-460mgL^-1.^6-14

The desirable limit for hardness in drinking water according to I.S. is 300mgL^-1, whereas its value in underground water sample varies from Ca⁺⁺ hardness value in underground water varies strongly from 710–840 mgL^-1. Excess amount of calcium leads to the problem of hypercalcemia. hardening of the water, exerts acute effect on the iron absorption.¹⁵

Na⁺ content more than 50ppm makes the water unhealthy for drinking .The Na⁺ concentration was found to be high in all the samples than expected. Thus this high Na+ concentrated water in not suitable as it leads to the problem of hypertension. K⁺ value which is an essential nutrient for plant varies from 58.8 – 110.2mgL^-1, which in turn can lead to Hyperkalemia. Sodium salts are easily soluble in the water. Thus, the leaching of such water from the terrestrial level to the underground level is not a difficult task.^16-18 Thus this condition of water leads to problem of arterial hypertension,^19,20 the rise of blood pressure in the body,²¹ causes nausea, convulsions, muscular twitching, problem of dismaintenance of osmotic pressure,, embryo toxicity, teratogenicity, reproductive toxicity and others. Thus it causes hypernatraemia, within the body.

Potassium is also an essential component regarding human health and healthy life and present in all sources of natural water. K⁺ value which is an essential nutrient for plant varies from 219.4–230.5mgL^-1, which in can cause Hyperkalemia and with this various problems in nerve impulse conduction also persist. The adequate intake for adults (19–>70 years of age is 4.7gday^-1. This is equivalent to 78mgkg^-1 body weight per day for a 60 kg adult.²² There are various problems related to the hyperkaelemia like hypertension, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, immature kidney function, coronary artery disease^15,16and other. Infants also have a limited renal reserve and immature kidney function and may therefore be more vulnerable. Accordingly, ingestion of potassium supplements of up to 3700 mgday^-1 is likely to be without overt effects.²³

The chloride ion concentration is also high (>5000mgL^-1) and is unacceptable limit as per WHO guideline. Thus, this high chlorine content water may damage urinary bladder and increased chances of rectal bladder infection. SO₄^-2More than 200mgL^-1are objectionable for domestic purpose. The SO₄^-2value was also found more than acceptable limit. NO₃^-2value found was for plant as nutrient. Fluoride is essential for human life and its Quantity was also found to be excess.²⁴

SO₄^2-concentration less than 200mgL^-1 is acceptable for domestic purpose. The SO₄^2-concentration obtained was 280mgL^-1 which is beyond the acceptable limit. Its excess consumption may show cathartic effect, dehydration, laxative effect and others on human body.^25-27

Fluoride again is an essential component for humans. The maximum concentration of it in drinking water permitted by WHO and Indian standard of drinking water specification is 1.5ppm. The maximum desirable concentration is 1.0ppm. The low concentration of fluorides (0.5ppm) helps in preventing dental caries. High concentration of it (beyond 1.5ppm) may leads to dental fluorosis and at more concentration may leads to skeletal fluorosis. Its quantity in the was also found to be in excess. The excess quantity may cause some health problems and even higher concentration may cause skeletal fluorosis. Much percentage of people are under the risk of endemic flourosis. Here, Fluoride in underground water is very strong as 1.95-3.8mg.²⁷

The excess quantity may cause some health problems and even higher concentration may cause skeletal fluorosis. Fluoride in underground water is very strong as1.893.5mgL^-1.^28-30

Total solid is considered to be the sum of dissolved solid and suspended solid in water body which consists of inorganic salts and small amount of organic matter. Increase in suspended solids contains much of the organic matter. Increase in suspended solid tends to increase the pollution. An upper limit 500ppm has been set in order to control undesirable taste and diarrhoea.

All the findings are summarizd in Table No. 3

Table No. 3 Representing the results for hardness at different locations of Bareilly

Parameter	CB Ganj	Fathe Ganj	Parsakedha
pH	9.2	9.4	8.9
Total Alkalinity	416	428	492
Total Hardness	750	795	752
Ca⁺⁺	432	512	542
Mg⁺⁺	291	301	217
Na⁺	51.8	90.5	110.2
K⁺	208.9	213.0	207.2
Cl^-	561.1	499.5	518.1
SO4^--	194.8	199.6	204.3
NO3^-	1.5	3.2	3.4
F^-	1.85	2.56	3.12
T.D.S.	2395	2995	2412
E.C.	891	951	844

CONCLUSIONS:

In the present study it was found that physico-chemical characteristic of a underground water sample cross the maximum permissible limit. Thus it is concluded that, in general, the underground water quality was not satisfactory and unsuitable for human consumption and other domestic use. If it would be continued to be used by the people of these are then it can prove fatal for their health.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

Corresponding author on behalf of all authors wants to state that there is no conflict of interest. Also the work present here is not a part of any funded project and did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Received on 07.12.2024 Revised on 23.01.2025

Accepted on 17.02.2025 Published on 28.02.2025

Available online from March 03, 2025

Asian J. Pharm. Res. 2025; 15(1):9-12.

DOI: 10.52711/2231-5691.2025.00003

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