Assessment of Drinking Water Quality and Water Quality Index (WQI) of the Newly Formed Municipal Corporation Town, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Water is an essential element of life and play vital role in the evolution of civilization. But in present centaury contamination of water leads to serious threats to the life present on mother earth.  Availability of quality drinking water reduced day by day and it impose severe effects on the health of human being. Present investigation has been carried to assess the physical and chemical property and water quality index (WQI) of drinking water supplied in the municipal corporation area of Palampur, situated in district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh. Seven sampling sites had been selected from the market area of Palampur for the study of 10 parameters i.e. pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total alkalinity, total hardness, Free CO2, iron, calcium, Magnesium and Nitrate for a period of six months. This study revealed that all the parameters were within the permissible limits as prescribed by BIS (2012). The water quality indexes of this region in all 7 sites were ranged between 7.067113 and 17.32488.  Further study related to WQI revealed that the water supplied in this area by IPH department had been excellent quality in term of WQI and safe for drinking purpose.