QUALITY EVALUATION OF DRINKING WATER IN DARRA ADAM KHEL, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Research work was conducted to find out microbial and physiochemical characteristics of (Bore and Tube well) water in the coal mines mountainous terrain of Darra Adam Khel. A total fourteen number of samples with three replicates were taken from seven villages (Bazi Khel, German Kaly, Qasam Khel, Suni Khel, Feroz Khan Mela, Toor Khel and Akhoor wall) and were checked for the effect of coal mines on drinking water. Samples were evaluated for pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Carbonates, Bicarbonates, Calcium, Magnesium, Chlorides, Hardness, Heavy metals (Zinc, Iron, Copper, Lead, Manganese and Chromium) and total coliform. Physiochemical analyses showed that pH in range of 7.4 to 7.9, Total dissolved solids was 260.67mg/l to 476.67mg/l, Electrical conductivity was 39.83μS/cm to 76.30μS/cm, Carbonates was 38.3mg/l to 97.67mg/l, Bicarbonates was 136.3mg/l to 197.3mg/l, Calcium was 22.80mg/l to 95.86mg/l, Magnesium was 55.79mg/l to 97.29mg/l, Chlorides was 69.35mg/l to 182.00mg/l and Hardness was 262mg/l to 458mg/l. Heavy metals such as zinc was 0.017mg/l to 0.067mg/l, copper was 0.008mg/l to 0.096mg/l, manganese was 0.030mg/l to 0.386mg/l, lead was 0.12mg/l to 1.82mg/l, chromium was 1.13mg/l to 8.16mg/l and iron were in range of 0.016mg/l to 0.113mg/l. Total coliform was 0 MPN/ 100 ml to 210 MPN/ 100 ml. The results showed that pH, TDS, EC, Carbonates, Bicarbonates, Hardness, Magnesium, Chloride, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese were in the safe level according to PSI and WHO level. While some samples of Calcium, Lead, Chromium and total Coliform count were above WHO recommended level and making it unfit for drinking purpose.