Introduction:

Most of earth’s surface is in the ocean and seas. The high salts content makes its unsuitable for drinking purpose. Only 1% available is fresh water (river, lakes, streams, ground water) for domestic, agriculture, industrial uses. Water is the most precious natural resources expected to be free from pollution. Safe drinking water is essential for life. Assess to safe drinking water has improved over the last decades in almost every part of the world but approximately one billion people still lack access to safe water and over 2.5 billion lack accesses to adequate sanitation. Approximately 70% of the fresh water used by human goes to agriculture (Nath and Helen, 2013).

Ground water is generally considered to be much cleaner than surface water. However, several factors such as discharge of industrial, agricultural and domestic wastes, land use practices, geological formation, rainfall patterns and infiltration rate affects the ground water quality and once contamination of ground water in aquifers occurs, it persists for hundreds of years because of very slow movement in them. Groundwater often can be used without treatment. Howere, limited groundwater resources, decreasing level of ground water due to over-abstraction and increasing cost of pumping, are not in tune with the environmental obligations for future generations (Tiwari et al., 2003, Jayalakshmi and Belagali, 2006, Thilakavathieal, 2011, Singh et al., 2011 and Tiwari et al., 2014).

Study Area:

On 6 May 1997 a new district was carved out from the erstwhile Banda district. The district was initially named as Chhatrapati Shahuji Nagar. On 4 September 1998, it was renamed as Chitrakoot district. Chtrakoot is a holy place famous both for its scenic beauty and spiritual altitude. A tourist is as much thrilled by sighting its beautiful waterfalls, playful young deer and dancing peacocks as a pilgrim is overwhelmed by taking a dip in the Payaswani or Mandakini river and by immersing himself in the dust of the Kamatgiri. From times immemorial, the Chitrakoot area has been a live centre of inspiration for cosmic consciousness. Chitrakoot, 'the hill of many wonders' is a place of great mythological relevance and religious importance. It is associated with historic Ramayana epic as this was the place where Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshman spent their 11 years of exile.

Location and Geographical Area:

District Chitrakoot lies between Lat. 240 48' to 250 12' N and Lang. 800 58' to 810 34' E (Figure 1). Distance covered by district from east to west is 62 Km and North to South is 57.5Km. It is bounded in the north by Kaushambi, in the south by Satna (MP) and Rewa (MP), in the east by Allahabad and in west by Banda. The district is linked with Roadways to all adjoining district of Banda, Allahabad, Satna, Rewa and Kaushambi. Total geographical area of District is about 345291Sq. Km. (MSME, 2014).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Sampling stations:

Eight sampling stations were selected for the study which were Bharatpuri (JM Balika Inter College Campus), Purani Bazar (Sabji Mandi), Bus Stand, Railway Station, Chitrakoot Inter College, Shankar Bazar (Sarswati Vidya Mandir Campaus), Jansewa Inter College and Galla Mandi. Details of the sample stations are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Details of sampling stations

S.N.	Name of Sampling Stations	Location	Sources
1.	Bharatpuri (S1)	JM Balika Inter College Campus	Hand Pump
2.	Purani Bazar (S2)	Sabji Mandi	Hand Pump
3.	Bus Stand (S3)	Bus Stand Campus	Hand Pump
4.	Railway Station(S4)	Railway Station Campus	Hand Pump
5.	Chitrakoot Inter College (S5)	College campus	Hand Pump
6.	Shankar Bazar (S6)	Sarswati Vidya Mandir Campaus	Hand Pump
7.	Jansewa Inter College (S7)	College Campus	Hand Pump
8.	Galla Mandi (S8)	Mandi Campus	Hand Pump

Sample collection:

Water samples from the selected sites were collected in pre-cleaned blue or black coloured carbuoys of 2 liter capacity with necessary precautions during winter season 2014. The samples after collection were immediately placed in dark boxes and processed within 6 hours of collection. All the analysis was done according to APHA (1992), NEERI (1986) and Saxena (1990).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The preliminary investigations ground and drinking water quality in varied drastically among different sites of Karwi city, Chitrakoot District. We referred the standard ranges for different chemicals in drinking water as prescribed by WHO (2004). Understanding the groundwater quality is important as it is the main factor determining its suitability for drinking, domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes Table 2-3 illustrates the physicochemical parameters of groundwater in Karwi city, indicating the average values. The value was compared with the WHO and BIS (1992) standards. The results of the physicochemical analysis of the groundwater of the area show a wide variation in different individual parameters (Table 2-3 and Figure 1-5).

Table 2: Physical parameters of Drinking water of Karwi city

S.N.	Name of Sampling Stations	Chemical Parameters
S.N.	Name of Sampling Stations	Ambient Temp. ⁰C	Water Temp. ⁰C	TDS mg/l
1.	Bharatpuri	32.0	26.7	621.0
2.	Purani Bazar	33.0	27.0	619.0
3.	Bus Stand	32.0	27.0	855.0
4.	Railway Station	32.5	28.0	552.0
5.	Chitrakoot Inter College	33.0	27.8	491.0
6.	Shankar Bazar	33.5	28.0	550.0
7.	Jansewa Inter College	32.0	29.0	520.0
8.	Galla Mandi	32.0	28.5	733.0

Figure 1. Total dissolve solid concentration in different sampling stations

Figure 2. Total hardness, Ca++ and Mg concentration in different sampling stations

Table 3: Chemical parameters of drinking water of Karwi city

S.N.	Name of Sampling Stations	Chemical Parameters
S.N.	Name of Sampling Stations	pH	EC µS/cm	Total hardness mg/l	Ca++ hardness mg/l	Mg hardness mg/l	Chloride mg/l	Total alkalinity mg/l	Fluoride mg/l	Nitrate mg/l	Iron mg/l
1.	Bharatpuri	7.82	875.0	880.0	163.1	174.92	127.6	230.0	1.5	3.26	0.10
2.	Purani Bazar	7.80	870.0	682.0	119.4	137.27	120.21	196.0	1.5	2.80	0.31
3.	Bus Stand	7.65	1200.0	750.0	75.6	164.55	269.4	120.0	1.5	0.81	0.21
4.	Railway Station	8.00	770.0	930.0	105.9	201.08	226.9	100.0	1.0	0.82	0.21
5.	Chitrakoot Inter College	7.85	690.0	588.0	90.8	121.31	141.8	230.0	1.5	0.07	0.60
6.	Shankar Bazar	7.90	765.0	575.0	50.21	128.04	60.9	180.0	1.5	1.61	0.32
7.	Jansewa Inter College	7.95	760.0	560.0	51.21	124.14	75.21	200.0	1.5	1.55	0.30
8.	Galla Mandi	7.80	1030.0	570.0	48.70	127.19	70.9	190.0	1.5	1.65	0.33

Figure 3. EC concentration in different sampling stations

Figure 4. Chloride and Total alkalinity concentration in different sampling stations

Figure 5. Fluoride, Nitrate and Iron concentration in different sampling stations

The high content of total dissolved solids increases the density of water and influences osmo regulation of fresh water organisms. TDS is only an aesthetic and technical factor, however a high concentration of TDS is indicate that harmful contaminants, such as iron, manganese, sulphate, bromide and arsenic, can also be present in the water. TDS values varied from 491.0-855.0 mg/l. The pH value of groundwater samples ranges from 7.65 to 8.0. This shows that the groundwater in the study area is generally neutral to slightly alkaline. Although pH has no direct effect on human health, it shows close relationship with some other chemical constituents of water. Hardness in water is due to the natural accumulation of salts from contact with soil and geological formations or it may enter from direct pollution by industrial effluents. Hardness of water mainly depends upon the amount of calcium or magnesium salts or both. In present study, total hardness varied from 560.0 – 930.0 mg/l. The hardness is more than 50mg/l will cause the Renal Calculi formation of kidney stone. The maximum level of total hardness is due to presence of carbonate and non carbonate hardness.

Chlorides observed during study were in the range of (70.9-269.4 mg/l). Chloride show maximum fluctuation at Bus Stand water sample (269.4 mg/l). In all other sampling station chloride content were found below under permissible limit by BIS and WHO (250.0 mg/l). Total Alkalinity ranges from 100.0 to 230.0 mg/l in the study area. Alkalinity of water is the capacity to neutralize acidic nature and is characterized by the presence of hydroxyl ions. Alkalinity around 150 mg/l has been found conductive to higher productivity of water bodies. Fluoride is one of the main trace elements in groundwater, which generally occurs as a natural constituent. BIS has suggested permissible limit of fluoride in drinking water as 1.0 mg/l and tolerance range up to 1.5 mg/l. If fluoride concentration is more than 1.5 mg/l it may cause fluoride dental molting and bone diseases by WHO (2004). In the study area, the entire water sample fall within the permissible limit of BIS (1992). The minimum and maximum value lies between 1.0 and 1.5 mg/l. The desirable nitrate value for drinking water prescribed by BIS is 100 mg/l. In all other sampling station chloride content were found below under permissible limit by BIS and WHO (50.0 to 100 mg/l). The minimum and maximum value lies between 0.07 and 3.26 mg/l. Iron is biologically important element which is essential to all organisms and present in hemoglobin system. High concentration of iron causes slight toxicity. The minimum and maximum value lies between 0.1 and 0.6 mg/l.

CONCLUSION:

From this study it was conclude that:

1. In all sampling sites, TDS concentration found more than the prescribed (permissible limit by WHO and BIS) of drinking water may health problem for human being.

2. Electrical conductivity was found higher than the permissible limit at S3and S8 indicating that water is unfit for drinking.

3. Total hardness values were found higher than the permissible limit at all the eight sampling sites indicating that water is unfit for drinking.

4. Calcium hardness values were found higher than the permissible limit at the seven sampling sites indicating that water is unfit for drinking and only Galla Mandi (S8- 48.7 mg/l) water sample suitable for drinking purpose.

5. The permissible limit for Mg is 30.0 mg/l at all the eight sampling site indicating that water is unfit for drinking.

6. Chloride was found higher than the permissible limit at Bus Stand (S3 – 269.4 mg/l) and all other sampling site were very low value the prescribed limit by WHO and BIS standard.

7. Nitrate was found maximum at Bharatpuri (S1) water sample 3.26 mg/l the permissible limit for nitrate 50.0 mg/l all the sites were very low value the prescribed limit by WHO and BIS standard.

8. Iron was found higher than the permissible limit S2 – 0.31, S5- 0.6, S6 – 0.32 and S8- 0.33, the permissible limit for iron in drinking water is 0.30 mg/l.

Eight ground water samples collected for drinking water quality in physicochemical analysis of water samples of Karwi city. Physico-chemical parameters are out of the highest desirable limit or maximum permissible limit set by WHO and IS: 10500. Hence, these sample water cannot be absolutely fit for directly drinking. Some essential treatment needed to convert in drinkable water. In conclusion, from the results of the present study it may be said that the people in these areas are therefore at higher potential risk of contacting water-borne and/or sanitation related diseases. Karwi city water is not absolutely fit for directly drinking purpose need treatments to minimize the contamination. It is recommended that water analysis should be carried out from time to time to monitor the rate and kind of contamination. It is need of human to expand awareness among the people to maintain the cleanness of water at their highest quality and purity levels to achieve a healthy life.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

Authors express their gratitude to Sri Abhay Mahajan, Organizing Secretary, Deendayal Research Institute for providing necessary facilities to carry out this work.

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Received on 01.09.2015 Modified on 21.09.2015

Research J. Science and Tech. 7(4):Oct. – Dec. 2015; Page 201-204

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2015.00028.5