Analytical Quality Study of Drinking Water of Merowe city

Abstract

The study was done to investigate the drinking water quality of Merowe city distributed the pipe line of water net work seven sites of the city water net work were selected comprising raw water Nile, Two hundred and sixteen samples were collected during the period August 2008June 2009.three samples monthly collecting from each site to evaluate each parameter examined in this study. Samples were subjected to physical, chemical, microbiological and radio- activity examination and analyzed to investigate the level of the expected health hazards in each sample. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The results obtained were compared with international and national drinking water guide-lines in an attempt to evaluate the quality of drinking water in Merowe city. The results obtained indicated that the turbidity level ranged from (32.93-11.42 NTU) thus exceeding the permissible level of international standards WHO (1993) and Sudanese standards and metrology organization (SSMO) standards (5 NTU). The concentration range of minerals such were as follows: chloride (8.71 -3.25 mg/dm3 )sulfate (22.92 - 3.23 mg/dm3 ), calcium (27.23 -12.20 mg/dm3 ), alkalinity (100 - 60mg/dm3 ), fluoride(3 - 0.02 mg/dm3 ), magnesium (10.75 - 4.49 mg/dm3 ), TDS (167.13-101.56 mg/dm3 ), hardness (109 - 52.96 mg/dm3 ), sodium (16-27-9.14 mg/dm3 ), potassium (5.71 - 2.73 mg/dm3 ) iron (0.42 - 0.11 mg/dm3) nitrate (14.90 - 8.47mg/dm3), nitrite (6.35 - 0.26mg/dm3), electrical conductivity (310 - 138 mg/dm3), T.S.S (34.76 – 6 – 12 mg/dm3), pH (9.01 - 7.21 mg/dm3). All these values fall below the maximum values stated by WHO and (SSMO). During this study period there were309 people in Merowe city suffering from typhoid, 116 with Para typhoid, 654 with Diarrheal diseases city, 2707 with malaria and 268 with Essential hypertension and 434 with Diseases of oral cavity and114 with Mucosa’s of skin. All of these diseases could be water-related although other environmental

(iv) factors may also be important. The study revealed that raw water of Merowe city was polluted by coli form and the results do not cope with international (WHO, 1993) and the national Sudanese standards metrology organization (SSMO, 2002). After treatment of raw water the pollution incidence in tap water samples was decreased, however, slight pollution occurs in some of treated water sample. It may be stated that most of the tap water sample collected from the main distribution net work are, suitable for human consumption a number of recommend actions were suggested to improve the drinking water quality.