Chemical quality and extent of pollution in effluent-contaminated irrigation water collected from two sectors (X and Y) of peri-urban southern regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, were investigated. Various physico-chemical parameters like pH, EC, TS, TSS, TDS, TH, cations (Na, K, Li, Ca, Mg), anions (Cl, F, HCO, NO, SO), and heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) were determined. The data indicated wide ranges of variation in all the parameters. Concentration of physico-chemical properties such as EC, TS, TSS, TH, Li, Ca, Mg, and HCO and heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Cu, and Cd) exceeded WHO permissible limits. The distribution of heavy metals in two sampling areas followed the increasing order as Fe > Cr > Cd > Cu > Pb > Zn. The Piper diagram showed that water in the region was of alkaline type. Strong positive correlations were observed among most of the parameters; however, pH was negatively correlated with most of the parameters. According to principle component analysis, parameters causing variations in water quality were mainly EC, TDS, TS, TSS, TH, Na, K, Ca, Mg, F, NO, SO, Cr, Fe, Cu, and Zn. Linear regression analysis revealed that heavy metals like Cr, Fe, and Cu concentrations were strongly correlated having an R value of 0.92 at P ≤ 0.001 with pH. Overall, the results suggested that irrigation water of the area was not fit for irrigation purposes and might cause serious threats for safe, healthy food and feed production. Proper monitoring of water of the said area should be carried out, and quality of irrigation water should be checked from time to time.

The impact of city effluents on water quality of Indus River was assessed in the southern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Water samples were collected in dry (DS) and wet (WS) seasons from seven sampling zones along Indus River and the physical, bacteriological, and chemical parameters determining water quality were quantified. There were marked temporal and spatial variations in the water quality of Indus River. The magnitude of pollution was high in WS compared with DS. The quality of water varied across the sampling zones, and it greatly depended upon the nature of effluents entering the river. Water samples exceeded the WHO permissible limits for pH, EC, TDS, TS, TSS, TH, DO, BOD, COD, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Ca, Mg, NO, and PO. Piper analysis indicated that water across the seven sampling zones along Indus River was alkaline in nature. Correlation analyses indicated that EC, TDS, TS, TH, DO, BOD, and COD may be considered as key physical parameters, while Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, F, NO, PO, and SO as key chemical parameters determining water quality, because they were strongly correlated (r > 0.70) with most of the parameters studied. Cluster analysis indicated that discharge point at Shami Road is the major source of pollution impairing water quality of Indus River. Wastewater treatment plants must be installed at all discharge points along Indus River for protecting the quality of water of this rich freshwater resource in Pakistan.

Chemical analysis of water samples has played a remarkable role in delineation of groundwater quality for various applications. Tirunelveli district is a semiarid region located in Tamil Nadu State in India, which is facing problem of the availability of good quality water supply during summer. The chemical quality evaluations of groundwater in Nambiyar river basin for domestic consumption and irrigation purpose are dis cussed in detail. Water samples were collected from 35 locations during pre monsoon season and analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), cal cium (Ca 2+ ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), sodium (Na + ), potassium (K + ), chloride (Cl -), sulphate ( ), bicar bonate ( ), nitrate ( ), fluoride (F -), total alkalinity and total hardness. The results are evaluated and compared with World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) water quality standards for domestic consumption. The results are interpreted with geochemical diagram such as piper tri linear diagram. The suitability of water for irrigation is evaluated based on residual Na 2 CO 3 , soluble Na per centage, Kelly's ratio, magnesium adsorption ratio and permeability index. More than 65% of the samples found in the area are moderately suitable for irrigation.

No abstract