Assessment of potability of spring water and its health implication in a hilly village of Uttarakhand, India

Water quality assessment of different sources of water in a village was carried out by taking selected significant parameters, namely temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), free carbon dioxide (free CO2), alkalinity, hardness, calcium, phosphate, nitrate, chloride and coliform count. All these parameters were analyzed as per the standard protocol of American Public Health Association. Further, seven parameters (pH, TDS, alkalinity, hardness, calcium, nitrates and chloride) were used to calculate water quality index for assessing overall drinking water status of sampling sites. A survey of health status of population of the village was also conducted with the help of questionnaire and interview method to draw the relationship of water quality and health. All selected physicochemical parameters were found under prescribed limits as stated by Indian Standard 10500 and Central Pollution Control Board guidelines. The values for most probable number count were found above the permissible limit of drinking water indicating contamination of coliform at all sites. Further, water quality index for SN1, SN2, SN3, SN4 and SN5 was 17.61, 30.11, 69.73, 25.60 and 47.15, respectively. As per the water quality index, the water samples of natural springs which were away from village were classified under ‘excellent’ category as compared to supply water samples. The result of survey recorded 38% population suffered from dysentery, 23% from diarrhea and 17% from typhoid. The report of the survey and the presence of coliform suggest that drinking water contamination is leading to waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery and typhoid. It is also suggested that water quality of all sites except SN3 was suitable for drinking purpose, but disinfection of coliform before use is warranted.