Assessment of Drinking Water Quality Using WQI: A Case Study of Filtration Plants in TandoJam, Pakistan

Faisal Mehmood; Abdul Sattar Mashori; Barkat Ali Nindwani; Ghulam Hussain Awan; Nadir Ali Rajput; Ghulam Mustafa Jafferi; Uzair Saeed Rana

doi:10.3333/p7bwh156

Authors

Faisal Mehmood Department of Land and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan Author
Abdul Sattar Mashori Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan Author
Barkat Ali Nindwani Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan Author
Ghulam Hussain Awan Department of Land and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan Author
Nadir Ali Rajput Department of Energy and Environment, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan Author
Ghulam Mustafa Jafferi Department of Land and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan Author
Uzair Saeed Rana Department of Land and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3333/p7bwh156

Keywords:

Drinking Water Quality, Water Quality Index (WQI), Physico-Chemical Parameters, Microbiological Contamination

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right, yet it is increasingly at risk due to population growth and human activities—particularly in developing countries where monitoring and maintenance are often inadequate. This study evaluated the water quality of filtration plants in TandoJam city by analyzing 17 samples for parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, hardness, turbidity, potassium (K⁺) , sodium (Na⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), bicarbonates (HCO₃⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), sulphates (SO₄²^-), nitrates (NO₃⁻), fluoride, arsenic, iron, chlorine, alkalinity, total coliforms, and E. coli. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was used to classify the water as excellent, good, poor, very poor, or unsuitable. Results showed that HCO₃⁻ (2 samples), Cl⁻ (1), SO₄²⁻ (1), alkalinity (4), total coliforms (17), and E. coli (17) exceeded WHO limits. WQI values ranged from 0.21 to 34.52, indicating overall excellent to good quality and suggesting the water is generally safe for drinking. However, effective treatment—including proper screening, chlorination, and regular monitoring—is essential to ensure water safety.