Rural water supply and need for water quality assessment: a case study

Water quality analyses were carried out on surface and subsurface samples collected from four villages in Nagpur district. Out of 68 samples, 36 had TDS exceeding the desirable limit i.e. 500 mg/l, out of which one dug well from Parsodi exceeded the permissible limit--2000 mg/l. Fluoride concentration in 3 sources exceeded desirable limit 1.0 mg/l. Nitrate exceeded desirable limit of (45 mg/l) in 18 sources, out of which one borewell sample from Salwa exceeded the permissible limit--100 mg/l. The iron content found 1.0 mg/l in 9 samples and 3.9 mg/l in one handpump water sample from Salwa. Total hardness exceeded permissible limit (600 mg/l) in 8 samples. Maximum hardness (3,582 mg/l), chloride (1,716 mg/l) and magnesium (572 mg/l) were observed in dug well samples from Parsodi. Trace metal concentrations in all the samples were well within the desiragle limit. Arsenic was not observed in any samples. Pesticide levels found within the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) guidelines regulated for drinking water. 71% of the sources were positive for TC, out of which 94% and 79% sources were found positive for FC and FS respectively. Significant increase in bacterial counts between sources and eventual use has been noticed.