Assessment of Drinking Water Quality in Jhang – A Comprehensive Study
By: Dr. Shahid Hussain
Abstract:
Jhang, a rapidly urbanizing city, is grappling with water quality challenges. This study has been made by Shakarganj Foundation to assess the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and pH values of 1,144 water samples collected from various locations of Jhang. Our results show differences in water quality across various roads, highlighting the importance of consistent water assessments.
1. Introduction:
Water quality is a crucial determinant of public health. Studies have indicated that a significant portion of diseases in developing countries can be attributed to the consumption of contaminated water (Adelodun et al., 2021; J. Ahmed, Wong, Chua, &Channa, 2020; Kumar, Srivastava, Banerjee, & Banerjee, 2022). pH and TDS are fundamental parameters in assessing water quality (Karamia, Alimohammadia, Soleimania, Askaria, & Treatment, 2019; Saalidong, Aram, Otu, &Lartey, 2022). pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity of water while TDS reveals the total concentration of dissolved substances in water.
Global climate variability is progressively impacting human health, notably in developing regions such as Pakistan (T.Ahmed, Zounemat-Kermani, &Scholz, 2020). These changes include shifts in rain patterns and increasing temperatures, which make health problems related to water more common. Diseases like dengue and chikungunya are coming back, especially harming those in poor conditions, showing a clear need for better water quality and healthcare services. In Jhang, a growing city, maintaining good water quality for its people is a challenge (Khan et al., 2023). As the city grows quickly, its water systems face problems, making water quality a big problem. High levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which is an important measure of water quality, are linked to many health problems (Jabar&Thabit, 2021). Therefore, it’s very important to address the water quality in Jhang to keep its people healthy (Hussain et al., 2019).
2. Research Methodology
Sample Collection: Water samples were collected from various location in Jhang, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the different areas. In total, 1,144 samples were gathered from the different areas.
Sampling Routes: Faisalabad Road, Toba Road, Sarghoda Road, Dar ul Sakina Road, Khaki Shah Road, Old Chiniot Road, BastiMallah (Toba Road), Bakhar Road, Gojra Road, Bakhar Road (Ali Abad), College Road, and Bab-e-Ali Road.
Analysis: An immediate onsite analysis was conducted using a TDS/pH meter, ensuring that the results were not compromised by transportation or storage. Each sample was tested for its pH and TDS levels.
Data Management: All the data was recorded systematically for each location. The data was then entered into a computerized database for further analysis.
3. Results:
The results were categorized based on TDS levels: Safe (TDS < 500 ppm), Marginally Safe (TDS 501-700 ppm), and Unsafe (TDS > 701 ppm). Old Chiniot Roadshowed the highest number of samples (36 %) in the safe range, whereas Gojra Road has the highest number of samples (76%) in the unsafe range.