INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONEMNTAL SCIENCES

Volume 5, No 2, 2014
© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0
Research article ISSN 0976 – 4399

Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad

Area, Uttar Pradesh, India
Atri Deo Tripathi, Meenu Agrawal
Chemistry Department, College of Engineering, Teerthankar Mahaveer University,
Moradabad-244001(India)
[email protected]
doi: 10.6088/ijes.2014050100029

ABSTRACT

Water is the most important commodity and mainly most misused one. Groundwater is the
main principal source for drinking water and other activities in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh,
India. It is an indispensable source of our life. The problem of groundwater quality obtains
high importance in this present-day. In order to assess drinking water quality, physico-
chemical characteristics of drinking water collected from 10 places of Moradabad have
been made. This paper is about correlation analysis of drinking water in different places of
Moradabad. This attempts to bring the significance quality of ground water at the location.
Total 10 ground water samples were collected, from India Mark II (IM2) hand pumps
following standard methods and procedures of sampling from the various locations to
analyze, various physical and chemical parameters. The results were compared with Indian
standards and WHO. Correlation and Regression analysis showed that the significant linear
relationship could not be maintained among different parameters. This study revealed that
water of the area is much polluted and quality management is urgently needed. Titrimetric
measurements for total hardness, total dissolved solids, available chlorine, chromate ion,
carbonate, calcium, magnesium, dissolved carbon dioxide , alkalinity , chloride, copper and
zinc have been made. Conductivity and pH measurements have also been carried out. Total
dissolved solids measured gravimetrically. The results were compared with the standards
prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO) and Beau row of Indian standards (BIS)
for drinking water. The correlation matrix was also calculated for different parameters of
drinking water.

Keywords: Drinking water, titrimetric, deionized water, WHO, Physicochemical, total

dissolved solids (TDS).

1. Introduction

Water is one of the most indispensable resources and is the elixir of life. Water is vital to the
existence of living organisms but this valued resource is increasingly being threatened as
human population grown which increases the demand for more water of high quality for
domestic purposes and economic activities. Water constitutes about 70% of the body weight
of almost all living organisms. About 97.2% of water on earth is salty and only 2.8% is
present as fresh water from which about 20% constitutes groundwater. Groundwater is highly
valued because of certain properties not possessed by surface water. Water quality is based
on the physical and chemical constituents due to weathering of parent rocks and
anthropogenic activities. Groundwater quality studies are becoming more important in
nowadays due to man made activities like domestic, industrial and agricultural activities. In
urban area, the groundwater contamination occurs mainly due to domestic and industrial
activities such as disposal of sewage water, septic tanks and industrial wastes. Groundwater

Received on August 2014 Published on September 2014 332

 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

quality studies are not critical when alternative sources are available. However, in many parts
of the world, alternative supplies sufficient for the whole population particularly in urban
areas, are not available. This is true in many parts of India in particular in the Moradabad
District.

According to Central Pollution Control Board, 90% of the water supplied in India to the town and
cities is polluted, out of which only 1.6% gets treated. Therefore, water quality management is
fundamental for the human welfare [Gupta,1991, Madhuri et al.2004 ]. TDS is often monitored in
order to create a water quality environment favorable for organism productivity. Free (CO2) Carbon
Dioxide in water exists in varying amounts naturally. Most ground waters will contain less than 50
ppm of Carbon Dioxide in drinking water. A large amount of Carbon Dioxide in water creates an
acidic water conditions. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water it creates the following;

Water (H2O) plus carbon dioxide (CO2) yields carbonic acid (H2CO3). The dissociation of carbonic
acid yields hydrogen (H+) and bicarbonate alkalinity (HCO3-). The carbon dioxide in water pH value
will drop as the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, and conversely will increase as the
bicarbonate alkalinity content increases. Carbon dioxide in water equation is as follows; H2O + CO2
<====>H2CO3<====> H+ + HCO3- Carbon dioxide in Water with a pH of 3.5 or below generally,
contains mineral acids such as sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. Carbon Dioxide can exist in waters with
pH values from 3.6 to 8.4, but will never be present in waters having a pH of 8.5 or above. The pH
value is not a measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide in the water, but rather the relationship of
carbon dioxide and bicarbonate alkalinity. The statistical regression analysis has been found to be a
highly useful tool for correlating different parameters. Correlation analysis measures the closeness of
the relationship between chosen independent and dependent variables. If the correlation coefficient is
nearer to +1 or -1, it shows the probability of linear relationship between the variables x and y. This
way analysis attempts to establish the nature of the relationship between the variables and there by
provides a mechanism for prediction or forecasting (Mulla, 2007, Draper et al., 1966, Snedecore,
1967, Kumar et al.2005,).

The correlation coefficient is a helpful tool for the promotion of research in water pollution
problems. No attempt has yet been made to predict the groundwater quality of the study area
with precision using the correlation coefficient of different water quality parameters.
Moradabad is situated at a distance of 167 km (104 miles) from the national capital, New
Delhi and 262 miles (421 km) north-west of the largest city of state i.e. Kanpur., on the banks
of the River (a tributary of the Ganges). The city is nicknamed Pital Nagri, ("City of Brass")
for its famous brass handicrafts industry. The district of Moradabad lies between 28°21´ to
28°16´ north latitude and 78°4´ to 79° east longitude. The district occupies an area of
3493 km2.. Moradabad is a B class city of western Uttar Pradesh having urban population
more than 38 lacs.Moradabad is situated at the bank of Ram Ganga river and its altitude from
the sea level is about 670 feet. It is extended from Himalaya in north to Chambal river in
south. It is at 28°20', 29°15' and 78°4', 79°E. District Bijnor and Nainital are in the north,
Rampur in the east, Ganga river in the west and district Budaun is in the north of district
Moradabad. Moradabad has seen rapid industrialization and population growth during the last
few decades. The major industries are brassware, steelware, paper mills, sugar mills, crushers,
dye factories and a number of associated ancillaries. Most of these industries and different
kinds of human activities are playing their roles in multiplying the level of water pollution.
For providing safe water to the people in effective manner a study of quality of water being
consumed by the people is essential to carried out. This will help in improving the quality of
water.

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 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

2. Material and methods

For the determination of pH and conductivity, Century CP901 pH meter and RI 215 R
conductivity meter were used. A brief description of sampling sites for quantitative
estimation of water quality parameters is presented in Table 1. Estimation of total
hardness,available chlorine,chromate ion,carbonate ,calcium,magnesium,dissolved carbon
dioxide ,alkalinity , chloride, copper and zinc have been made titrimetrically.

2.1 Sample collection

Total 10 ground water samples were collected, from India Mark II (IM2) hand pumps
following standard methods and procedures of sampling (APHA,1995, Merck,1974) . A
detailed list of hand pumps are given in Table1. Water samples were collected directly from
the hand pumps after running the water for about 35 minutes.

2.2 Analytical methods

2.2.1 Titrimetric method

All the salts used were of analytical reagent grade and anhydrous with reported purities of
+99 % . EDTA (Aldrich), KI (Darmstadt), Sodium Thiosulphate (Guaranteed reagent grade
from Sarabhai Chemicals Co.), NaOH (Fluka), AgNO3 (SAS Chemicals), HCl and H2SO4
(Qualikem). Ail salts were dried in a vacuum oven at 120 ‘C for several days and used
without further purification. Stock solutions were prepared by using double-distilled, but
previously deionized, water throughout the experimental work. The concentrations were
determined by density measurement using a vibrating tube densimeter from Anton Paar Co.,
Ltd. (DMA 60/602). The reproducibility of the concentration measurements was within
0.35%.

Total hardness was determined by taking 20 CC of drinking water and added 5 cc of buffer
solution(NH3+NH4Cl), and then 3-4 drops of Eriochrome black-T indicator and titrated with
0.01M EDTA solution .At the end point the solution changes from wine red to blue. For
estimating chlorine, 20cc of water+5ml acetic acid+ KI solution are taken and this solution is
titrated with 0.01 sodium thiosulphate solution, till yellow colour comes. Now after adding
starch solution, blue colour is obtained, the whole content is titrated again with the standard
0.01 M sodium thiosulphate solution till blue colour disappears. For estimation of chromate
in drinking water, 20cc of drinking water+ 3-4ml sulphuric acid+ 0.5gm sodium bi
Carbonate+2gm KI solution, are taken and this solution is titrated with 0.01 sodium
thiosulphate solution, till yellow colour comes. Now after adding starch solution (blue colour
appears), the solution is titrated again with the sodium thiosulphate till blue colour disappears.
For estimation of CO3-2, 20 ml of drinking water is taken in a conical flask, added 2-3cc
methyl orange indicator .Titrated this solution with 0.01M HCl, the colour changes from
yellow to red at the end point. For measuring total dissolved solids, gravimetric methods
which is the most accurate and involve evaporating the liquid solvent and measuring the mass
of residues left. This method is generally the best, although it is time-consuming. If inorganic
salts comprise the great majority of TDS, gravimetric methods are appropriate. For estimating
dissolved carbon dioxide, 20cc of water is mixed with 2-3 cc of phenolphthalein indicator,
and titrated with sodium hydroxide (N/50). For estimating Calcium, 20cc of drinking water
mixed with Buffer solution (NH3/NH4Cl) and titrated with O.01M ethylene diammine tetra
acetic acid (EDTA) in the presence of Eriochrome black-T indicator solution (3-4 cc). To
Atri Deo Tripathi, Meenu Agrawal
International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 5 No.2, 2014 334
 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

determine the total alkalinity of drinking water, it is titrated with Standard N/50 H2SO4
solution in the presence of methyl orange indicator. For detection of Chloride ion, 20cc of
drinking water taken and mixed with 5 drops of fluorescein indicator, and titrated the
solution with the 0.001M AgNO3 solution, while rotating the flask continuously. As the end
point approached, the silver chloride coagulates appreciably, and the precipitate suddenly
assumes a pronounced pink or red colour. For detection of Cu, 20c.c drinking water is taken,
added 5ml NH3 solution to make pH =6-13 and 5 drops of Murexide indicator solution.
Titrated it with standard 0.001 MEDTA solutions until the colour changes from orange
reddish to violet blue colour. For detection of Zn, 20cc of water mixed with 2 ml buffer
(pH=10) and 2-4 cc of Eriochrome black T indicator .Titrated with 0.001 M EDTA solution.
At the end point colour changes from red violet to blue pure.

3. Coefficient of correlation (r)

In case of correlation ,a perfect 1 positive shows (increasing) linear relationship (correlation),

−1 in the case of a perfect decreasing (negative) and some value between −1 and 1 indicates
the degree of linear dependence between the variables. As it approaches zero there is less of a
relationship (closer to uncorrelated). The closer the coefficient is to either −1 or 1, the
stronger the correlation between the variables.

Regression analysis includes techniques for modeling and analyzing several variables, when
the focus is on the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent
variables. Regression analysis helps to understand how the typical value of the dependent
variable changes when any one of the independent variables is varied, while the other
independent variables are held fixed. Most commonly, regression analysis estimates the
conditional expectation of the dependent variable given the independent variables that is, the
average value of the dependent variable when the independent variables are held fixed. To
find the relationship between the two parameters x and y the Karl Pearson’s correlation
coefficient r is used to determine as under:

The mathematical models used to estimate water quality require two parameters to describe
the realistic groundwater situations. Correlation analysis measures the closeness of the
relationship between chosen independent and dependent variables. This analysis attempts to
establish the nature of the relationship between the variables and thereby provides a
mechanism for prediction of forecasting (WHO,1994). In this study, the relationship of water
quality parameters on each other in the data of water analyzed was determined by calculating
correlation coefficient, r, by using the formula as given below:

3.1 Strength calculation

After getting molarity by means of titrimetric analysis, the strength of each element or
compound have been calculated by using relation:
Strength= Molarity x Molar mass of the element or compound

n Σ (xiyi)-(Σxi).(Σyi)
r = ___________________________________ ------------------------- (1)
√ [ nΣxi2 – (Σxi) 2 ] [ n Σyi2 – (Σyi) 2 ]

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 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

Where, x (x=values of x-variable) and y (y=values of y-variable) represents two different

water quality parameters.
N=number of data points.
To determine the straight linear regression, following equation of straight line can be used.

y = a x + b --------------------------------- (2)

where, y and x are the dependent and independent variables respectively. a is the slope for
the line, b is intercept on y-axis.

The slope a and intercept b can be determined using the following relation:

n Σ x y -Σx Σ y
a= ________________ --------------------------------- (3)
n Σ x 2 – ( Σ x )2

and
Σy - a Σx
b= ______________ ----------------------------------- (4)
n

The correlation coefficient (r) will have a value from -1 to +1. Negative sign represents that
the two variables do not have similar trends of variation where as positive value represent
similar trend. More will be the accuracy of fitness if r is more close to unity. Zero value of r
indicates that there is no relationship between X and Y and both are independent to each
other.

To study the correlation between various water quality parameters, the regression analysis
was carried out using computer software SPSS, version–7.5.

4. Results and discussion

The results obtained for various ions,elements or compound are given in Table2 and 3. The
various values of physico-chemical characteristics obtained for groundwater samples have
been compared with the BIS and WHO standards in Table 4.

Correlation analysis for the groundwater samples have been done as per procedure described
above . The values of correlation coefficient is positive for TH-Cl2 (r=0.5368), showing
moderate correlation ,which means there is a tendency for high x variable scores go with high
y variable scores & vice versa.

For alkalinity –Chloride ion(r=0.5555) the value of r is positive showing moderate correlation,
which means there is a tendency for high x variable scores to go with low y variable scores
and vice versa. For Calcium-Magnesium ions the value of r=0.1693, it is technically +ve
correlation but the relationship between variable is weak. For EC-Magnisium ions the r value
is positive but too low(r=0.0045), although technically +ve correlation, the relationship
between variable is weak. For Alkalinity-Chromate (r=0.213), the relationship between
variable is also weak.

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 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

Table 1: Details of sampling sites

Number and Location of Depth of Type of Apparent Use of

S.No.
Name of site site boring source water quality water

50 km south-
I, IM2 Hand Only Odourless, Drinking,
west to Approx.
1 pump at source turns yellowish domestic
Moradabad 34 meter
Gajraula of water on standing purposes
collectorate

II, IM2 Hand Only Drinking,

40 km east to Approx. Colourless,
2 pump at source bathing
site no. 33 meter odourless
Nazimabad of water etc.

III, IM2 Hand 5 km south-

Only
pump Railway west to Approx. Colourless, Drinking,
3 source
station Moradabad 35 meter odourless laundering
of water
collectorate

Colour of
IV, IM2 Hand Only water turns
10 km north to Approx. Drinking,
4 pump at source yellowish-
site no. III 33 meter bathing
Pakwara of water brown on
standing

V, IM2 Hand Only Drinking,

1.5 km north Approx. Colourless,
5 pump at source domestic
to site no. III 36 meter odourless
Mansarovar of water purposes

VI, IM2 Hand Only Drinking,

0.5 km south Approx. Colourless,
6 pump at source domestic
to site no. V 35 meter odourless
Rampur of water purposes
VII, IM2
1.5 km north Only Drinking,
Hand pump at Approx. Colourless,
7 to Mandi source domestic
Mundapandi 34 meter Fishy smell
samiti of water purposes

VIII, IM2 Only Drinking,

1.0 km north Approx. Colourless,
8 Hand pump at source bathing
to site no VII 33 meter odourless
Dalpatpur of water etc.

Colour of
IX, IM2 Hand Only Drinking,
2.5 km east to Approx. water turns
9 pump at source domestic
site no. III 33 meter pale yellow on
Buddh Vihar of water purposes
standing

Colour of
X, IM2 Hand 7.0 km south Only water turns
Approx. Drinking,
10 pump at Police to Moradabad source yellowish-
34 meter bathing
station, Kanth collectorate of water brown on
standing

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 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

Table 2: Physico – chemical Characteristics *(pH,EC,TDS,TH, Cl2 and CrO4-2 )of

groundwater samples of Moradabad District, Uttar Pradesh, India in the month of May-2014.

Sampling pH
EC TDS TH Cl2 CrO4-2
Station
Gajraula 7.31 0.77 454.90 118 4.5 0.002
Najibabad 7.61 0.72 375.76 116 4.6 0.003
RailwayStation 7.72 0.67 480.88 124 4.7 0.001
Pakwara 7.81 0.51 345.95 126 9.0 0.0015
Mansarovar 7.75 0.67 298.86 123 8.8 0.0016
Rampur 7.91 0.75 175.86 121 6.4 0.0017
Mundapandi 7.95 0.47 421.64 123 8.4 0.0018
Dalpatpur 7.98 0.39 433.25 125 7.7 0.0011
Budhi Vihar 8.12 0.45 189.09 124 4.3 0.0014
Kanth 8.05
0.29 301.78 122 4.8 0.0016

*Units of all parameters are in mg/l except conductivity µS.cm-1 and pH.

Table 3: Physico – chemical Characteristics*(CO2, Ca2, Mg2+, Alkalinity , Cl- and Cu+2 and Zn+2)of
groundwater samples of Moradabad District, Uttar Pradesh, India in the month of May-2014.

Sampling Alkali-
CO2 Ca2+ Mg2+ Cl- Cu+2 Zn+2
Station nity
Gajraula 9.12 76.99 16.5 278 10.78 2 2.8
Najibabad 10.85 65.14 15.3 298 23.89 2.5 1.9
RailwayStation 11.16 54.76 25.6 287 17.82 3.5 1.7
Pakwara 12.33 62.67 24.9 267 16.99 1.4 1.3
Mansarovar 9.98 19.97 18.5 299 17.65 1.8 1.5
Rampur 7.34 43.77 11.9 315 53.76 2.1 1.7
Mundapandi 4.16 56.78 10.8 314 45.88 0.9 1.9
Dalpatpur 12.01 32.44 12.6 281 36.22 0.8 2.9
Budhi Vihar 11.78 48.88 13.7 298 16.33 0.7 3.1
Kanth 11.56 51.34 20.7 311 18.34 0.6 3.2

*Units of all parameters are in mg/l.

Table 4: Comparison of water quality parameters of groundwater of Moradabad City area

with drinking water quality standards (BIS (1991) and WHO(1994)*

Parameters BIS Standard WHO#Limit(mg/l)

Range of Samples Acceptable Maximum
limit Limit
Minimum
Maximum

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 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

Total 116
300 600 100
hardness 126
175.86
TDS 500 2000 500
480.88
4.3
Chlorine 0.20 --- --
09
Chromate as
0.001
hexavalent 0.1 1 0.05
0.0018
ion
19.97
Calcium 75 200 75
76.99
10.8
Magnesium 30 100 150
25.6
Carbon 4.16
- - -
dioxide 12.33
278
Alkalinity 200 600 ---
315
10.78
Chloride 250 1000 250
45.88
0.6
Copper 0.05 1.5 2
03.55
1.3
Zinc 5 15 3
3.22
7.31
pH 6.5-8.5 9.2 6.5-9.2
8.12
0.29
Conductivity 300 --- ----
0.77
*Units of all parameters are in mg/l except conductivity µS.cm-1 and pH.

For pH-EC(r=-0.765), correlation shows a strong negative correlation, which means that high
x variables score go with low y variables. For pH-TDS (r=-0.5281) the same trend is
observed. In case of Chromate-CO2 (r=-0.2267) correlation shows a negative correlation, For
Cu+2-Zn+2(r= -0.5554), correlation shows a moderate negative correlation, which means that
high x variables score go with low y variables score and vice versa. For Cl2-Ca+2(r= -0.4604),
correlation shows a negative correlation, but the relationship between variable is weak
variables.

5. Conclusion

From the above results we have concluded that due to increase in industrialization, water
quality of drinking water get decreases, and hence there is a need of proper analysis of water
and prior treatment.

6. References

1. Gupta S.C., (1991), Chemical character of ground waters in Nagpur district,

Rajasthan, Indian Journal of Environmental Health, 33(3), pp 341-349.

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International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 5 No.2, 2014 339
 Assessment of drinking water quality: A case study of Moradabad area, Uttar Pradesh, India

2. Madhuri, U., Srinivas, T. and Sirresha, K., (2004), A study on ground water quality in
commercial area of Visakhapatnam. Pollution Research, 23(3), pp 565-568.

3. Mulla, J.G., Farooqui, M.and Zaheer, A., (2007) A correlation and regression
equations among water quality parameters International Journal of Chemical
Sciences, 5(2), pp 943-952.

4. Draper N.R., Smith, H., (1966), Applied Regression Analysis - Wiley, New – York.

5. Snedeco G.W., and Cohran W.O. (1967), Statistical Method, The Lowa State
University Press, Ames, 6th edition.

6. Kumar J., Jana A.K, Bansal, A.and Garg R., (2005) Development of correlation
Between BOD and COD for refinery waste. Indian Journal of Environmental
Protection, 25(5), pp 405-409

7. APHA (1995), Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater,

American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C. 19th edition.

8. Merck E., (1974), the Testing of Water, Federal Republic of Germany, Darmstadt.

9. BIS (1991), Specifications for drinking water, ARE: 10500:1991, Beaurow of Indian
Standard, New Delhi, India.

10. W.H.O., (1984), WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water, Geneva, Switzerland, 1.

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