World Applied Sciences Journal 30 (4): 402-405, 2014

ISSN 1818-4952
© IDOSI Publications, 2014
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2014.30.04.13979

Evaluation of Drinking Water for Heavy Metals

of District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1
Said Hassan, 1Ishfaq Ahmed, 1Khalid Mahmood, 2Javid Ali and 3Sudhair Abbas

1
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, The University of Agriculture KPK-Pakistan
2
PCSIR Laboratories Complex Jamrud Road Peshawar, KPK-Pakistan
3
Department of Pharmacy, Abasyn University, KPK Pakistan

Abstract: Research study was conducted to evaluate the drinking water for heavy metals of district Karak.
Thirty samples were collected from different locations and analyzed for pH, EC and heavy metals viz. Zn, Cu,
Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, Pb and Cr. The pH value ranged from 7.06 to 8.33 and EC ranged from 0.15 to 2.23. The Zn
content ranged from 0.005 to 0.084 mg/l, Cu concentration was in the range of 1.209 to 2.23 mg/l, Fe ranged from
0.15-4.24 mg/l, Mn ranged from 0.035 to 0.882 mg/, Cd was in range of 0.003 to 0.091 mg/l, Pb concentration
ranged between 0.040 and 0.830 mg/l and Cr ranged from 0.02 to 0.44 mg/l. It was observed that heavy metals
including Zn, Mn, Fe and Cd were in the permissible limit of WHO (1993), while Cu, Ni, Cr and Pb
concentrations can cause serious problems as they exceeds the WHO standards of drinking water.

Key words: Drinking water Heavy metals WHO Concentration pH EC

INTRODUCTION 80% human diseases are water born. In developing

Water is one of the most important precious God
gifted natural resources for human beings. It is an
important constituent, essential for plants growth. It is
present almost in every food stuff [1]. It is a solvent that
together with the dissolved nutrients form the soil
solution, which is important medium for supplying
nutrients to plants. It is the major constituent (85-90%) of
plants protoplasm and is essential for photosynthesis [2].
Water, the origin and symbol of life is chemically
composed of hydrogen and oxygen in a ratio of 2:1 and
symbolically it is represented as H2O.
Water accounts for 67% of human body weight and
90% of body volume. Only 3% of world supply is fresh
water, the rest 97% is sea water [3]. Despite small
proportion of global water usage, fresh water for domestic
utilities, especially for drinking purpose is a major concern
of third world countries and its supply is the main
component of national and international agendas [4].
Water resources are not better managed and protected so
its shortage and contamination has endangered human
health and environment [5]. According to WHO more than
countries 80% population has not easy access to pure
drinking water. Annually more than five million die with an
early death as a result of illness linked to unsafe drinking
water unclean domestic environment and improper extra
disposed [6,7].
Water pollution mainly consists of heavy metals,
microorganism, fertilizer and thousand of toxic organic
compounds. Heavy metals consist of Cd, Cu, Fe, Cr, Pb,
Ni, Mn, Hg, Zn, Al and Se as well as metals of group III
and IV which have toxic effect on human physiology [8].
Heavy metals in water refers to heavy, dense and metallic
elements that occur only in trace levels in water but are
very toxic to body function [9]. Pb having greater toxicity
and its occurrence gets into water from degradation of
plumbing materials and pipes, which cause contamination
[10].
In district Karak, the surface and ground water
resources are limited and its use and recharge is
essential for sustainable development. In majority of the
area in Karak, there is a decline in water table due to
excessive use of ground water for domestic as well as
irrigation. The quantity of water is deteriorating due to

Corresponding Author: Said Hassan, Department of Agricultural Chemistry,

The University of Agriculture KPK-Pakistan.

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over exploitation of ground water. Keeping in view the Metals Wave length (nm)
importance of clean and safe drinking water, this study Fe 248.3
Cu 324.8
was initiated. Zn 213.9
Microbial contamination is one of the most important Ni 232
factors of water pollution, particularly with pathogenic Cd 228.8
Pb 283.3
microorganisms [11]. Water contamination is a serious
Cr 357.9
environmental problem as it badly affects the human Mn 279.5
wellbeing and the biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystem.
The need of sanitation and water supply, that is, water RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
that is easily reachable, sufficient in quantity, free from
contaminations, harmless and readily available all over the pH and Electrical Conductivity: All the samples were
year, is the main reason why diarrheal diseases are so analyzed for pH and EC by pH meter and EC meter
common in developing countries [12, 13]. Pathogens are
respectively. All the results are tabulated in Table 1. The
severe concern for the people of water resources, since
highest pH was in sample of village Biland Killa and the
extreme amounts of faecal bacteria in the urban and
lowest was of village Sabir Abad. As a whole the drinking
sewage run off have been identified to specify risk of
water of District Karak is alkaline. According to the
pathogen induced illnesses in human [14]
international standards of WHO [16]. The standards value
of pH for drinking water is 6.8 to 8.0. The majority of
MATERIALS AND METHODS
drinking water of district Karak pose no risk due to pH
The study was carried in the Department of concentration, however pH values of some villages
Agricultural Chemistry, The University of Agriculture exceeds slightly from the standards of WHO.
Peshawar. Thirty samples were collected from thirty
Table 1: pH and EC of water samples of district Karak
villages of district Karak in clean plastic bottles. The
Sample No. Locations pH EC (dS/m)
samples were chemically analyzed and the results were 1 Sabir Abad 7.06 1.04
compared with the standards of WHO. 2 Kabir Killa 7.89 0.89
3 Sher khan killa 8.02 0.99
4 Baland Killa 8.33 1.23
Reagents Used: Buffer solution of pH 4.00, buffer solution
5 Toor Mirch 7.56 1.01
of pH 7.00 and deionzed water. 6 Ahmad khail 7.58 0.56
7 Hakim Khel 8.12 0.75
Water Sample Analysis for Heavy Metals: Electrical 8 Dabb 7.24 0.45
9 Sarat Khel 7.45 1.15
conductivity and pH were determined prior to the start of 10 Jandri 8.01 0.69
the experiment. 11 Aya khel 8.03 0.57
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Perkins 12 Eisak Chountra 7.25 0.45
13 Ghundi Killa 7.14 0.49
Elmer 2000) was used for the analysis of heavy metals viz. 14 Mitta Khel 8.11 0.99
Zn, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Fe and Mn followed by standard 15 Lucky Ghundky 7.15 0.85
method of AOAC 2000 [15]. Atomic Absorption 16 Palosa Sar 7.16 0.71
17 Terki Khel 7.49 0.68
Spectrophotometer is one of the most frequently used
18 Badin Khel 7.70 0.64
instrumental analyses for metals and metalloid 19 Terkha Kowa 7.7 2.23
quantization in food and water samples. During the 20 Drab Killa 7.64 2.03
application of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, the 21 Tapi Karak 7.18 1.45
22 Zara khel 7.12 0.25
flow rate of acetylene gas was 2.5l/min, oxidant flow rate 23 Deli Mela 7.34 0.19
was set at 5L/min and acetylene pressure was kept to 80 24 Daraki Banda 8.19 0.15
psi. Prior to the analysis standards of each element were 25 Sare Khwaa 7.79 0.48
26 Kotay Killa 7.26 0.68
run.
27 Chani Khel 8.00 0.45
28 Daur Khel 7.45 0.28
Laboratory Manual for AAS: The wavelengths used for 29 Tabi Khwa 7.35 0.37
the determination of various heavy metals are given 30 Shaheeda 7.25 0.57
Average 7.58 0.69
below.

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 World Appl. Sci. J., 30 (4): 402-405, 2014

Table 2: Heavy metal concentration of water samples of district Karak.

Sample No. Location Zn Cu Fe Mn Ni Cd Pb Cr
1 Sabir Abad 0.024 2.106 2.92 0.118 0.11 0.076 0.11 0.11
2 Kabir Killa 0.055 1.209 2.31 0.149 1.89 0.055 0.16 0.13
3 Sher khan killa 0.032 2.236 1.89 0.439 0.30 0.004 0.15 0.14
4 Baland Killa 0.01 1.807 3.16 0.503 0.27 0.024 0.65 0.08
5 Toor Mirch 0.01 2.081 1.97 0.044 2.22 0.047 0.21 0.07
6 Ahmad khail 0.018 2.168 0.85 0.063 0.95 0.010 0.16 0.11
7 Hakim Khel 0.005 2.157 1.02 0.19 1.27 0.058 0.07 0.05
8 Dabb 0.011 1.749 0.54 0.178 3.72 0.032 0.22 0.02
9 Sarat Khel 0.02 1.807 2.80 0.064 1.67 0.008 0.16 0.07
10 Jandri 0.027 1.749 1.03 0.264 0.89 0.050 0.23 0.18
11 Aya khel 0.005 1.680 4.21 0.882 2.52 0.040 0.13 0.02
12 Eisak Chountra 0.011 1.784 3.61 0.231 0.42 0.054 0.34 0.009
13 Ghundi Killa 0.027 1.84 2.08 0.154 3.22 0.038 0.66 0.13
14 Mitta Khel 0.071 1.801 0.41 0.176 0.38 0.063 0.26 0.04
15 Lucky Ghundky 0.019 1.901 0.38 0.288 0.34 0.075 0.20 0.05
16 Palosa Sar 0.037 1.758 2.41 0.273 2.90 0.026 0.38 0.21
17 Terki Khel 0.021 1.751 1.23 0.035 2.07 0.039 0.42 0.18
18 Badin Khel 0.029 1.896 0.15 0.143 1.91 0.022 0.45 0.06
19 Terkha Kowa 0.052 1.82 4.24 0.208 0.97 0.063 0.61 0.15
20 Drab Killa 0.047 1.552 0.64 0.757 3.91 0.055 0.46 0.44
21 Tapi Karak 0.013 1.963 0.95 0.257 0.46 0.003 0.08 0.70
22 Zara khel 0.006 1.959 2.83 0.41 3.29 0.018 0.28 0.13
23 Deli Mela 0.007 1.873 1.36 0.61 5.52 0.010 0.72 0.40
24 Daraki Banda 0.084 1.801 2.36 0.537 5.75 0.075 0.09 0.09
25 Sare Khwaa 0.047 1.861 2.51 0.551 2.76 0.019 0.29 0.06
26 Kotay Killa 0.005 1.957 0.67 0.087 0.17 0.091 0.04 0.05
27 Chani Khel 0.042 1.837 0.57 0.094 7.01 0.052 0.07 0.32
28 Daur Khel 0.07 1.934 1.14 0.064 1.74 0.023 0.48 0.24
29 Tabi Khwa 0.022 1.99 1.03 0.666 6.36 0.025 0.83 0.08
30 Shaheeda 0.005 1.939 0.21 0.058 2.53 0.005 0.42 0.18
Average 0.028 1.869 1.716 0.302 2.251 0.038 0.31 0.15

Table 3: Standards of WHO for drinking water. Analysis of Heavy Metals: The amount of Zn present in
S. No. Parameters WHO standerds the water of District Karak was ranging between 0.005-
1 pH 6.5-8.0 0.084 mg/L with a mean value of 0.28 mg/L (Table 2).
2 EC 0-0.7 dSm
The standard value of Zn according to WHO [6] is 5mg/L
3 Zn 0-5.0 mg/l
(Table 3). It revels that concentration of Zn in the water of
4 Cu 0- 2.0 mg/l
5 Fe 2.0-5.0 mg/l
Karak is extremely low, which is very important of growth,
6 Mn 0-0.075 mg/l wound healing, sexual development and used as an
7 Ni 0-0.02 mg/l immune system. The Cu concentration of village Sher
8 Cd 0-0.003 mg/l Khan Killa was highest with a value of 2.236 g/L and was
9 Pb 0-0.01 mg/l found to be the lowest at village Kabir Killa with a value
10 Cr 0-0.05 mg/l of 1.209 mg/L (Table 2). The mean value of Cu was 1.896
mg/L. According to WHO the standard Cu concentration
EC analysis of water samples are also given in in drinking water is 2 mg/L (Table 3). Drinking water of
Table 1. Village Terkha Kowa shows the highest EC value Karak is not deficient in Cu, in some villages it
and village Daraki Banda shows the lowest EC value. concentration is slightly high. Fe concentration in Karak
Comparatively the drinking water of district Karak has drinking water ranged from 0.15-4.24 mg/L, being a lowest
normal electrical conductivity. According to WHO the in Badin Khel and highest at Terkha Kowa. The mean
standard value of electricity conductivity is 0-0.7 dS/m. value of Fe was 1.716 mg/L. Most of the drinking water in
However, due to excessive salts such as Mg2+ and Na + in Karak is not deficient in Fe and fall in the WHO standard
water may produce effect on a person consuming it [6]. which is 2-5 mg/l, while somewhere its concentration is
It may be used for irrigation. low. Mn concentration in Karak drinking water ranged

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from 0.035 to 882 mg/l with a mean value of 0.302 mg/l and
the WHO standard of Mn for drinking water is 0.75 mg/l.
Water of Karak is suitable for drinking purposes with
respect to Mn concentration.
Nickel (Ni) in varied from 0.10 to 7.01 mg/l with mean
value of 2.251mg/l. WHO standard of Ni in drinking water
is 0.02 mg/l. Ni concentration is high in Karak drinking
water and pose risk to health related issues. Cd
concentration ranged from 0.003 to 0.91 mg/l with a mean
of 0.0387 while the WHO standard of Cd in drinking water
is 0.003 mg/l, hence this water has no such harmful effect
on human health. Pb concentration was ranged from 0.040
mg/l to 0.830 mg/l with a mean value of 0.311mg/l (Table 2)
while the permissible limit of WHO are 0.01 mg/l (Table 3).
Pb concentration in water of Karak is high and is not
suitable for drinking. Cr concentration varied from
0.02mg/l to 0.70mg/l with a mean value of 0.15 mg/l. the
WHO standard of Pb in drinking water is 0.10mg/l. The
said water has higher Pb concentration and is not suitable
for drinking purposes.
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