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Research
(Published online : 31-03-2013)
1.
Analysis of physico-chemical properties and heavy metals in drinking water from 
different sources in and around Ranchi, Jharkhand, India -
Priscilla 
Kerketta, Sushma Lalita Baxla, Ravuri Halley Gora, Suruchi Kumari and Rustam 
Kumar Roushan
Vet World. 2013; 6(7): 370-375
 
              
              doi: 
              10.5455/vetworld.2013.370-375
              
               
              
  
              
  
               
               
               
              
              
              Abstract
              
              
Aim: The present study was undertaken to determine the physico-chemical 
properties and heavy metals in drinking water samples collected from different 
sources in and around Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. 
                          
              
              Materials and Methods: A 
total number of 100 water samples were collected from different sources like 
hand pumps (44), wells (27), taps (20), rivers (3) and ponds (6). The gross 
appearance, taste, odour, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen 
demand, alkalinity, conductivity, total dissolved solid, salinity and the 
concentration of lead and cadmium was analyzed. 
                          
              
              Results: Water samples 
were transparent, odourless and taste was agreeable except rivers and ponds. The 
mean value of temperature (24.8±0.416 to 30.7±0.819), pH (6.4±0.1 to 7.3±0.1), 
dissolved oxygen (3.9±0.05 to 8.95±0.15), biochemical oxygen demand (2.3±0.7 to 
7.5±0.409), alkalinity (35±1 to 144.75±40.359), conductivity (83±1.15 to1508±0), 
total dissolved solid (73±1 to 1422±0) and salinity (0.016±.014). Mean levels (ppm) 
of Lead (Pb) was (0.01±0.00 to 0.11±0.03) and cadmium (Cd) was (0.04±0.01 to 
0.11±0.03). 
                          
              
               Conclusion: Out of water samples collected from above 
mentioned sources, samples from ponds and rivers were highly contaminated. The 
pH of 6 water samples was more than prescribed level, dissolved oxygen in 11 was 
samples was below than 5 ppm, biochemical oxygen demand in 19 water samples was 
above 6 ppm, alkalinity in 14 samples were above 120 ppm, conductivity in 2 
water samples were above1400 µS/cm, The levels of lead and cadmium was more than 
the permissible limits. 
                          
              
              Keywords: alkalinity, BOD, cadmium, DO, lead, pH, 
physico-chemical properties, TDS