IJRRAS 7 (2) ● May 2011 www.arpapress.com/Volumes/Vol7Issue2/IJRRAS_7_2_15.pdf 203 DETERMINATION OF NITRATE ANION IN WASTE WATER FROM NINE SELECTED AREAS OF COASTAL GUYANA VIA A SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD R. C. Jagessar 1, * & L. Sooknundun 2 1 Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Guyana. 2 Final Year student, 2009-2010, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, P.O. Box, 10-1110, Georgetown, Guyana ABSTRACT Globally, the presence of nitrate anions in water beyond the threshold limit can be deleterious to both flora and fauna life. Guyana‟s waste and domestic water needs monitoring to assess the concentration of toxic anions and cations. High levels of nitrate anion beyond the threshold limit can induce the “blue baby” syndrome amongst other effects. This paper focuses on the determination of nitrate anion concentration from nine selected areas of coastal Guyana using an Ultra Violet Spectrophotometric method. These areas monitored were No. 58 Livehood Village, Rose Hall Town, Skeldon GUYSUCO Estate, Good Hope, Ogle, Stabroek, Parika, Supenaam, Spring Garden. The results showed that the concentrations of nitrates were not as high and are below the internationally accepted threshold values. The average concentration being 0.03mg/L, 0.06mg/L and 0.20 mg/L, 1.77 mg/L, 2.363 mg/L, 0.333mg/L, 0.17 mg/L, 0.19 mg/L, 0.18mg/L NO 3 - for the above several areas respectively. The results were accepted at the 95% confidence leve using statistical analysis. The US public Health Service designated safe limit for nitrate in water as 45mg/L.. The applicable range of concentrations using the above method is 0.1-2 mg/L NO 3 – . A maximum level of 45 mg/L is established as worldwide guidance for nitrate concentration in water. In Europe, the maximum permitted levels of nitrate in potable water is 50.0 mg/L, while in the US-EPA has established a guideline for the maximum level of nitrate-nitrogen of 10 mg/L. It can safely be informed that the nine selected areas choosen are not polluted with anions. In an effort to improve water quality, the Government of Guyana has embarked on the construction of sand filtration and water treatment plants along the inhabited coastland of Guyana. Keywords: Nitrate, threshold limit, flora and fauna, Spectrophotometric method, effluent, 95% confidence level. 1. INTRODUCTION This paper investigates the nitrate ion concentration in waste water from a total of nine selected locations in the county of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo: No. 58 Livehood Village, Rose Hall Town, Skeldon GUYSUCO Estate, (Berbice) Good Hope, Ogle, Stabroek, (Demerara) Parika, Supenaam, Spring Garden (Essequibo) via an Ultraviolet Spectrophotometric method, Eaton et. al [1]. The latter is applicable to the analysis of drinking water, surface waters, domestic and industrial waters, Eaton et.al [2] and Booth et.al [3]. The method can be modified to compensate for turbidity, colour, salinity and dissolved organic compounds in the sample. Waste water is one that has been used for washing, flushing, or that which is released from manufacturing processes, Eaton et. al [1] and Eaton et. al [2]. In Guyana, groundwater provides 90 percent of the potable water supply and is extracted mainly from the coastal artisan basin , Jagdeo et. al [5]. However, potable water can be contaminated. The most common examples of resource contamination in Guyana are those arising from water pollution: Elemental such as mercury, anions: cyanide, phosphates, nitrates, chlorides and cation in calcium and other wastes from mining etc.. However, their level of concentration needs to be determined. Others include untreated human and animal wastes in water supplies and wastes from many industries in water tables, Williams et. al [4] and Jagdeo et. al [5]. Providing sufficient quantities of high quality water to satisfy our domestic, industrial and Agricultural needs is an on going global problem. Increasing population size, climate change and pollution will only exacerbate the situation. There is no physical shortage of water on the planet earth. It covers 70% of the globe. However, 97% of the world water is saline and is thus non-drinkable. 2% is locked in glaciers and polar ice caps. This leaves 1% to meet humanity needs , Elliot et. al [6]. Some anions are toxic at certain concentrations because of their mobility in living systems and abilities to cross cell membranes. Toxic anions are poisonous and can cause harm or even death via malfunctioning of the organs such as the kidney etc. They usually enter the body via drinking waters, food, fruits and vegetables, fish and other foods in