QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER IN THE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, ALIGARH, U.P. (INDIA) WITH RESPECT TO HEAVY METALS MOHAMMAD AJMAL and RAZI UDDIN Environmental Research Laboratory Chemistry Section, Z.H. College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 001, India (Received June 25, 1984) Abstract. The physico-chemical characteristics of the drinking water in nine residential hails of the AIigarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P. (India), were studied. Nine samples each of running and standing water were taken four times over a period of one month at weekly intervals from all of the residential halls and were analysed for physico-chemical characteristics and heavy metal contents. The temperature, pH and electrical conductivity of water samples ranged between 20.0-26.0 ~ 7.00-8.00 and 116.00-199.04 micromhos cm 1respectively whereas the values oftotal alkalinity, total hardness, C1-, SO4, F - , NH3-N, NO2-N; NO3-N were found between 261.00-396.00; 128.00-200.00; 8.00-69.00; 12.00-46.00; 0.90-1.35; 0.20-0.44; ND; 1.60-6.50 mg 1 1 respectively. The ranges of heavy metal concentrations in the running water samples were as follows: Cd (0.70-3.75); Cr (ND-5.00); Co (9.50-18.75); Cu (0.75-15.00); Fe (ND-13.50); Mn (3.50-51.00); Ni (7.00-17.50); Pb (0.50-2.50) and Zn (10.00-176.50) #g 1-1. The heavy metal concentrations in standing water samples were found to be: Cd (1.20-4.90); Cr (ND-10.00); Co (10.25-19.00); Cu (1.75-20.00); Fe (ND-18.00); Mn (5.00-66.50); Ni (8.75-19.75); Pb (0.75-5.50) and Zn (28.60-364.00) gg 1 - t. The concentrations of heavy metals in drinking water supplies of the Aligarh Muslim University campus were well below the guidelines for drinking water quality as prescribed by World Health Organisation (1984). It is evident from the results that the drinking water may not cause any significant health hazard to water consumers due to heavy metals but these may be hazardous if they get accumulated in the body due to continuous consumption of water. 1. Introduction The awareness about the quality of drinking water is increasing in several parts of the world. The heavy metals are probably the most harmful and insidious pollutants because of their biological nonbio-degradable nature and their potential to cause adverse effects in human beings at certain levels of exposure and absorption. The harmful effects are linked to accumulation in biological system even in their lowest form of development. Cadmium has been shown to be toxic to man when ingested or inhaled. It is distributed to most of the tissues of the body, but is found in highest concentrations in the liver and kidney. The health aspects of cadmium have been reviewed extensively by several workers (Fleischer et aL, 1974; National Institute for Occupational safety and Health, 1976a; Friberg etaL, 1974; Webb, 1975; World Health Organisation, 1977). Acute exposures to cadmium in humans produce different effects depending upon the rout of exposure. Among the general population ingestion of food and fluids that have been contaminated with cadmium resulted in acute gastrointestinal disturbance such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and tenesmus. This contamination has occured when cadmium-plated vessels have been used to prepare lemonade or other beverages. (Drinking Water and Health, Vol. 3, 1980). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 6 (1986) 195-205. 9 1986 by D, Reidel Publishing Company.