Topics in Drinking Water
Oral Presentation
Prepared by M. Hussain, A. Malik, S. Mumtaz
Society for Conservation of Environment & Sustainable Development, W 715, Phase III, Defence Housing Authority, Lahore, Punjab, 54792, Pakistan
Contact Information: Theenvironmonitor@gmail.com; 092-42-35693401
ABSTRACT
Pakistan is situated in South Asia. Its population is about 220 million. Its total area is 88.1 million hectares. It has variety of terrains like snow clad mountains, high plateaus, fertile plains, vast deserts and 1000 kilometer long coastline. On account of such unique scenario the country faces tremendous environmental concerns including water pollution. Pakistan has potential of surface water (139 million acre-feet), groundwater (56 MAF), rainwater (25 MAF) and spring water (10 MAF).Pakistan utilizes 95% water for irrigation, 3% for domestic purposes and 2% for industries.
Most if the water resources are degraded because of wastes & affluent generated from domestic, commercial, industrial & agricultural pollutants. Half of population is deprived of portable water for drinking. Also they are not provided with water Bourne sanitary services. Similarly irrigation water is polluted with health hazards of heavy metals and pesticides. Currently WHO quality standards for drinking water are enforced. Environmental parameters for maintaining quality of drinking water are given in National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Similarly irrigation water quality standards are designed by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Pakistan.
Environmental parameters for testing of water quality given in national environmental quality standards. These are 32 in number. Some of them are temperature, pH, BOD COD, TSS, TBD, Cl, F, Cn, SO4, Pesticides, Heavy metals, etc.
It is recommended that quality for any usage of water should be specified and general criteria should not be adopted for all purposes.
