Author : M. K. Dash, N. Behera, P. Rath, R. B. Panda and S. P. Rout

Knowing the significance of drinking water for a healthy society, an analysis for drinking water quality was made by collecting water samples from 120 different locations in and around Balasore town in three different seasons namely summer, post-monsoon and winter. The samples were subjected to a comprehensive physico chemical analysis from the suitability point of view of water for human consumption. Critical water quality parameters such as pH, Turbidity, Total dissolve solids, Total Hardness, Nitrate, Fluoride, Sulfate, Alkalinity and Iron etc were considered for determining the quality of drinking water of the study area. The analysis revealed that the drinking water quality in the study area is reasonably good and does not show any alarming levels of pollutants. However it needs some degree of treatment before consumption as the concentration of the parameters such as Iron, Fluoride, Turbidity, Alkalinity and Total Hardness exceed the permissible limits for drinking water.

Keywords: Balasore Area, pH, Turbidity, Alkalinity, Total Hardness

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.2,No.4 (Dec- 2012)