College of Natural and Computational Sciences

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    ASSESSMENT ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY OF TAP AND BOTTLED WATER CONSUMED IN MEKELLE CITY, ETHIOPIA
    (Mekelle University, 2025-01-25) Tenagne Jiru Mergia
    Water is a vital resource for human survival. Clean drinking water is a basic need for good health. In this study the levels of six heavy metals, nine common ions and five physical parameters in four different brands of bottled water samples and two tap water samples from different sources that are consumed in Mekelle, Ethiopia were investigated. Concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Ca and Mg were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. UV – spectrophotometry was used for the determination of common anions (F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42- and PO43-) and levels of common cations (Na+ and K+) were determined by flame photometry. The mean concentration of Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, F , Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43-, TDS, TH, Turb, EC and pH in water samples were found in the range (0.82-0.9433), (0.39-0.6693), (0.055-0.2027), (0.0147-0.0213), (0.45-0.6567), (1.63 23.55), (0.01-2.75), (0.117-121.7), (0.073-15.33), (0.0019-0.153), (0.81-16.523), (0.15-6.1033), (0.2366-241.67),(0.0186-0.0286), (1.32-641.29), (0.5-365.33)mg/L, (0.01-0.34)NTU, (8.77 898.33)µs/cm and (6.52-7.33) respectively. All the selected heavy metals (except Zn) were not detected in all bottled water samples. All the heavy metals were detected in both tap water samples except Cr which was not detected in tap water sample from Gerebsegen source (GS-1). All common anions (except F- and PO43-) and all common cations were detected in all water samples analyzed. PO43- was not detected in all bottled water samples and F- was not detected in BW1, BW3 and BW4. Common cations (Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) and common anions (Cl-, NO3- and SO42-) were found to be higher in BW4 than other bottled water samples. Concentration levels of all the heavy metals and common ions were found to be higher in the tap water samples than bottled water samples. Concentration levels of all common cations (except K+), all common anions (except PO43-) and levels of all heavy metals (except Cu) were found to be higher in tap water sample from Aynalem source (AN-1) than tap water sample from Gerebsegen source. Detected concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cr and all common ions in all water samples analyzed were below the maximum contaminant level proposed by WHO. Concentrations of heavy metals: Fe, Cd and Pb in tap water samples from both sources exceeded the maximum permissible limit set by WHO. Hence all the tested bottled water samples are safe for drinking purpose.