T. RANJITH PAUL, A. SHIVA SHANKER AND PAVAN KUMAR PINDI
Abstract
Safe and acceptable drinking water is an essential requirement for public health. While chemical contaminants are a major consideration, microbial contaminants can also be very important under some circumstances. Drinking water contains chemicals that are present naturally and as a consequence of contamination from agriculture, from industry, and from human habitation. High concentrations of many chemicals can cause adverse health effects if individuals are exposed over a long period. Drinking water samples were collected from different primary health centers in Mahabubnagar district, Telangana State, India and a survey was performed on those water samples. Many chemical contaminants and constituents can impact on the acceptability of water to consumers by adversely affecting taste, odor, and color. In this study, physicochemical parameters and their adverse effects on humans were evaluated. Samples collected from health centers of Shadnagar and Jadcharla were found to exceed the reference values for chemical parameters because of the location of many Pharma and chemical industries. The other samples showed that physico-chemical parameters are within the permissible limits but have to be monitored frequently before supply to the public. The guidelines and standards for drinking water quality provide an important benchmark for controlling chemical contamination to ensure that health effects do not occur. Continuous monitoring of parameters like pH, Alkalinity, COD removal, BOD removal, and drug removal are used to assess the treatment of waste containing the chemical contaminants by rotating biological contactor (RBC). The COD and BOD reduction is found to be in the range of 45-60% and 50-75% in the reactor during the startup phase. The chemical removal efficiencies are estimated by a double-beam UV-visible spectrophotometer at 270 nm. A degradation of almost 80-90% was achieved at 25 ppm. The development of water safety plans helps to ensure that all hazards will be identified and the potential risks assessed and controlled.