A study on Physico - chemical quality of drinking water from different sources in pre and post monsoon by using water quality index method in Ananthagiri Mandal of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Water samples were collected from bore wells, springs, tap and open wells of 07 different locations and analysed (June-July 2014) in pre and post-monsoon (December -January 2015) in Ananthagiri Mandal of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh. The study was conducted to characterize the physicochemical parameters such as pH, Turbidity, Total Hardness, TDS, F, Cl, Mg, Ca, No3, SO4 etc. On comparing the results against the drinking water quality standards lead by BIS (ISO: 100500, 1995) and WHO. It was observed that the parameters, pH, Total dissolved solids, turbidity, Mg, Ca and DO was higher than the prescribed limits while other parameters were lower than the limits in pre and post monsoon periods. Water Quality Index (WQI) was also calculated for different sources individually in pre and post monsoon, it reflected that the WQI were found in the range of (82.86), Very poor water quality range and Unsuitable for Drinking water range (113.751) in pre and post monsoon periods respectively. Bore and tap water found to be in the range of very poor water quality (93.458 to 93.538), and the well and spring water were in the range of unsuitable for drinking water (110.757 – 112.866). It was resulted that the water is not suitable for drinking, and needed to be treated before it is consumed by local tribal community.