ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER AT THE CONSUMEREND A STUDY OF HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH

Concern over the presence of feacal coliform in public drinking water supplies has been expressed in recent years in Hyderabad since it has been regarded as pathogenic organism of prime importance in gastroenteritis. The present study was undertaken to examine the drinking water quality in and around Hyderabad at consumer end by collecting samples from twenty different locations. Residual chlorine was found in the range of 0.05 to 0.12 mg/l where as the coliform count ranged from nil to 04 cfu/100ml and E.Coli absent in the tap water at consumer end. The finished water quality at the consumer end meets the level of standards described as per APHA for potability in terms of its phyisco-chemical characteristics. Overall aim of this study is to create awareness about contamination of drinking water at consumer end and to make recommendations to provincial agencies such as Hyderabad Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) that regular monitoring should be carried out to ensure that the chlorine residual is available at consumer end.