Evaluation of the Drinking Water in Khartoum North Municipality

Abstract

Abstract—The aim of this study was to assess the bacteriological, chemical and physical quality of the drinking water distributed at Khartoum North Municipality, in order to ascertain water quality for human consumption. Five samples ( in triplicates) of tap water were collected randomly from five different locations in the municipality, namely; Al-faihaa, Al-mogtarbin, Shambat, Al- Kadaru and Alwosta, water samples were analyzed using the standard procedures. The results of the bacteriological analysis revealed that all the five treated tap water samples (100%) were positive for different bacterial contaminations. Isolation of coliform group bacteria was confirmed, the isolates were then tentatively identified as Enterobacter sp., Citrobacter sp. E. coli, and Klebsiella sp. Klebsiella sp. was found only in Shambat water sample. As a result of chemical and physical analysis, EC, TDS, pH, Magnesium and Calcium hardness and the Total Hardness, in all samples, were within permissible limits of World Health Organization (WHO, 1995) and Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization (SSMO, 2006), whereas, some parameters were out of the standards as The Total Alkalinity at Alwosta, also the Turbidity in Al-mogtarbin was a little higher than the standard limits. Calcium Hardness in Al-faihaa andAlwosta was higher than the standard limits and it was found that the Free Chlorine in all water samples was quite low than the recommended level, which ensure the prevention of the further contamination.