Quality of Pipe Water Supply in

A. O. Al-Ani, Nafi

	Quality of Pipe Water Supply in "Albu-Aitha" Rural Area of Baghdad
IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Article 1, Volume 23, Issue 4, 2010, Pages 231-235
Author
Nafi A. O. Al-Ani
Abstract
Abstract: Background: Water is essential for life, since it is used for public water supply, rural use, irrigation and industry. Preparing water for human consumption is a major industry and water is still a major environmental health problem in developing countries, where unsafe water is still responsible for water-born diseases in children in neonatal life and under age of 5 years old. In addition, concern is growing in developing countries about the health implications of a host of other contaminants particularly toxic chemicals. Objectives: The present survey in "Albu-Aitha" rural area attempts to assess the quality of pipe water supply in term of chlorination efficiency, bacteriological and chemical characteristics. Method: The village is supplied by three field water purification plants. A field survey was carried out during summer 2002. A total of 9 water samples were taken from each of the 3 plants, 3 were taken from inside the plant and the remaining 6 were taken 2 km. outside the plants in either directions (north and south). Chlorination efficiency measurement was done by chloroscope. A coliform bacilli bacterial count was done. Auto-analyzer and simple quantitative and qualitative analysis methods were used for chemical contamination. Atomic absorption and flame photometric technique methods were used for identification of toxic chemicals. Results: The range and mean concentration of the chemicals tested were all within the acceptable limits of the internationally reported reference values in the 3 water purification plants. No evidence of toxic chemical contamination was observed. The total dissolved salts (TDS) and the nitrates (NO3-) showed an obvious increase (although not significant statistically) in its mean value at the 2 Km distal point of measurement compared to its intra-plant value. Chlorination efficiency in Al-Naser plant ranged between 0.2 to 1.2 ppm and therefore was satisfactory. The other two plants showed ineffective chlorination. A statistically significant reduction in mean chlorine concentration was observed at the distal point (2 Km outside) compared to its intra-plant value in all the 3 plants. Bacteriological study showed a mean bacterial coliform count of around 5 / 100 ml in Om-Asapher and Old-Albu-Aitha plants, both inside and distally. Conclusion: The water consumed by Albu-Aitha population is of poor quality due to coliform bacterial contamination and may lead to detrimental effects on the health status of these people. The piping system used for distributing water from the 3 water purification plant is defective and may be responsible for organic and/or biologic contamination of pipe water. Chlorination is inefficient in 2 of the 3 examined plants. Key words: Water quality, chlorination efficiency, water purification plants, Iraq.
Keywords
Water quality; chlorination efficiency; water purification plants; Iraq

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Quality of Pipe Water Supply in "Albu-Aitha" Rural Area of Baghdad