Assessment of physicochemical properties of various sources of water and their impact on human health

Concern over the potential negative health effects of drinking water components has led to a decrease in the use of tap and well water and an increase in the use of bottled water. The physical and chemical quality of various sources of water available in Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Chennai was compared. Some physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride (F–), chloride (Cl–), nitrate (NO3), bicarbonate (HCO3), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) were measured for four samples labeled as reverse osmosis (RO) water, well water, tap water and bottled water. The results of the present study showed that the measured parameters except for bottled and RO water were of national and international standards. There was no significant difference between the qualities of well water when compared with tap water. Therefore, regardless of the place in which this study was conducted, there is no need to develop RO water system and bottled water for consumption because of their deleterious effects on human health. The well water and tap water in our college’s water supply network was of a suitable quality, ensuring that students’ health was not in danger. The findings of this study are like a wake-up call for the students, causing them to stop quenching their thirst with RO and bottled water.