CHAPTER V

Discussion

Simly dam is an 80 meter high earthen embankment dam on the Soan Riven, 30 kilometers
east of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the largest
reservoir of drinking water to people living in Islamabad. The water stored in this dam is fed
by the melting snow and natural spring of Murree hills.

The lake water is collected from the watershed and is heavily used for human settlement,
agriculture and industry. There are few, if any, water treatment facilities in the watershed
and there are no rules which check the quality of water used or discharged, into the system.
The water is presumed to be contaminated by household waste, industrial waste, washing of
vehicles like trucks.

The river Soan is the major source of water to the lake and that is extensively polluted. The
river originates from the highly populated areas of Murree passes through Patriata, Khajut,
Lower Topa etc. and carries all the human waste along with it to the lake in the rainy season.
The area lacks a proper sewage system, and the residents have no option other than
dumping the garbage in the hills. The deterioration of water quality and contamination all
owe to the residents of the catchment area of the lake that have their direct influence over
it. This region was found sufficient to divert our attention towards the study area. Therefore,
the harm caused by the residents of the catchment area is a matter of perspective and
should not be ignored.

5.1 The physicochemical parameters

The physicochemical parameters of samples were assessed and compared with WHO and
GoP standards established. The electric conductivity provides a rapid and convenient means
for estimating the concentration of electrolytes and gives quick information about all
minerals. Results depicted that TDS and EC of most of the samples were above the limit
proposed by the WHO. Comparable results were reported by (Rafiq et al., 2009) in Nagar
Parkar. All samples of the area represent the pH values are alkaline in nature. pH is naturally
occurring condition for which the no guideline value has been proposed on health basis,
however the acceptable range for operational purpose is between 6.5 and 8.5 (WHO, 2011).
The pH of the samples was within the permissible limit proposed by NSDWU and WHO for
drinking water. The chlorides concentration in most of the samples (sample 1, 4 and 5) was
above the allowed limit. The study showed that most of the samples (sample 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
were found hard while sample 1 had moderate water hardness. The bicarbonates were
found in higher concentration in most of the samples (sample 1, 4, and 5). Similar
observation was reported by (Basheer, 2020).

5.2 Heavy Metals

The water quality is severely threatened in the lake because of unplanned and mostly
unauthorized settlement of the river watershed. The contamination in the area is mostly due
to anthropogenic sources. There are proliferations of poultry forms, industries and
farmhouses which add to pollution level. Moreover, a couple of industrial setups are found
in the study area namely Nilore Factory and PINSTECH (Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science
and Technology). Contamination levels are, therefore, not known with precision. A study by
Li suggests concentration of As, Pb, Sb and Se in the reservoir above permissible limits which
would pose health risk in the region (Li & Yang, 2008).

The study reveals that sample 2 and 3 are suitable for drinking however high concentrations
of heavy metals were observed in most of the samples (sample 1, 4, 5 and 6). Another study
found the higher concentration of Pb and Cr than the standard limit (Batool et al., 2019).
Metal concentrations varied in different water samples. The high concentration of different
heavy metals was found discussed below.

Lead (Pb)

Lead detected in sample 1,4 and 6. The common sources of lead are lead based paints,
traditional remedies, cosmetics, and leaded petrol which is very common practice in
Pakistan. Corrosion is the chief source of lead contamination in drinking water. According to
EPA, long term exposure to lead in drinking water is linked to various types of cancers.

Tin (Sb)

Tin detected in all the samples but sample 1,5 and 6 had concentration of tin above the
permissible limits. The only mineral of commercial importance as a source of tin is
cassiterite, although small quantities are recovered from complex sulfides. Tin is used as a
protective coating or as an alloy with other metals such as lead or zinc. Tin in concentrations
greater than

0.5 mg/L may cause brown or black stains on laundry, plumbing fixtures and sinks. It may
affect the taste of beverages made from the water.

Nickle (Ni)

Nickle detected in only sample 4. The primary source of nickle in drinking water is leaching
from metals in contact with drinking water, such as pipes and fittings. Nickle is used mainly
in the production of stainless steel. Other uses of nickle are in electroplating, as catalyst, in
coins, in welding products and in certain pigments. High concentration of nickle becomes
carcinogenic and toxic in nature. Exposure to skin can cause dermatitis upon contact.

Aluminum (Al)

Aluminum was found in all the samples but sample 1 showed aluminum concentration
higher than the allowed limits. Aluminum can leach from rock and soil to enter any water
source. It can be found as aluminum hydroxide, which is a residual from the municipal
feeding of aluminum sulfate. Higher concentrations of aluminum acts as a toxic agent to
aquatic life. It can cause nervous disorders in humans also.

REFERENCES:

Basheer, A. (2020). Physico-chemical and heavy metals analysis of drinking water and their
effect on human health: A Review. Pure and Applied Biology, 9(1), 587–594.
https://doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90064

Batool, A., Ali, U., Asad Ghufran, M., Kazmi, S. S., & Fatimah, S. H. (2019). Assessment of
heavy metal contamination in the drinking water of muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and
 Kashmir, Pakistan. International Journal of Hydrology, 3(5), 331–337.
https://doi.org/10.15406/ijh.2019.03.00196

Li, M. S., & Yang, S. X. (2008). Heavy metal contamination in soils and phytoaccumulation in
a manganese mine Wasteland, South China. Air, Soil and Water Research, 1, 31–41.
https://doi.org/10.4137/aswr.s2041

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WHO. (2011). 2017 WHO guidelines for drinking water quality: first addendum to the fourth
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