SCHOOL DRINKING-WATER QUALITY IN AN URBAN INDIAN SETTING: MULTI-PARAMETER ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS ACROSS SELECTED SCHOOLS OF BHOPAL

Leena Purohit; Murari Lal Soni; Vasudev Mulchandani

doi:10.24092/CRPS.2026.160102

Leena Purohit Quality Assurance Laboratory (QAL), M.P. Council of Science and Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Murari Lal Soni Quality Assurance Laboratory (QAL), M.P. Council of Science and Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Vasudev Mulchandani Quality Assurance Laboratory (QAL), M.P. Council of Science and Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

DOI https://doi.org/10.24092/CRPS.2026.160102

Abstract

Background: Safe drinking water in schools is a core component of a healthy learning environment. Chemical contaminants may remain undetected by routine visual inspection, making systematic laboratory surveillance important. This study assessed drinking-water quality at selected schools in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, using a multi-parameter approach. Methods: A laboratory assessment was conducted in 10 selected schools during February 2025. Samples were obtained from tap-water and refrigerated drinking-water points. The analytical panel comprised pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, nitrate, total hardness, electrical conductivity, fluoride, chloride, total alkalinity, calcium, potassium, sodium, sulphate, iron, copper and selected trace metals. Qualitative microbiological screening was also reported. Analytical procedures followed the laboratory procedures supplied with the study records and results were interpreted with reference to BIS IS 10500:2012 and WHO guidance. Results: pH ranged from 7.75–8.47 and TDS from 119.7–357.9 mg/L. Nitrate ranged from 45–75 mg/L, with nine of 10 samples exceeding the BIS acceptable value of 45 mg/L; the same nine samples exceeded the WHO guideline of 50 mg/L. Hardness ranged from 112–276 mg/L, with four samples above 200 mg/L. Turbidity ranged from 0.42–2.77 NTU and fluoride from 0.10–1.10 mg/L. Chloride, sulphate, sodium and iron were comparatively low. Iron ranged from 0.025–0.150 mg/L and copper from 0.010–0.047 mg/L. Cobalt, chromium, cadmium and lead were reported below the detection limit. Qualitative bacterial testing was also negative in all samples. Conclusions: The principal water-quality concern identified was nitrate, which requires analytical confirmation, seasonal surveillance and source-specific investigation. The study should be regarded as a baseline school-level surveillance assessment rather than evidence of city-wide contamination. Larger, repeated and probabilistically sampled investigations are warranted.

Keywords: School Drinking Water, Nitrate, Water Quality, Physicochemical Parameters, Heavy Metals, Environmental Health

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