Assessment of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Drinking Water with Emphasis on Quality Standards in Shahrood County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Islamic Azad University, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrood Branch, Shahrood, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Water and Environmental, Civil Engineering Faculty, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran.

10.22044/jhwe.2025.16172.1062

Abstract

Water is a fundamental component of life and one of the most vital natural resources, playing an indispensable role in sustaining human health, supporting agricultural productivity, enabling industrial development, and preserving ecological balance. As global populations expand and urbanization accelerates, ensuring access to safe and clean drinking water has become a significant public health priority. Throughout history, civilizations have recognized the necessity of monitoring water quality to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases and protect community well-being. In modern times, the evaluation of key physicochemical parameters such as Total Hardness (TH), Potential of Hydrogen (pH), and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) has become essential for assessing the suitability of drinking water. These indicators are directly linked to various health outcomes and are commonly used by national and international agencies to set water quality standards. This study focuses on assessing the physical and chemical characteristics of drinking water in Shahrood County, aiming to determine potential health risks and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines. Over nine years (2016–2024), water samples were systematically collected from local drinking water wells and analyzed using standard laboratory protocols. The average values recorded during this time were 7.7 for pH, 239.2 mg/L for TH, and 394.1 mg/L for TDS. When compared with benchmarks set by the Iranian National Standards Organization, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the results confirm that all measured parameters fall within acceptable limits. Thus, it can be concluded that the drinking water in Shahrood County meets health safety standards and poses no significant risks to consumers.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Hydraulic and Water Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 2
January 2025
Pages 89-104

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