IRSP Water Quality Monitoring Protocol

Water Quality Monitoring ProtocolIRSP WATER TESTING LABORATORY

IRSP’s vision is to bring socio-economic development in the rural and urban communities through integrated development and participatory approaches.

IRSP endeavors to empower local communities for pursuing and attaining their own developmental goals.

For more than a decade providing

services to local communities.

BackgroundWater is an essential element for our survival. Unfortunately, while Pakistan is blessed with adequate surface and groundwater resources, rapid population growth, urbanization and unsustainable water consumption practices have placed immense stress on the quality as well as the quantity of water resources in the country. Deterioration in water quality and contamination of lakes, rivers and groundwater aquifers has resulted in increased water-borne diseases and other health impacts.

In Pakistan, water remains a critical resource for sustained well-being of its citizens. The water shortages and increasing competition for multiple uses of water has adversely affected the quality of water, consequently, water pollution has become a serious problem in Pakistan. It is now established that most of the reported health problems are directly or indirectly related to polluted water.

There is very little separation of municipal wastewater from industrial effluent in Pakistan. Both flow directly into open drains, which then flow into nearby natural water bodies. There is no regular

monitoring program to assess the water quality of the surface and groundwater bodies. There is no surface water quality standard or drinking water quality standard in Pakistan. A comparison of the quality of surface water with the effluent discharge standard clearly demonstrates the extent of pollution in the water bodies due to the discharge of industrial and municipal effluent.

Keeping the importance of drinking water in mind, IRSP established water testing laboratory where chemical, physical and bacteriological characteristics of water is analyzed. At current, IRSP has involved in chemical, physical and bacteriological water analysis of domestic as well as community water supply schemes of PHED and TMA. Chlorine production kit (WATA Kit) is also available which is used for the production of chlorine consumed in treatment of microbiologically contaminated water sources. The bacteriological water testing became more advanced by shifting from Delagua kit to Compact dry EC plates for the analysis of E.Coli (best indicator of fecal contamination in drinking water) instead of fecal coliform.

Procedure followed by IRSP1. SELECTION OF HOUSEHOLD AND COMMUNITY WATER SOURCES:

After the selection of target communities, water quality monitoring team conduct a survey in the target areas and collect water samples from 5-15% of the domestic and 70-100% of the community water sources.

2. SELECTION OF POINTS FOR WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES:

Before installation of hand pumps, the number of beneficiaries and sustainability is assessed through social and technical assessment. It is ensured that points and locations which are selected for the construction of new water sources are feasible for the community and they can fetch water on daily basis according to their need.

3. CONSTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES:

The water supply schemes are constructed in the supervision of IRSP technical staff and locally trained WatSan Committees. The source is then handed over to WatSan committee which is already trained on O&M of the constructed source.

4. USING GPS AND WATER POINT MAPPER:

The coordinates of each water source is collected through GPS and the data is further recorded in water point mapper which is used for the generation of various types of maps. The map is very helpful for sorting out water facilities in the target area not only for IRSP but also for services providers like TMA and PHED.

5. SAMPLE COLLECTION CRITERIA

Water samples are collected from domestic as well as communal water sources in the target areas. The collected samples are preserved from sunlight, heat and tested within 6 hours for bacteriological analysis. Bacteriological analysis is normally performed in the laboratory in order to get more precise results. In case of long distance of sampling location from the laboratory (which take more than 6 hours to reach the lab), the analysis is performed in the field by using portable kits in the field.

Below is the criteria followed during sample collection;

1. Using sterilized bottles for sampling.

2. Cleaned hand for the person who is carrying water sampling.

3. The water source (Hand Pump, Borehole, Tap and Tube Well) is operated for two

minutes before sample collection.

4. The tap is flamed with lighter for 30 seconds in order to kill bacteria around it.

5. Write the information on bottles e.g. name of area, source, owner, date and time of sample.

6. The bottles/sampling bags are filled to the top in order to avoid any bubbles inside.

7. The samples are kept in dark bags to prevent sunlight.

8. The samples are tested within 6 hours after collection.

9. During testing cleaned and sterilized equipment are used.

6. SANITARY SURVEY AND RISK ASSESSMENT:

The existing domestic and community water sources are assessed and the risk of contamination is identified through sanitary inspection at different points which is further reduced or eliminated through rehabilitation.

7. WATER SOURCES DISINFECTION:

1. DEWATERING AND SLUDGE REMOVING Dewatering of water sources especially the dug wells carried out in order to pull out all the contaminated water until the turbidity is decreased to less than 5 NTU and fresh water started from the aquifer. For this purpose submersible pumps are installed in the dug wells and boreholes for 12-24 hours. If the turbidity remained high even after 24 hours so the pumps are operated for 36-48 hours. The turbidity is checked through turbidity tube. The electric conductivity of water is also checked with the help of conductivity meter in order to examine the condition of minerals, salts and ions in water. In case of flood the removal of sludge and garbage also performed manually with the help of labours.

2. CHLORINATION/ SHOCK CHLORINATION The water is ready for shock chlorination when its turbidity is less than 5 NTU. High test hypochlorite 65-70% is used for chlorination of water sources and storage tanks. The amount of chlorine required for keeping the concentration of 200ppm at source, below is the formula used for calculation;

Grams of HTH Required for Shock Chlorination: (Amount of water) × 200ppm × 70

1,000 × 100

While the amount of water is calculated through the below formula;

Amount of water in source: Depth of water = Total well depth – Static water level depth

Now the volume of water is calculated by using the formula V=πr2h (Where 1m3 of volume contain 1,000 litres of water).

After the calculation, the required amount of HTH is mixed with water to prepare stock solution which is stored in a plastic container. The chlorine is poured on the wall and inside the dug wells and boreholes in such a way that it reaches each part to disinfect it.

After chlorination the household members are advised to avoid using water for 12-24 hours. The source is again dewatered until the free chlorine level becomes 0.2-0.5 mg/L after 12-24 hours.

For hand pumps and tube wells the amount of water is measured from the diameter of and depth of the pipe.

3. PRODUCTION OF ACTIVE CHLORINE

Besides HTH, sodium hypochlorite solution is also used for disinfection of water sources and storage tanks. Sodium hypochlorite is prepared through WATA Kit having concentration of 6 g/L. The kit is operated through electrolysis of brine solution for two hours while brine is produced by mixing 50 gm of salt with 2 litres of water.

8. COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND DISTRIBUTION OF IEC MATERIALS:

The community is also sensitized during community sessions on the importance of clean drinking water and its relation to human health. The IEC materials regarding water quality control and household water treatment methods are developed by IRSP which are distributed during the community sessions.

9. FOLLOW UP VISITS:

Follow up visit are made to each newly installed and the old rehabilitated water source

while the critical parameters are regularly tested. After finding microbial contamination, the source is shock chlorinated and dewatered.

10. CAPACITY BUILDING OF SERVICE PROVIDERS:

Besides water quality analysis and its treatment IRSP lab is also playing an effective role in the capacity building of service providers i.e. TMA, PHED staff, water user committees and organizations working on WASH. Water testing labs have been established in the PHED and TMAs of district Mardan and the staff is regularly trained on the subject. The training contents are mainly water quality analysis and disinfection in emergencies.

IRSP staff with his water sampling kit collecting water sample following strict guidelines set by the IRSP Lab for water sampling.

Documentation and Dissemination of Results for advocacyThe results and reports of water quality analysis are developed and shared with relevant stakeholders; the community is informed during community sessions while the reports are sent to service providers electronically and through hard copies.

Testing Parameters and methods:With the passage of time, IRSP water testing laboratory become more advanced by using Compact Dry EC plates for feacal contamination and Multi parameter photometer for chemical analysis. Standard protocol of WHO is followed for water quality analysis of new and existing water sources.

Following are the equipment used at IRSP lab;

Bacteriological Water Testing

S# Apparatus Used for

1 Compact Dry EC Plates Escherichia Coli Bacteria

2 DelAgua Kit Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Chemical Water Testing

1 Multi Parameter photometer Essential chemical parameters

2 Arsenic Kit Arsenic

3 TDS Meter Total Dissolved Solids

4 pH Acidity and Basicity

Physical Water Testing

1 Turbidity Meter Turbidity

2 Electric Conductivity Electric Conductivity of water

Water Disinfecting Kit

1 WATA Kit For the production of active chlorine used for disinfection of drinking water

Water Quality Standards and Consistency of Water Testing

S# Parameters Tested

WHO Standards Consistency of testing Comments

1 Turbidity < 5NTU At time of installation, after rehabilitation

All newly installed and 10% of old/rehab. water sources

2 Electrical Conduc-tivity

1000 mg/l At time of installation All newly installed and 10% of old/rehab. water sources

3 TDS 1000 mg/l At time of installation All newly installed and 10% of old/rehab. water sources

4 PH 6.5-8.5 At time of installation All newly installed and 10% of old/rehab. water sources

5 Escherichia Coli Must not be detect-able in 100 ml

At time of installation All newly installed and 10% of old/rehab. water sources

6 Coli form Must not be detect-able in 100 ml

At time of installation All newly installed and 10% of old/rehab. water sources

7 Total Hardness as CaCO3

<500 mg/l At time of installation or as situation demands

All new developed water sources

8 Arsenic (As) 0.01 At time of installation or as situation demands


9 Chloride (Cl) 250 At time of installation or as situation demands


10 Flouride (F)* 1.5 At time of installation or as situation demands


11 Nitrate (NO3)* 50 At time of installation or as situation demands


12 Nitrite (NO2)* 3 At time of installation or as situation demands


13 Iron (Fe) 2 mg/l At time of installation or as situation demands


14 Ammonia (NH3) 1 mg/l At time of installation or as situation demands


15 Sodium (Na) 200 mg/l At time of installation or as situation demands


16 Sulfate 250 mg/l At time of installation or as situation demands


17 Ca 250 mg/l At time of installation or as situation demands


18 Mg 250 mg/l At time of installation or as situation demands


19 Residual Chlorine 0.2-0.5 After chlorination and once a month for chlorinated schemes

During rainy seasons and emergencies

Team of ExpertsRASHID ALIEnvironmental Health Manager MSc Environmental Sciences, having 8 Years of experience in water quality

MUHAMMAD IDREES ZAMANWater Quality Analyst MSc Chemistry, having 7 years of experience in water testing by using different equipment

Services provided to different OrganizationsTill date, more than 10,000 samples (including 1000-1500 chemical analysis) are operated at IRSP Lab for bacteriological analysis in different part of the country.

Currently 100-150 samples per month are operated at IRSP Lab for Bacteriological and physical analysis while approximately 10-15 samples for chemical analysis.

ORGANIZATIONS FACILITATED SO FAR:

Following are the organizations facilitated by IRSP Lab;

• CESVI (Nowshera and Swat office)

• SDC (swat project)

• Muslim Hands International (Swabi and Nowshera)

• Association for Human Development Peshawar (AHO) (for FATA)

• UN Habitat (Charsadda and Nowshera)

• Handicap International (Interior Sindh)

• CESSD (Chitral, Mansehra, Abottabad And Nowshera)

• IRC Mohamand and Bajaur

• Lasoona Swat

Compact Dry EC Plates for bacteriological

Analysis

Multiparameter Photometer used for testing

basic chemicals at IRSP lab

HI98129 TDS and E.Conductivity meterpH meter used at IRSP Lab

Hach-2100Q-Portable-Turbidimeter- use at

IRSP Lab

DelAgua kit used for bacteriological analysis

at IRSP-Lab

Compact Dry EC platesBacteriological testing through compact dry

EC plates

Turbidity meterSpectrophotometer DR 2800 used at IRSP

Lab for chemical testing

Electronic-Scale-used at IRSP LabDigital Chlorometer used for testing free and

total chlorine at IRSP

Rate List Of Water Testing

Parameters IRSP Rate: PCSIR Rate: PCRWR Rate:

Microbiological Test

E.Coli

2,000 3,000 3,000Fecal Coliform

Total Coliform

Aesthetic/Chemical

Color

2,500 3,000 3,000

Odor

pH

E.Conductivity

TDS

Turbidity

Total Hardness

Calcium

Magnesium

Arsenic

Nitrite

Nitrate

Sulphate

Chloride

Fluoride

Iron

Alkalinity

Sodium

Integrated Regional Support Program

H # 121-A, Street 2, Sheikh Maltoon Town, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,

Pakistan.

Phone: +92 (937) 840141 Fax: +92 (937) 880284

Web: www.irsp.org.pk Email: [email protected]