Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Village Pepaj, Rugova Region, Kosova

Year 2017, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 103 - 111, 30.06.2017

Nushe Lajçi , Blerim Baruti Xhemë Lajçi Mensur Kelmendi

Abstract

Supply of safe, clean and abundant water for
drinking purposes is essential for good health. The aim of this study was to
assess the groundwater quality in village Pepaj, Rugova Region by analysing
physico-chemical parameters, major and trace elements. Groundwater samples
taken from tube-well were analysed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen,
conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, bicarbonate, ammonia,
nitrate, phosphate, sulphate, chloride and fluoride. The concentrations of
major and trace elements such as Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Mo, Co, Fe, Zn, Se, Ni, Cu,
Cr, Al, Sr, Sb, Ba, Cd, As, Hg and Pb were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical
Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). The mean concentration of the anions
follows the order: HCO₃^- >SO₄^2-
>NO₃^- >NH₄⁺ >Cl^-
> F^-. The concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Al and
Ba were found to be within the drinking water standards of the World Health
Organization, European Union (98/83/EC Directive) and US Environmental
Protection Agency. While Na, Mo, Co, Se, Ni, Sr, Sb, Cd, As, Hg and Pb were not
detected in any of the analysed samples. The findings revealed that there was
no public health risk in view of physico-chemical, major and trace elements concentrations
in groundwater. 

Keywords

Rugova Mountain Region, physico-chemical parameters, major and trace elements, groundwater, drinking water quality, ICP-OES

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