Hydrochemical Characteristics of
Groundwater.
Hydrogen ions concentration (pH):
The Hydrogen ions concentration (pH) is a measure of the activity of
hydrogen ions in water, expressed in negative logarithmic units, in moles per
litter. PH plays an important role in the chemical and biological systems of
natural water. It has an important influence on living organisms and on the
surrounding environment of the water and it can control the solubility of
metal compounds and the rate or magnitude of chemical reactions. The
permissible pH range for drinking varies between 6.5 and 8.5 (WHO, 2004).
PH is regulated as secondary (aesthetic) contaminant in drinking water at
values less than 6.5 or greater than 8.5 (Washington State Department of
Ecology, 2003). Since pH values outside this range may corrode plumbing
fixtures or reduce the effectiveness of water treatment such as chlorination
(U.S. EPA, 1986).
Most of the collected water samples have pH values range between 7.3 to 8.5
with exception of some samples taken from industrial area close to the
Aluminum Factory where the pH values found either lesser than 5 or greater
than 9.