WASTEWATER CHARACTERIZATION OF PAHARRANG DRAIN IN FAISALABAD AND EVALUATION OF SUBSURFACE CONTAMINATION USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

Due to improper management of municipal wastewater in urban areas, most of the drains passing through major cities have converted to industrial effluent carrying drains with immensely excessive contamination loads. Same is the case with the Paharrang drain in Faisalabad, which was once storm water carrying drain but presently it is highly polluted by industrial wastes. This research work was conducted in order to determine the level of contamination in this drain and to find out its impact on soil and groundwater. Due to unlined drain, the untreated industrial wastewater is percolating down into the soil and finally mixing with groundwater. In this regard the research area was thoroughly investigated to find the concentration of major contaminants in wastewater, groundwater and soil. Sampling points of groundwater were selected keeping in view the relative position from the drain. Soil samples were collected to understand the mobility of contaminants. The groundwater samples were analyzed for different parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, TSS, BOD, COD, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr. The results of this analyzed parameter were compared with WHO guidelines. The results of these analyzed parameters were represented by mapping using ArcView GIS v9.3 and IDW was used for raster interpolation. Statistical approach was adopted for analysis of these concentrations and GIS. In soil samples excessive heavy metals content was found and 80 percent soil samples had pH within permissible limit.