Physical and chemical quality assessment of potable groundwater in Rural Areas of Khaf

Natural water resource is limited and that is essential for human survival. In water resources groundwater for a variety of human activities is a valuable resource. The purpose of this study is investigating the chemical and physical quality of drinking water resource in Khaf villages and compared with Iran and EPAstandards. This study was conducted on drinking water resource in Khaf s villages in the second-half of 2009-2010. 60 sample of deep wells were collected from 30 villages and 14 parameters analyzed according to standard methods suggested by AWWA،2005. The results revealed that parameters of Sulfate، Chloride، Sodium، TDS، EC and Turbidity were respectively at 20، 10، 36، 20،23/3 and 10% which are higher than the standard limits. The fluoride concentration ranged from 0. 15 to 3. 9 ppm، where 33. 3%، 10% samples showed fluoride less and higher than permissible limit respectively. and 56. 6% water samples were within optimum limit i. e. 0. 5-1. 5 ppm. The NO3 - concentration was less than permissible limit (50 mg/l) in 93. 3% villages whereas 6. 6% samples showed higher concentration of NO3 -. This study indicated that most of the physicochemical parameters do not fall within the permissible limit. Therefore، currently the related government departments should focus on strengthening “the three wastes” treatment and sanitation management of drinking water and transmission.