Abstract: An epidemiological survey was conducted to evaluate the quality of
groundwater in 17 villages of Moga district of Punjab, India. Drinking water
samples were taken from hand pump, tap and tube wells situated in different
localities of the district, for physicochemical analysis. The water quality
parameters such as pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, total dissolved
solids, calcium, magnesium, chloride, iron electric conductance, and fluoride
were measured by using standard methods. The fluoride concentration level in
the drinking water of these villages ranged from 0.09 to 10.5 mg/l. The
concentration of calcium, magnesium and chloride varied from 8 to 80 mg/l, 9 to
75 mg/l and 22 to 198 mg/l. The values of total hardness and alkalinity ranged
from 60 to 290 and 390 to 786 mg/l. Fluoride concentration exhibited
significant (p<0.05) positive correlation to pH and total alkalinity and
negative correlation to total hardness, calcium and magnesium. Statistical
analysis of data revealed significant impact of fluoride on the physicochemical
parameters of drinking water samples studied under present investigation.
Keywords: Groundwater, fluoride, electric conductance, alkalinity, calcium
