ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS OF RAMDHUNI MUNICIPALITY, NEPAL

Authors

  • Hemant Shrestha Department of Chemistry, Mahendra Morang Adarsh Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Biratnagar, Nepal
  • Jasna Maharjan Department of Chemistry, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bagbazaar, Kathmandu, Nepal; Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal,
  • Sujit Kumar Shah Department of Chemistry, Mahendra Morang Adarsh Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Biratnagar, Nepal
  • Ajaya Bhattarai Department of Chemistry, Mahendra Morang Adarsh Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Biratnagar, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v31i1.78211

Keywords:

Groundwater , Drinking water quality, Physicochemical parameters, Microbial parameters, Ramdhuni Municipality

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water is essential to safeguarding human health, particularly among school-aged children who are highly like waterborne disease and chemical contaminants. In many government schools of eastern Nepal, groundwater extracted through tube wells serves as the primary source of drinking water. The quality of this water is therefore directly linked to the health and well-being of students, teachers, and school staff. This study assessed the physiochemical and microbial quality of tube-well water in eight government higher secondary schools of Ramdhuni Municipality, Sunsari District, Nepal. Total coliform contamination was detected in 25% water samples, indicating potential microbial risk, although fecal coliform bacteria were absent in all samples. Significant positive correlations were found among electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and total hardness, as well as between selected metals and other water quality parameters. The Water Quality Index (WQI = 76.4) classified the water as category B, suggesting that it is suitable for domestic and agricultural use; however, the presence of heavy metals and microbial contamination raises concerns regarding its safety for drinking. These findings highlight the potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure to contaminated water and emphasize the need for routine monitoring, appropriate treatment systems, and stricter enforcement of water quality standards to ensure the provision of safe drinking water in school environments.

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Published

2026-07-01

How to Cite

Shrestha, H., Maharjan, J., Shah, S. K., & Bhattarai, A. (2026). ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS OF RAMDHUNI MUNICIPALITY, NEPAL . Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 31(1), 277–290. https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v31i1.78211

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 1 (2026)

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Research Articles

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