Assessment of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Drinking Water with Emphasis on Quality Standards in Shahrood County

Water is a fundamental component of life and one of the most vital natural resources, playing an indispensable role in sustaining human health, supporting agricultural productivity, enabling industrial development, and preserving ecological balance. As global populations expand and urbanization accelerates, ensuring access to safe and clean drinking water has become a significant public health priority. Throughout history, civilizations have recognized the necessity of monitoring water quality to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases and protect community well-being. In modern times, the evaluation of key physicochemical parameters such as Total Hardness (TH), Potential of Hydrogen (pH), and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) has become essential for assessing the suitability of drinking water. These indicators are directly linked to various health outcomes and are commonly used by national and international agencies to set water quality standards. This study focuses on assessing the physical and chemical characteristics of drinking water in Shahrood County, aiming to determine potential health risks and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines. Over nine years (۲۰۱۶–۲۰۲۴), water samples were systematically collected from local drinking water wells and analyzed using standard laboratory protocols. The average values recorded during this time were ۷.۷ for pH, ۲۳۹.۲ mg/L for TH, and ۳۹۴.۱ mg/L for TDS. When compared with benchmarks set by the Iranian National Standards Organization, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the results confirm that all measured parameters fall within acceptable limits. Thus, it can be concluded that the drinking water in Shahrood County meets health safety standards and poses no significant risks to consumers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Drinking Water Quality ، Total Hardness ، Drinking Water Standards ، Drinking Water Wells ، Health Risk Assessment