SEEMA HASHMI AND A.K. KHAN
Abstract
Nitrogenous material, such as organic matter and ammonia may be oxidized to nitrate by microorganisms. Nitrate may also be released into the environment by disposal of domestic sewage and use of nitrate based fertilizers. Presence of elevated concentration of nitrates in drinking water pose to have potential health hazards related with methaemoglobinimia. An attempt was made to investigate the drinking water quality of hand pumps and private wells of Beed district with respect to nitrate concentration. It was found that a few water samples had elevated nitrate concentration while the rest water samples had nitrate concentrations falling within the standard limits.