Removal of cyanobacterial toxins from drinking water sources by aluminium sulphate treatment

Cyanobacterial toxins are very harmful and known as hepatic toxins and a major cause of liver damage. They can easily grow in water sources under specific conditions of temperature and small nutrition. In this study, the cyanobacterial toxins were identified from different samples of drinking water sources and blood of that water consumers like animals (cattle & buffaloes) and liver infected people. The values of cyanobacteria toxins (microcystins) were very much correlated in each type of samples in the designed study but high values of toxins were seen in canal water samples. It is dangerous for both human and animals as shown in results because of high values of microcystin were present in cattle and buffaloes blood samples. Aluminium sulphate was used to treat contaminated water which is an inorganic molecule and its reaction is very fast with dissolved particles in water samples. The effectiveness of aluminium sulphate as coagulant in the coagulation/flocculation process for removing the Cyanobacteria toxins from 1-0.1 mg/L on average from all different types of water sample sources (ground water, canal water and water storage tanks in houses). It was found as very useful to clean the drinking water by using its different concentration like 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/L. This study reveals a drastic picture of drinking water conditions in Pakistan however, the contaminated water can be treated effectively by using aluminium sulphate.