Water Quality Evaluation of Vaal River, Sharpeville and Bedworth Lakes in the Vaal Region of South Africa

The objective of this study was to determine the levels of chloride, fluoride, hardness and alkalinity of water samples from Vaal River, Sharpeville and Bedworth lakes in the Vaal region of South Africa. Water samples from the lakes and river were analyzed for fluoride by ion chromatography while chloride and alkalinity and hardness measurements were by titrimetric methods. The results showed Vaal River water to contain low fluoride concentration when compared to Sharpeville and Bedworth lakes. Fluoride ion concentration was found to be below levels that could cause fluorosis in the region. Chloride ion concentration was an average of 200 mg/L while water alkalinity was an average of 230 mg/L. The pH values recorded strongly indicate the presence of dissolved ions in solution that contributes to alkalinity and hardness of the water in the region.