Quantitative investigation of two harmful heavy metals namely copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the water of four most popular lakes of Dhanbad city namely: Bekar Badh lake, Ranitalab lake, Sri Sri Kali Mandir lake, and Bartand Badh lake have been carried out using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Calibration of the instrument was done using the standard solution. We have compared the obtained data of concentration of Zinc and Copper metal in water of these lakes with the standard maximum permissible limiting value set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) IS:10500 Drinking Water Specification, 2004, considered fit for drinking by humans. The analysis showed that the concentration of heavy metals copper and zinc in four of the above mentioned lakes are much lower than the permissible limit prescribed by BIS and hence do not pose any direct threat to human life on consumption. We have also pointed out the factors responsible behind such contamination and identified the ways to control the contaminant in these water bodies
