Understanding the Factors Responsible for Groundwater Contamination in Parts of Southwest Punjab, India
Abstract
Availability of fresh water in sufficient quantities is a major challenge as demand for groundwater resources has increased many folds for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes in recent years. This study is significant as the groundwater resources are being exploited indiscriminately in Mansa district. This article presents the current scenario of groundwater quality and also emphasizes the factors and processes governing the geochemical nature of groundwater. Hydrochemical data suggests that sodium is the major cation and bicarbonate and sulphate are the major anions. The fluoride concentration in the study was found to vary from 0.39 to 5.72 mg/L and about 53% of the total samples measured showed fluoride concentration above the WHO guideline value (1.5 mg/L). Consumption of this groundwater for drinking purposes might cause detrimental health effects. Nitrate concentration ranged from 0.3 to 240 mg/L and almost 36% of the total samples measured are contaminated (WHO: 50 mg/L). Groundwater in this district is mostly Na-Mg-HCO3, Na-HCO3-SO4 and Na-SO4-Cl types. Major ion chemistry along with hydrogeology and geology indicate that high fluoride in groundwater is mostly derived from rock weathering facilitated by high bicarbonate content. The groundwater also showed low Ca2+ and high Na+ which is a commonly observed phenomenon in high F- groundwater. Nitrate concentration is mostly contributed by fertilizer application; however, a significant portion of nitrate was also contributed by industrial effluents. Regular monitoring of water quality along with water levels would help authorities to plan judicious use of groundwater resources in this region. Keywords: Groundwater, fluoride, nitrate, water quality, hydrochemistry Cite this Article Diana Anoubam Sharma, Rishi Madhuri S, Tirumalesh Keesari. Understanding the Factors Responsible for Groundwater Contamination in Parts of Southwest Punjab, India. Journal of Energy Environment and Carbon Credits. 2016; 6(2): 7–23p.
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