Evaluation of Groundwater Pollution Potential in Roorkee Town, Uttaranchal

Sewage irrigation, without proper treatment can cause groundwater contamination and accumulation of heavy metals and toxic orgamcs in soils and water In Roorkee town of District Handwar (Uttaranchal) the major source of water supply is from groundwater resources for its populace and for industrial uses The ongoing practice of sewage irrigation of crops in the Sahar farms just upstream of Roorkee town seems to have a potential for polluting the shallow groundwater resources of the area through leachate transport from the sewage farms The present study indicates that there is some adverse impact of sewage irrigation on the groundwater quality in the upper aquifer in the vicinity of the waste disposal areas in and around Roorkee town warranting further detailed studies.