Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

Abhay KR. Singh ¹, G. C. Mondal ¹, S. Singh ¹, P. K. Singh ¹, T. B. Singh ¹, B. K. Tewary ¹, A. Sinha ¹

Affiliations
1 Geoenvironment Division, Environmental Management Group, Central Mining Research Institute, Barwa Road, Dhanbad - 826 001, IN

Abstract

Surface, subsurface and mine water collected from rural, urban, industrial and coal mining areas of Dhanbad district have been analysed to assess the major ion chemistry, the weathering and geochemical processes controlling the water composition and suitability of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. Ca, Mg, and HCO₃ dominate the chemical composition of the water chemistry. However, in the mine water and water samples collected from mining areas, high concentration of SO₄ has been observed. Water chemistry of the study area strongly reflects the dominance of continental weathering and higher concentration of SO₄, Cl and TDS in some samples indicates mining and anthropogenic impact on water quality. The high contribution of (Ca+Mg) to the total cations, relatively high (Na+K)/TZ⁺ ratio (0.27) and low equivalent ratio of (Ca+Mg)/(Na+K) i.e. 3.6 suggest combined influence of carbonate and silicate weathering. The higher values of C-ratio for most of the surface and subsurface water signify that carbonic acid weathering is the major proton producer in these waters. However, the low C-ratio for the mine water (average 0.22) and the waters collected near the coal mining areas suggests that sulphide oxidation and/or coupled reactions (involving both carbonic acid weathering and sulphide oxidation) control the chemical quality in the mining areas. The quality assessment of surface and subsurface water shows that water is suitable for domestic use with few exceptions. The calculated values of SAR, RSC and sodium percentage indicate that water can be used for irrigation without any hazard.

Keywords

Aquatic Geochemistry, Weathering, Anthropogenic, Quality Assessment, Saturation Index, Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

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Abhay Kumar Singh ¹, B. K. Tewary ¹, A. Sinha ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Barwa Road, Dhanbad - 826 001, IN

Abstract

An attempt has been made to study the groundwater geochemistry in part of the NOIDA metropolitan city and assessing the hydrogeochemical processes controlling the water composition and its suitability for drinking and irrigation uses. The analytical results show that Na and Ca are the major cations and HCO₃ and Cl are the major anions in this water. The higher ratios of Na+K/TZ⁺ (0.2-0.7), Ca+Mg/HCO₃ (0.8-6.1); good correlation between Ca-Mg (0.75), Ca-Na (0.77), Mg-Na (0.96); low ratio of Ca+Mg/Na+K (1.6), Ca/Na (1.03), Mg/Na (0.64), HCO₃/Na (1.05) along with negative correlation of HCO₃ with Ca and Mg signify silicate weathering with limited contribution from carbonate dissolution. The hydro-geochemical study of the area reveals that many parameters are exceeding the desirable limits and quality of the potable water has deteriorated to a large extent at many sites. High concentrations of TDS, Na, Cl, SO₄, Fe, Mn, Pb and Ni indicate anthropogenic impact on groundwater quality and demand regional water quality investigation and integrated water management strategy. SAR, %Na, PI and Mg-hazard values show that water is of good to permissible quality and can be used for irrigation. However, higher salinity and boron concentration restrict its suitability for irrigation uses at many sites.

Keywords

Groundwater Quality, TDS, SAR, RSC, Hydrogeochemistry, BGIR, NOIDA.

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