Fluoride Contamination in Groundwater from Bhadravati Tehsil, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra

The groundwater quality from Bhadravati tehsil has been assessed and results are presented in the paper. A total of 46 samples were collected out of which 23 samples represent shallow aquifers while remaining 23 samples correspond to deeper aquifers. The fluoride concentration varies from 1.0 to 4.4 mg/L in phreatic aquifers and from 0.5 to 2.9 mg/L in deeper aquifers. The present investigation indicates that the fluoride concentration is higher in shallow aquifers than in deeper aquifers. This may be ascribed to leaching of fluoride in to groundwater from weathered zone. The physicochemical conditions like decomposition, dissociation as well as subsequent dissolution are also responsible for leaching of fluoride, though with limited residence time. The inhabitants consuming the fluoride contaminated water are suffering from different types of fluorosis.