Assessment of groundwater quality in Kashipur Block, Purulia district, West Bengal

• Published in: Applied water science 2018-03, Vol.8 (1), p.1-18, Article 33
• Main Authors: Kundu, Anindita, Nag, S. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Anions; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; Area; Calcium; Calcium ions; Carbonates; Cations; Comparative Law; Composition; Drinking suitability; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Fresh water; Freshwater; Freshwater environments; Geochemistry; Groundwater; Groundwater chemistry; Groundwater quality; Hydrochemistry; Hydrogeochemistry; Hydrogeology; Industrial and Production Engineering; Inland water environment; International & Foreign Law; Iron; Irrigation suitability; Kashipur Block; Magnesium; Minerals; Monsoons; Nanotechnology; Original Article; Percolating water; Permeability; Private International Law; Purulia district; Quality assessment; Sodium; Sodium carbonate; Total dissolved solids; Toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water analysis; Water hardness; Water Industry/Water Technologies; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water quality; Water quality assessments; Water resources; Water sampling; Weathering
• ISSN: 2190-5487; 2190-5495
• DOI: 10.1007/s13201-018-0675-0

Hydrogeochemical investigation of groundwater resources of Kashipur Block, Purulia district, West Bengal has been carried out to assess the water quality for domestic and irrigation uses. Twenty groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, hardness, major anions (CO 3 2− , HCO 3 − , Cl − , SO 4 2− , F − ) and cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Fe 2+ , Na + , K + ). Study results reveal that the groundwater of the area is mostly acidic in nature. The trend amongst average ionic concentrations of cations and anions is Mg 2+  > Ca 2+  > Na +  > Fe 2+  > K + and Cl −  > HCO 3 −  > CO 3 2−  > SO 4 2−  > F − respectively during the post monsoon whereas the trend for cations and anions are Mg 2+  > Ca 2+ > Na +  > K +  > Fe and Cl −  > HCO 3 −  > SO 4 2−  > F −  > CO 3 − in pre monsoon session, respectively. To explore the ionic toxicity of the study area, the derived parameters like sodium adsorption ratio, soluble sodium percentage, residual sodium carbonate, magnesium adsorption ratio, Kelly’s ratio and permeability index were calculated. The hydro geochemical data suggest that weathering of rock forming minerals along with secondary contributions from agricultural and anthropogenic sources are mainly controlling the groundwater composition of Kashipur Block, Purulia District. According to piper diagram, water samples of most of the area of the block are fresh water and in some areas sulphate rich throughout the year. All samples are distributed to central rock dominance category. Groundwater chemistry of this block is mainly controlled by the interaction existing between the litho units and the percolating water into the subsurface domain. However, the groundwater quality and suitability of this study area can be termed as good to moderate with a few exceptions which have been encountered on a local scale.