NDLI: Geochemical evaluation of nitrate and fluoride contamination in varied hydrogeological environs of Prakasam district, southern India

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Reddy, A. G. S.
Copyright Year	2013
Abstract	Hydrogeochemical controlling factors for high rate of groundwater contamination in stressed aquifer of fractured, consolidated rocks belonging to semi-arid watershed are examined. The groundwater in mid-eastern part of Prakasam district confining to Musi-Gundlakamma sub-basins is heavily contaminated with nitrate and fluoride. Distinct water chemistry is noticed among each group of samples segregated based on concentration of these contaminants. The nitrate is as high as 594 mg/l and 57 % of the samples have it in toxic level as per BIS drinking water standards, so also the fluoride which has reached a maximum of 8.96 mq/l and 43 % of samples are not fit for human consumption. Nitrate contamination is high in shallow aquifers and granitic terrains, whereas fluoride is in excess concentration in deeper zones and meta-sediments among the tested wells, and 25 % of samples suffer from both NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ and F$^{−}$ contamination. Na$^{+}$ among cations and HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ among anions are the dominant species followed by Mg$^{2+}$ and Cl$^{−}$. The NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$-rich groundwater is of Ca$^{2+}$–Mg$^{2+}$–HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$, Ca$^{2+}$–Mg$^{2+}$–Cl$^{−}$ and Na$^{+}$–HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ type. The F$^{−}$-rich groundwater is dominantly of Na$^{+}$–HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ type and few are of Na$^{+}$–SO$_{4}$ $^{2−}$ type, whereas the safe waters (without any contaminants) are of Ca$^{2+}$–Mg$^{2+}$–HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$– and Na$^{+}$–HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ types. High molecular percentage of Na$^{+}$, Cl$^{−}$, SO$_{4}$ $^{2−}$ and K$^{−}$ in NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ rich groundwater indicates simultaneous contribution of many elements through domestic sewerage and agriculture activity. It is further confirmed by analogous ratios of commonly associated ions viz NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$:Cl$^{−}$:SO$_{4}$ $^{2−}$ and NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$:K$^{+}$:Cl$^{−}$ which are 22:56:22 and 42:10:48, respectively. The F$^{−}$ rich groundwater is unique by having higher content of Na$^{+}$ (183 %) and HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ (28 %) than safe waters. The K$^{+}$:F$^{−}$:Ca$^{2+}$ ratio of 10:5:85 and K$^{+}$:F$^{−}$: SO$_{4}$ $^{2−}$ of 16:7:77 support lithological origin of F$^{−}$ facilitated by precipitation of CaCO$_{3}$ which removes Ca$^{2+}$ from solution. The high concentrations of Na$^{+}$, CO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ and HCO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ in these waters act as catalyst allowing more fluorite to dissolve into the groundwater. The indices, ratios and scatter plots indicate that the NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ rich groundwater has evolved through silicate weathering-anthropogenic activity-evapotranspiration processes, whereas F$^{−}$ rich groundwater attained its unique chemistry from mineral dissolution-water–rock interaction-ion exchange. Both the waters are subjected to external infusion of certain elements such as Na$^{+}$, Cl$^{−}$, NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ which are further aggravated by evaporation processes leading to heavy accumulation of contaminants by raising the water density. Presence of NO$_{3}$ $^{−}$ rich samples within F$^{−}$ rich groundwater Group and vice versa authenticates the proposed evolution processes.
Starting Page	4473
Ending Page	4495
Page Count	23
File Format	PDF
ISSN	18666280
Journal	Environmental Earth Sciences
Volume Number	71
Issue Number	10
e-ISSN	18666299
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2013-11-05
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Nitrate Fluoride Contamination Evapotranspiration Fractured aquifer Ion exchange Geology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Global and Planetary Change Earth-Surface Processes Soil Science Environmental Chemistry Pollution Geology Water Science and Technology

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