International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Physico-chemical characterization of water quality in the Bastacola coalmine regions of Jharia coalfield, Dhanbad, India

    , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan-731235, West Bengal, India
  • 2Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan-731235, West Bengal, India
  • 3Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan-731235, West Bengal, India

Int. Res. J. Earth Sci., Volume 5, Issue (2), Pages 1-8, February,25 (2017)

Abstract

Assessment of water quality is needed for its sustainable management in drinking, irrigation and industrial use. Coal mining activities are known to contaminate both the surface and ground area in their adjoining areas. In the present study fourteen physico-chemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS, HCO3-, F-, Cl-, Br-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43-, Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2) were estimated from 25 water samples, collected from seven coalmine sites in Jharia coalfield. The chemical analysis results were used to calculate the water quality index (WQI), percentage sodium (%Na) and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) to assess the suitability of water for drinking and agricultural purposes. While most of the samples are within permissible limit, five and seven samples were found to be high in nitrate and sulfate respectively. One sample each was also found to be above permissible limit for fluoride and total dissolved solid (TDS). WQI study categories the water sample into6 good, 14 medium and 5 bad categories. All the SAR values within permissible range, whereas few samples are slightly outside the range in case of % Na and TDS. Majority of the water samples belong to Na +Mg + Cl + SO4 and Na + Cl + SO4 type which indicate the rock water interaction. It can be concluded that mining activity has been responsible for deterioration of water quality in the area, especially the increase in the SO42- content. Agricultural activities may have increased the NO3- content in some water samples.

References

  1. Jayalakshmi D.O. and Belagali S.L. (2006)., Groundwater classification of Mandya district in Karnataka, based on hydrogeo chemical studies., Nature, Environment and pollution Technology, 5(4), 553-560.
  2. Kumar A. and Dua A. (2009)., Water Quality Index for Assessment of Water Quality of River Ravi at Madhopur (India)., Glob. J. Environ. Sci., 8(1), 49 -57.
  3. Sharma D. and Kansal A. (2011)., Water quality analysis of river yamuna using water quality index in the national capital territory, India (2000-2009)., Appl. Wat. Sci., 1(3-4), 147-157.
  4. American Public Health Association (APHA) (2005)., Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater., 21st Centennial Edn. APHA, AWWA, WPCF, Washington DC, USA.
  5. Todd D.K. (1980)., Groundwater Hydrology, 2nd Ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York: 535.
  6. Richards Adolph Lorenzo (1954)., Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkaline soils., U.S. Department of Agriculture Hand Book no. 60, 160, 78(2), 154.
  7. Pesce S.F. and Wunderlin D.A. (2000)., Use of water quality indices to verify the impact of Córdoba city, (Argentina) on Suquia River., Water Research, 34(11), 2915-2926.
  8. Sanchez E., Colmenarejo M.F., Vicente J., Rubio A., Garcia M.G., Travieso L. and Borja R. (2007)., Use of the water quality index and dissolved oxygen deficit as simple indicators of watersheds pollution., Ecological Indicators, 7(2), 315-328.
  9. Indian Standard (2012)., Drinking water-specification., 1st Revision, IS, 10500.
  10. Spears D.A., Tarazona M.R.M. and Lee S. (1994)., Pyrite in U.K. coals: its environmental significance., Fuel, 73(7), 1051-1055.
  11. Doneen L.D. (1964)., Notes on water quality in Agriculture., Published as a water Science and Engineering. Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, University of California.
  12. Fetter C.W. (2001)., Applied hydrogeology., 3(3), Prentice hall.
  13. Jm L., Yl A., Ox W., Luo J. and Jiang H. (2015)., Hydro-chemical Characteristics and Sources of Qingshuijiang River Basin at Wet Season in Guizhou Province., Europe PubMed central, 36(5), 1565-1572.
  14. Piper A.M. (1944)., A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis., American Geophysical Union, 25(6), 914-928.