Ground Water Quality Assessment and Hydrogeological Scenario of Twin City Durg-Bhilai, Chhattisgarh State

Abstract

Groundwater quality varies due to variation in climatic conditions, contact time of water with host rock and inputs from soil during percolation of water. The contaminations of the ground water by industrial effluent and domestic sewage sources are alarming in several parts of the country. Ground water as well as surface water is seriously deteriorated due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. The present study was conducted in the month of May 2021 to assess the suitability of ground water and to address the key contamination issues of the study area with the collection of around 37 samples in the twin city Durg-Bhilai of the Chhattisgarh State. The collected water samples were analyzed for 16 basic parameters and 8 heavy metals following the standard methods of analysis and results were compared with BIS drinking water standard 2012.  The analytical result reveals that the most of the analyzed constituents of ground water samples collected are within the BIS prescribed limits and are fit for the drinking purpose. Majority of ground water of Bhilai-Durg twin city belongs to the calcium magnesium bicarbonate (Ca-Mg-HCO3) type and are suitable for various uses like drinking, agriculture etc. However higher nitrate, iron and manganese contents found in few ground water samples in the study, are discussed. Ground water is mostly neutral to mild alkaline in nature. Nitrate contamination in ground water is main issue of concern in the twin city. Exceptionally higher fluoride, Iron and Manganese concentration were found in few locations. Ground water of the study area is mostly suitable for drinking and irrigation.