Chemical Quality Evaluation of Groundwater for Human Domestic Consumption in Saharanpur and Adjoining Area, Uttar Pradesh, India.

• Main Authors: VARTIKA SINGH, PRAMENDRA DEV
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Society of Economic Geologists and Mineral Technologists 2011-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Economic and Environment Geology
• Online Access: http://www.econ-environ-geol.org/pdf/dec/Article-1.pdf

Chemical analysis of water samples have played a remarkable role in delineation of groundwater quality for varied applications. In India, Saharanpur located in Uttar Pradesh, is one of important industrial cities, which is facing problem of good quality water supply during summer. The chemical quality evaluation of groundwater in Saharanpur city and adjoining area for human domestic consumption has been discussed in detail. The representative groundwater samples were collected from the shallow dug and bore wells existing in vicinity of Saharanpur. It has been observed that except for a few, all the samples are colourless, whereas all the samples are odourless and tasteless. The pH values reveal a range of 6.80 to 8.00 apart from those samples having pH less than 7.0 are acidic and unsuitable for drinking. Electric conductivity varies from 263 to 1259 micro mho/cm and most of samples are in range of 263 to 986 micro mho/cm, except Pilakhani samples having a value of 1259 micro mho/cm. Total Dissolved Solids are within standard limits indicating rather favourable groundwater quality. Based on the interpretation of chemical parameters and comparison of determined parameters with the standard prescribed limits recommended by Indian Council of Medical Research, Bureau of Indian Standards and (WHO) World Health Organization, groundwater suitability for the human domestic consumption has been evaluated. The chemical parameters suggest that groundwater is of Ca-Mg-CO3-HCO3 type and favourable for human domestic applications, except the concentration of Ca, Mg, and SO4 at some localities (more than the standard recommended limits) requires proper treatment of purification before water supply.