Investigation on Groundwater Quality in Sukma Bastar District, Chhattisgarh

 ¹ Subrat Verma, ¹ Shobhana Ramteke and ¹Manas Kanti Deb

¹School of Studies in Environmental Science, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492010, CG, India

Abstract. Groundwater is the most precious resource on the earth's surface, providing fresh drinking water for human beings and supplying water for plants to survive. The shortage, unavailability, and pollution of fresh drinking water is an emerging issue in almost every part of the world. The present study objectively analyzes the physicochemical parameters and trace elements in Sukma Block of Bastar District in Chhattisgarh region. The analysis of physicochemical parameters of 17 groundwater samples during the month of January 2024 were examined, namely as pH, T°C, EC, TDS, Salt, DO, O₂, TH, TA, K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^-. The value of T°C, pH, DO, RP, EC, TDS, TH, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ , Cl^- , TH and Alkalinity of the water (n = 17) was ranged from 28.5˚C - 32˚C, 6.75 – 7.17, 0.95 – 1.64 mg/L, 1.7 – 16.3 mV, 62 - 488 μS/cm, 38 - 321 mg/L, 130 - 400 mg/L, 6 – 38 , 11 - 60, 80 - 250, 60 - 210, 50 - 150, 130 – 400 and 125 - 450 mg/L with mean value of 29.82˚C ± 0.494˚C, 6.96 ± 0.065, 1.26 ± 0.102 mg/L, 7.92 ± 1.853 mV, 215.35 ± 56.049 μS/cm, 138.06 ± 37.649 mg/L, 246.47 ± 32.062 mg/L, 18.29 ± 4.224, 29.4 ± 7.152, 125.71 ± 20.138, 113.53 ± 20.094 , 92.12 ± 14.853, 246.47 ± 32.062 and 261.76 ± 53.33mg/L, respectively. The results showed that among various locations, many of the estimated physico-chemical parameters are more or less within the acceptable limits given by WHO except at few locations. The purpose of the dissertation work is to ensure the quality of Sukma Area groundwater that it is acceptable for drinking purpose or not. The water quality index (WQI) used for rating of the water quality".

Keywords: Identification, Qualitative analysis, Groundwater, WQI

Introduction

Ground water is an important resource for drinking and agriculture purposes. Groundwater uses and applications are often related to its composition, which is increasingly influenced by various human activities [1]. In fact the water quality of groundwater was affected by many factors including precipitation, surface runoff, groundwater flow, and the characteristics of the catchment area. The over extraction of groundwater caused huge weathering of the meta-morphic rocks. The sukma district, Chhattisgarh, India is a rice producing area, taking multiple crops by using the water resources [2-15]. The water is hard with contamination of Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and Mg²⁺ at hazardous levels. In this work, the groundwater quality of sukma district (area ≈ 4000 km²) is described. The Bastar district covers an area of 10577.7 sq. km. It consists of 1087 no of villages. For administrative convenience these villages are grouped into 12 no of development blocks. Jagdalpur is the district headquarter. The block headquarters are Keshkal, Baderajpur, Pharasgaon, Makri, Kondagaon, Bastar, Bakawand, Lohandiguda, Tokapal, Bastanar, Darbha and Jagdalpur. The district is known for its forest produce and mineral wealth [16-20].

The Bastar Plateau Region

It covers Bastar, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Kanker, Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada districts lying on the southern parts of the State. Except Indravati River plains, most of the area is covered by evergreen dense reserve forests and hilly tracts. The major landforms are high-level plateaus, structural hills and valleys and pediments and pediplains [21-25]. The altitude varies from 400 to 600 m amsl. In the plains of Indravati River covering central parts, and along the Shabri River, covering southeastern parts the altitude varies from 250 to 300 m amsl. The ground water levels observed over a period provides valuable information on the behaviour of the ground water regime, which is constantly subjected to changes due to recharge and discharge phenomena [26-33].

Materials and methods

Study Area 

Bastar is a district located in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh as presented in Figure 1. It is situated between 19.5676 degrees north and 81.6912 degrees east. Jagdalpur is the district headquarters of Bastar and is surrounded by Nabarangpur and Koraput districts of Odisha state to the east, Narayanpur district to the northwest, Kondagaon district to the north and Dantewada and Sukma to the south. According to the census report, the total population of the district is 8,34,873 people, living in a total area of 6,597 square kilometers. Geologically, the district is covered with gneiss, granite, meta-sedimentary, basalt and gabbroic rocks and the landscape is dominated by dense forest, with half the district being mountainous and rocky. The soil of the district has widely varied such as loam, alfisol, red gravel and red sandy, these are the soils that cover most of the area. The Sukma district included three blocks: Chhindgarh, Konta and Sukma. The area of the district is ≈5897 km² with population of 19100. The materials i.e. buildings, metals, pipes, etc. are corroded due to acidic nature of water. In present investigation, the Sukma Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state, central India has been selected for groundwater quality studies and collected 17 samples to assess the contaminants Table 1.

 Study Collection

 The groundwater samples were collected from 17 locations of the town and nearby villages, Figure 1.  The water was collected in the post monsoon period, January, 2024 in a 1-L cleaned polyethylene bottle by using established methodology [16].  The bottle was ringed thrice with the sampling water prior to collection and filled up to the mouth with the water. The physical parameters i.e. pH, temperature (T), electrical conductivity (EC), reduction potential (RP) and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured at the spot.

Figure 1: Sampling location in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, India.

Methodology

Hydrological Parameters sampling

The groundwater sampling network, based on water uses and contamination sources is shown in Figure 1. The hydrological parameters (i.e. age and depth) of 18 tube wells were recorded in January 2024. The water sample was collected in the cleaned narrow polyethylene 250-mL bottle in duplicate during January 2024 [16]. The physical parameters i.e. temperature (T), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), reduction potential (RP) and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured at the spot. The samples were dispatched to the laboratory for the analysis by subsequent refrigerating at −4˚C.

Analysis

The physical parameters such as temperature, pH, EC, RP, DO, TDS and Salinity were examined in the laboratory at department by using the HANNNA made sensors (model no.  pH7200) Various other chemical parameters such as TH, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ etc. were also analyzed in the groundwater samples. The standard methods of analysis have been summarized in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Representation of the analysis of groundwater samples.

Water Quality Index

The investigation is based on the secondary data which is taken from the Central Ground Water Board, Department of Ground Water, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Water samples have been analysed for 7 physico-chemical parameters such as pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, and Electrical Conductivity in the laboratory as per the standard procedures of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The WQI has been calculated by using the standards of drinking water quality recommended by World Health Organization [18], and Bureau of Indian Standards [19]. The weighted Arithmetic index method has been used for the calculation of WQI of the drinking water.

nking water (Table 2). The physico-Chemical parameters of seventeen different stations (SK-1, SK-2, SK-3, SK-4, SK-5, SK-6…….SK-17) are summarized (Table 2). There are some remarkable variations of physico-chemical data are found at all the sixteen sampling sites in study area (District Bastar). Some hidden forces like temperature changes in season to season which are sometimes more controlling to some parameters like electrical conductivity, pH etc. An example of calculation of WQI has been given in Table 2.

Result and discussion

Physical Characteristics of Ground water

 The physical parameters (i.e. age and depth of tube wells) and habitant population were recorded with the help of public health engineering department, and data are presented in Table 3, Figure 3. The value of T°C, pH, DO, RP, EC, TDS and TH of the water (n = 18) was ranged from 28.5˚C - 32˚C, 6.75 – 7.17, 0.95 – 1.64 mg/L, 1.7 – 16.3 mV, 62 - 488 μS/cm, 38 - 321 mg/L and 130 - 400 mg/L with mean value of 29.82˚C ± 0.494˚C, 6.96 ± 0.065, 1.26 ± 0.102 mg/L, 7.92 ± 1.853 mV, 215.35 ± 56.049 μS/cm, 138.06 ± 37.649 mg/L and 246.47 ± 32.062 mg/L, respectively.

 Figure 3: Representation of Total concentration of the various physical parameters in different groundwater samples.

 Chemical Characteristics of Water

The chemical characteristics of the groundwater are presented in Table 4, Figure 4.  The concentration of Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^-, TH and Alkalinity was ranged from 6 – 38, 11 - 60, 80 - 250, 60 - 210, 50 - 150, 130 – 400 and 125 - 450 mg/L with mean value of 18.29 ± 4.224, 29.4 ± 7.152, 125.71 ± 20.138, 113.53 ± 20.094, 92.12 ± 14.853, 246.47 ± 32.062 and 261.76 ± 53.33mg/L, respectively. However, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentration was above recommended limit of 60 and 80 mg/L in the 33 and 67% tube wells.

Figure 4: Representation of Total concentration of the various chemical parameters in different groundwater samples.

Water Quality Index

The Water Quality Index of the groundwater in the sampling period was ranged from 22 - 226 with mean value of 97 ± 12. The value of TDS, TH in the water of all groundwater was found above permissible limits of 500, 120, 300, 1.5 and 45 mg/L, respectively [35-36]. Generally, Na + Mg + Ca type of water was found to exist in the groundwater aquifer of the Sukma area. In some locations, other types of water i.e. Na + Mg + Ca + Cl were also marked. The value of TH, Mg, and Ca content was found to be higher than recommended value of 200, 30, and 75 mg/L, respectively [19]-[20].  The value of WQI was ranged from 86 – 713 with mean value of 275±60 respectively. The classification of groundwater was grouped on the basis of SH values, excellent (<20 %), good (20–40 %), permissible (40–60 %), doubtful (60–80 %) and unsuitable (>80 %).  However, in the pre monsoon period, the value of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ crossed significantly the prescribed permissible limit of 30 and 75, making water unsafe for drinking purposes. It means the water of the studied area was found to be sodic and hard in nature, being unsuitable for the drinking purposes. They could be used for the irrigation purposes but prolonged excessive extraction of the water may cause adverse impacts in rice yields in near future.

Statistical Parameters of the Samples

The statistical parameters are been detected by various physico-chemical characteristics with the mean value, Minimum, Maximum, Standard deviation (Std) , Confidence limit (CL) and mean Concentration of various groundwater samples which is been represented in Table 5.

Correlation Matrix

The EC were having a good correlation with TDS and Salt. Similarly, K⁺ also shows good correlation with Cl^-. Similarly, RP which shows good correlation with DO and Mg²⁺ indicates good correlation with Redox Potential. (see Table 6)

Conclusion

The groundwater quality of the Sukma district, Chhattisgarh, central India was found to be highly contaminated with Cl⁻ and Ca²⁺ above the permissible limits, which rendering water not suitable for the drinking purposes. The Water Quality Index of groundwater was found to be ≥ 100 making water unsafe for dinking purposes. The groundwater of Sukma area is deteriorated rapidly due to its excessive extraction for the irrigation purposes. The water is sodic and hard in nature. The value of EC, TH, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Cl⁻ were observed to be above reported permissible limits.  The water is seemed to be unsuitable for the drinking purposes due to high mineralization of the bed-rock elements in the aquifer. The water could be used for the irrigation of the new varieties rice crops required less water with lower ripping life.

Acknowledge

The authors are thankful to the Head of the Department of the School of Studies in Environmental Science, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, for providing all the necessary facilities to execute research.

References