Abstract
Fluoride contamination in groundwater is a major geo-environmental issue. In India, groundwater sources contribute more than 85 per cent of the drinking water requirement in rural areas, 76 per cent of irrigation requirements and more than 50 per cent of the urban and industrial water supplies. Many studies have reported fluoride-related health problems such as dental and skeletal fluorosis in humans due to drinking of fluoride-rich water which has severe socio-economic implications. The permissible limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 mg/l according to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2004) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS, 2012). Puruliya is the westernmost district of West Bengal and located on the eastern slope of the Chotanagpur plateau. The intensive and prolonged dry spell, semi-arid climate, long-term withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation, alkaline nature of sub-surface circulating water, a long residence time of water in fractured aquifers and low chances of dilution are favourable for fluoride enrichment in the Puruliya District. Eighteen out of 20 blocks of the district have high fluoride level in groundwater. This paper attempts to examine the status of fluoride concentration in groundwater, its distribution including the causative factors for its occurrence. It also tries to draw a comparative view of the change in fluoride pattern for the period 2005-06 and 2015-16 and estimate population under threat. Data collected from Physical Health & Engineering Department (PHED) is superimposed over topographical maps and Google Earth. Mapping of fluoride endemic areas in Puruliya district is attempted to delineate areas and the extent of fluoride contamination in the study area.
Highlights
The central objective of this research is to evaluate the concentration of fluoride in groundwater in the Puruliya District, West Bengal using GIS technology
Out of the total annual groundwater draft of 245 BCM, the share of groundwater being utilised for irrigation and industrial and domestic sectors is 222.36 BCM (90.75%) and 22.71 BCM (9.26%), respectively (CGWB, 2011).during the last five decades the groundwater is being exploited due to overextraction leading to deterioration of quality beyond sustainable levels
The fluoride problem has reached an alarming rate; the exact number of people facing the risk of exposure remains unknown due to lack of systematic survey and delineation of fluoride-affected areas (Jha et al, 2013).In this reference, the present paper focuses on mapping the spatial distribution of fluoride concentration with a focus on decadal change from 2005-06 to 2015-16 in Puruliya District, West Bengal
Summary
The central objective of this research is to evaluate the concentration of fluoride in groundwater in the Puruliya District, West Bengal using GIS technology. India is the largest consumer of groundwater in the world (World Bank, 2010). It contributes more than 85 per cent of the drinking water requirement in rural areas, 76 per cent of irrigation requirements and more than 50 per cent of the urban and industrial water supplies (Secretariat, 2016). According to the Central Pollution Control Board of India, a vast majority of groundwater quality problems are caused by contamination, over-exploitation, or a combination of the two. Rainfall contributes around 68 per cent of groundwater recharge in India, only 3% area of the country receives excess; 67% receives normal water recharge and the remaining 30% of the area receives deficient rainfall. There is a 15 per cent reduction in per capita availability of groundwater from 2001 to
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