Groundwater quality and pollution potential studies around Baikunthpur Area, Rewa District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Hydrogeochemical investigations were carried out in Baikunthpur Area Rewa District Madhya Pradesh. In the study area, Rewa shale and Rewa sandstone of Vindhyan Supergroup are exposed. The groundwater samples were collected from 30 locations during post monsoon season of 2010 and analysed for major cations and anions. The study reveals that groundwater of the area is generally moderately hard to very hard, normal chloride, normal to higher sulphate and normal bicarbonate type. As per Chadha's scheme, the main hydrochemical facies are Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl types. The concentration of sulphate was higher due to gypsum bonds associated with Shale formation. Nearly on third of the samples have nitrate concentration beyond the permissible limit of 45 mg/L. In few samples concentration of fluoride exceeds the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L due to the presence of fluoride bearing minerals associated with aquifers. Most of the physico-chemical parameters were within permissible limits of WHO and ISI for drinking purpose. For computation of Pollution potential, DRASTIC modeling has been adopted. The DRASTIC Index ranges from 124 to 203 suggest intermediate to high pollution susceptibility. In the high pollution susceptibility zone, water quality monitoring programme is suggested. Key words: Groundwater quality, DRASTIC INDEX, Baikunthpur, Rewa Madhya Pradesh.