Hydro-geochemical elucidation and its implications in the Wardha valley coalfields of central India

Abstract

The performed endeavour is to elucidate the hydro-geochemistry of the groundwater in the Wardha valley coalfield of central India. Being a coalfield of well-appreciated coal exploiting region, many studies has also disclosed the prevailing contamination issues in the same. The study is motivated to understand the groundwater chemistry and its possible implications in contamination prevalence. The measured hydro-geochemical parameters from 45 groundwater samples have manifested the rock-water interaction as a controlling mechanism with the dominance of CaMgCl facies to the extent of 67 % to 81 % in pre- and post-monsoon respectively. The hydro-geochemical facies analysis specified the ascendency of strong acid (SO4 2--Cl--NO3 -) over weak acids (HCO3 -). Such domination not only lowers the pH of the groundwater but also provide an encouraging hydro-geochemical situation for contaminations. To mitigate the contaminations like of heavy metals in and around coalfields, the pre-deliberations of such hydro-geochemical studies should be much anticipated and the present study is in agreement to it.