Impact of urbanization on groundwater quality in Vijayawada urban agglomeration, the new capital region of Andhra Pradesh, India–A baseline study

Abstract

Groundwater sampling was carried out in fast growing Vijayawada urban agglomeration in Andhra Pradesh state with a view to generate base line data and to assess groundwater quality, its variations vis-a-vis urbanization and hydrochemical characteristics. The groundwaters are found to be fresh to brackish, hard to very hard, often enriched with nitrate, phosphate,and faecal colliform indicating anthropogenic influence on groundwater on account of urbanization. Manganese and iron of geogenic origin are also found to be in high concentrations in some localities. The quality deterioration is more in shallow aquifers, as also in core urban and red soil covered areas. Spatial variations in groundwater quality are discernible, with high concentrations of SO4-4–,NO3- in core urban area suggesting the impact of urbanization. A wide range of chemical constituents indicate water rock interactions as influenced by anthropogenic activities controlling the urban aquifers. The order of abundance of cations is Na>Mg>Ca>K, while the order of abundance of anions is Cl>HCO3>SO4>NO3. The baseline study suggests the need to protect the groundwater resource through sound environmental protection measures for the welfare of the inhabitants in the city around which the new capital is proposed to be constructed for newly formed Andhra Pradesh state in India.