Tube Wells Research Articles

Design of subsurface drainage network with minimum overall cost using Lagrange multiplier optimization

AbstractSubsurface drainage is effective for not only controlling groundwater levels in agricultural lands but also alleviating soil salinity localized at the root zone, especially for arid and semi‐arid agro‐ecosystems. In this research, an optimization model that minimizes the overall costs of subsurface drainage systems subjected to design constraints was formulated. The Lagrange multiplier method for optimization was utilized to derive a general differential equation for obtaining the most economical design of the subsurface drainage system. Design charts for the minimum cost of the subsurface drainage network ($ ha−1) for lateral diameters (dL) of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 cm; hydraulic conductivities (K) of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 m day−1; different lateral lengths (LL) of 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 m; a constant collector length (LC) of 1000 m (assuming laterals join the collector from both sides); drainage recharge (q) values of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm day−1; and excavation depths of 1.5 and 2.0 m were developed. The minimum computed subsurface drainage network (SSDN) costs observed at a lateral length (LL) of 300 m were 205, 246, 288, 331 and 374 ($ ha−1) for lateral diameters of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 cm, respectively, corresponding to lateral spacing of 175, 176, 177, 178 and 179 m. The suggested charts for the optimum design of a subsurface drainage system have lower overall costs than using conventional design approaches for pipelines and tube wells. The results will support solutions for designers to implement subsurface drainage systems with less and more affordable expenses in the old lands of the Nile delta of Egypt and other regions with similar agrosystems. Quality control during construction is very necessary for guaranteeing the effective and sustainable performance of subsurface drainage systems for many years.

Energy–irrigation conundrum in India's green revolution states

AbstractEnergy consumption patterns have evolved as a crucial component of the groundwater irrigation economy in India's green revolution states of Punjab and Haryana. A major contributor to the exponential growth of groundwater irrigation and its overexploitation is the availability of free (in Punjab) and almost free (in Haryana) electricity for tube wells. Using empirical analysis, this study assesses the link between energy consumption and irrigation practices among farmers with different landholdings at both interstate and intrastate levels. Without power subsidies, the average cost of operating an electric tube well irrigation system for rice is estimated at US$361 (₹25,400) per hectare in Punjab and US$675 (₹47,500) in Haryana. For wheat, the calculated cost comes to US$70 (₹4900) per hectare in Punjab and US$172 (₹12,100) in Haryana. In both crops, variations in energy consumption were observed at all levels across different regions and farmer groups in both states.

Spatial pattern of arsenic concentration and associated noncarcinogenic health risk assessment: a case study on Gangni Union of Chuadanga district of Bangladesh

Groundwater is one of the world’s most important sources of fresh drinking water. Various contaminants mix with groundwater and alter its natural composition, such as arsenic. This study aimed to ascertain the present condition of arsenic concentration, its spatial pattern, and its relationship with tube well depth in the Gangni Union in the Chuadanga district of Bangladesh. Additionally, the study tried to assess the associated noncarcinogenic health risks imposed by oral ingestion of arsenic. Systematic sampling was used to collect water samples (n=100) along with depth information from the sample tube wells. Water samples were analyzed with the pre-calibrated Hach EZ, Dual-Range Arsenic Test Kit (Range: 0.00–0.5 mg/l). Both geostatistical (spatial autocorrelation, Hotspot analysis, and IDW) and statistical (descriptive and correlation statistics) methods were used. The resultant arsenic content of the samples tested ranges from 0.0004 (mg/l) to 0.10 (mg/l). Arsenic levels in almost 42% of the samples exceeded the WHO standard, 21% exceeded the Bangladesh standard, and 37% were within the tolerable standard. Geostatistical analysis shows that approximately 63% of the total area is arsenic contaminated. Furthermore, hotspot analysis reveals that the northeastern and southeastern parts of the study area are more arsenic-contaminated than the other parts. Noncarcinogenic health risk assessment shows that children have a higher average daily dose (ADD) range (8.33E-06-0.00181) than adults (2.78E-06-0.0006). Similarly, the hazard quotient (HQ) value is also higher for children (0.0277–6.033) than for adults (0.0092–2.011). The result of Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r (98) = − 0.7580, p = 0.000, shows a negative linear relationship between concentration values and depth, meaning that increasing depth will reduce arsenic contamination from tube well water.

An assessment of the physiochemical quality of drinking water from tube wells and its effects on human health in Sokoto metropolis

Available, accessible and safe drinking water supply may enhance health and development. The availability of potable water supply plays a key role in the realization of health improvement measures in any community. Water supply reduces the incidence of water related diseases, infant mortality rates and increases the children’s life expectancy. Safe and quality water is a basic need for every human being and catalyst for good health and development in any nation globally. Safe drinking water is the most important in the control of diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid, etc. in fact its reported that 80% of all the diseases in the world especially in Africa are associated with unsafe water. This paper aimed at assessing whether if the tube wells ground water in Sokoto South Local Government are of good quality standard for human consumption as enshrine by WHO’s (2017) guidelines and SON (2015) for the protection of human health. Meanwhile, primary data were generated by collecting samples of water from selected tube wells in different locations in the study area using purposive sampling techniques. Three most important physicochemical parameters were tested. The most important physic parameter tested and analyzed was pH, of the water while the most important chemical parameters tested and analyzed were chloride (Cl), and nitrate (NO3) using descriptive statistics method. The results show that the water from the tube wells are physicochemically fit for human consumption. The paper recommended that such water should still be treated, boiled, frozen and thawed before consumption.

Evaluation of sedimentary aquifer in tehsil Zehri area using VES technique, Balochistan Pakistan

A geophysical resistivity survey was conducted in Zehri tehsil in the district of Khuzdar for the metering of subsurface hydrogeological properties of aquifers. The Schlumberger electrode arrangement was employed with the vertical electrical sounding (VES) method for subsurface exploration. Two profile lines were designated for the survey. The distance between the two profile lines was about 1500 ​m and each profile contained four VES stations. The results of profile one show the aquifers were encountered in fractured limestone of the Jamburo Formation of Paleocene age at an average depth of 127 ​m, with an average resistivity of 39.7 ​Ωm, and the average aquifer thickness was 54.025 ​m. The result of profile two shows the aquifers were encountered only in VES four in the sandstone lithology of the Ziddi Formation with a resistivity of 79.9 ​Ωm, at a depth of 120 ​m with, and a thickness of 40 ​m. There was no aquifer encountered in the remaining all VES. The main lithology of these VES is thick impervious compacted limestone, shale, and clay of Jurassic age from the Ziddi Formation. The current tube wells were also rapidly depleting in the study area. The main factor behind the decline of aquifers in the study area is an uncontrolled installation of tube wells and continuous pumping of tube wells for agricultural purposes badly puts stress on aquifers and directly deteriorates the quality and quantity of groundwater.

Water budget study for groundwater recharge in Indus River Basin, Punjab (Pakistan)

Abstract Assessing groundwater recharge is crucial for managing and governing water resources in any region. Indus River Basin (IRB) is an area that relies heavily on canal and groundwater irrigation. The replenishment of groundwater is largely dependent on surface water supplies. The purpose of this research is to determine the amount of groundwater recharge from various sources in Rachna Doab. The study employed the water budget method to calculate seasonal groundwater recharge during the Rabi (October–March) and Kharif (April–September) (Summer) periods from 2005 to 2011. The main components of the recharge were rainfall, water conveyed through channels, and irrigation water applied to cultivated fields. Conversely, the extraction of water from private and public tube wells was the discharge component of the study. Groundwater levels increased during the Kharif season but decreased during the Rabi season. Average recharge contribution from rainfall was 45 and 14% during the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively. The total annual recharge from watercourses and irrigation fields was estimated to be approximately 33% of the total recharge. Rainfall was the most significant source of long-term seasonal recharge, followed by watercourses and irrigation fields. In general, the average depletion of the reservoir was 94 million cubic meters per season.

The nexus between agricultural land use, urbanization, and greenhouse gas emissions: Novel implications from different stages of income levels

The current study establishes theoretical and empirical linkages among urbanization, economic growth, land use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The prime objective of this article is to draw novel conclusions and policies for the different income levels of countries regarding the urbanization and agriculture sector land on environmental pollution. Employing panel data of 50 countries for the period 1990 to 2019, this study uses the lasso regression and non-parametric regression panel data methods to investigate the impacts of land use (arable, permanent pastures, and cropland), urbanization growth, and economic progress on the pollution levels. After estimating a Lasso regression to find the best auto-regressive predictive specification, we used an auto-regressive partially linear regression where each of the drivers’ effects was modelled non-parametrically. The elasticity effect of the urban population on emissions is significantly positive and sizable. In addition, the effect distribution shows a non-negligible share of observations with an elasticity higher than one. Urban population growth is a serious threat to climate change, as it seems to increase sharply CO2 emissions (although with an elasticity pace smaller than one). The elasticity effect of GDP is significantly negative, which implies that the scale of production, by triggering efficiency, can have a positive effect on emissions reduction. The results argue that agglomeration negative effects put in place by larger urban population can partly explain this finding. Overall, the study argues that urbanization growth and economic activities lead to GHG emissions, whereas the study also discusses novel implications and the role of agricultural land use apropos Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The empirical findings allow us to draw novel conclusions and guidelines in line with SDGs. The agricultural reforms might include irrigation and farming techniques such as spin farming, solar tube wells, tunnel farming, technology use agreements, plant double helix, etc.

Assessing Impacts of Mining-Induced Land Use Changes on Groundwater and Surface Water Quality Using Isotopic and Hydrogeochemical Signatures

The current investigation aimed to assess the impact of land use changes on groundwater quality because of the extensive mining activities in the coal mining province of the Mahan River catchment area, which is located in the Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, India. The water quality index (WQI), Collin’s ratio, stable isotope ratios of water molecules (δ18O and δD), and various physicochemical parameters were measured to determine the suitability of water for domestic purposes. Water samples collected from dug wells, tube wells, river water, and mine water were analyzed, and the results revealed that 28% of the samples were classified as excellent and 44%were classified as good during the pre-monsoon period. In the post-monsoon period, 50% of the samples were categorized as good, while 35% were classified as poor, whereas in mining areas, 54% of samples were found to be unsuitable during the pre-monsoon period, and this increased to 77% in the post-monsoon period. Stable isotope analysis was also conducted: samples were plotted to the right of the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) in the isotope bivariate plot, and the observed slopes for all samples were smaller than that of the LMWL. The enrichment of the δ18O ratio and negative d-excess values at certain locations suggest the occurrence of non-equilibrium processes and mixing mechanisms.

Groundwater mapping and locally engaged water governance in a small island terrain: Case study of Karainagar island, Northern Sri Lanka

AbstractGroundwater is a vital resource under threat in island communities. Karainagar, a 22 km2island, is one of seven islands off the coast of Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka, with its population of just about 11,000 persons, experiences seasonal water shortage, and salinity in groundwater as twin threats impacting on their lives. This paper reports on a 3‐year study (October 2019 to September 2022) to map groundwater dynamics of Karainagar island spatially and seasonally and discusses the patterns revealed in terms of community needs, policy implications, and governance ideas that could already be considered by relevant authorities and citizens jointly. Thirty‐six dug wells used for drinking, domestic, agricultural, and public purposes were selected, and water level, salinity, and pH changes recorded along with daily rainfall. This paper offers a thorough description of the geography, land use, distribution of wells, and water bodies, followed by discussion of the current status of the groundwater in Karainagar island. Year‐to‐year differences in rainfall pattern resulted in different rates of change and range in water level with a corresponding reverse pattern seen in salinity with some exceptions across the island. Cumulative rainfall required to reach full capacity of wells ranged from 652 to 892 mm over the 3 years with an average figure of 739 mm of rain. This implies that any further rainfall during early phase of the main rainy season is potential surface water for storage and runoff. Practices such as unregulated pumping and construction of tube wells are argued to be contributing to increase in salinity levels with health implications for residents. A participatory governance approach that overcomes limitations of the existing institutional approach is proposed. Its success based on broad stakeholder engagement, improved equity, and transparency when supported by adequate policies and village level aquifer monitoring will enable sustainability of groundwater resources in Karainagar.

Nanocrystal-induced chronic tubular-nephropathy in tropical countries: diagnosis, mitigation, and eradication

In tropical countries, a mysterious tubulo-interstitial chronic renal disease (CKD), unrelated to diabetes, hypertension, and immunological causes, manifested four decades ago. Approximately 25,000 primarily middle-aged male farmers succumb annually to this crystal-tubular nephropathy (CTN). Without any known causative factors, it was identified as CKD of unknown aetiology (CKDu). Because multiple factors contribute to causing it later, was changed to CKD of multi-factorial (CKDmfo). Despite no evidence, it was hypothesised to cause by agrochemicals or heavy metals in food or drinking contaminated water. However, current data suggest that the CKD-CTN is due to natural geogenic water contamination. Consumption of concentrated stagnant groundwater from deep-dug wells and tube wells containing hard water and fluoride, overdecades is necessary for its clinical manifestations. In all affected countries have prolonged annual dry seasons that led to the evopo-concentration of ions and minerals in groundwater, making hard water even more unpalatable, thus, peasants consume lesser amounts of water. They develop chronic dehydration from daily exposure to hot climatic conditions aggravated by regular alcohol intake. These conditions provide a highly conducive environment—a perfect storm for calcium phosphate (CaPO4) crystal formation in renal tissues. Our recent histological and preliminary electron microscopic data reveal deposition of CaPO4 crystals and nano-tubes in kidneys. While CaPO4 nano-minerals are unstable, the presence of fluoride ions stabilises and allows their growth. This new concept paves the path for highly cost-effective, straightforward local solutions to protect farm workers and eliminate the disease, without embarking on expensive medications, interventions, or building hospitals. Chronic dehydration-associated CKD–CTN is preventable by increased consumption of potable water. Increasing clean water consumption reduces CKD–CTN incidence, and associated morbidities and premature deaths. However, the damage becomes irreversible when the disease advances beyond CKD stage IIIB. The incidence of this deadly renal failure can be prevented by its education, lifestyle changes, and increased water consumption, not by treating the renal disease or expanding dialysis centres/hospitals, or transplantation services. Eradication of CKD-CTN cost significantly less than the current approach of treating affected persons and unnecessarily expanding health infrastructure. Since the manifestation of CKD-CTN is due to consuming naturally contaminated drinking water (with calcium containing hard water and fluoride), it is not difficult to remove these to prevent CKD-CTN: thus, international assistance is unwarranted for its eradication. The straightforward approaches described here will prevent CKD–CTN and save thousands of lives in affected farming communities.

Variation of some Water Quality Parameters with Fluctuation of Groundwater Table in Wana Sub-District Northern Iraq

This study aims to investigate the effect of groundwater fluctuation on some water quality characteristics in the Wana region of Northern Iraq. The fluctuations in water table levels in 18 tube wells were monitored to find out if there is a relationship between water table levels with some water quality factors. Groundwater samples were collected monthly from September 2020 to April 2021. Electric conductivity (EC), temperature, pH, water table level, total hardness (TH), sulfate and nitrate concentrations were all measured monthly for eight months. The results showed a wide range of water salinity variation ranging from 715 to 4420 µmohs/cm, with more than half of the examined samples exceeding 3000 µmohs/cm. Even in the same wells, water salinity varied during the monthly monitoring. The depth to the water table ranged from 3.39 to 37.56 m, depending on the topography, recharge rate, and aquifer conditions in the area. All of the wells produced very hard water as a result of the dissolution of gypsum and anhydrite bedrock, with about 84% having high sulphate concentrations of over 250 mg/l. More than a quarter of the samples tested showed pollution with nitrate at concentrations extremely close to or over 50 mg/l. It was found that there is no obvious correlation between groundwater quality properties and the fluctuation of the water table.

Fuzzy logic, geostatistics, and multiple linear models to evaluate irrigation metrics and their influencing factors in a drought-prone agricultural region

The quality of water used for irrigation is one of the major threats to maintaining the long-term sustainability of agricultural practices. Although some studies have addressed the suitability of irrigation water in different parts of Bangladesh, the irrigation water quality in the drought-prone region has yet to be thoroughly studied using integrated novel approaches. This study aims to assess the suitability of irrigation water in the drought-prone agricultural region of Bangladesh using traditional irrigation metrics such as sodium percentage (NA%), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), Kelley's ratio (KR), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total hardness (TH), permeability index (PI), and soluble sodium percentage (SSP), along with novel irrigation indices such as irrigation water quality index (IWQI) and fuzzy irrigation water quality index (FIWQI). Thirty-eight water samples were taken from tube wells, river systems, streamlets, and canals in agricultural areas, then analyzed for cations and anions. The multiple linear regression model predicted that SAR (0.66), KR (0.74), and PI (0.84) were the primary important elements influencing electrical conductivity (EC). Based on the IWQI, all water samples fall into the “suitable” category for irrigation. The FIWQI suggests that 75% of the groundwater and 100% of the surface water samples are excellent for irrigation. The semivariogram model indicates that most irrigation metrics have moderate to low spatial dependence, suggesting strong agricultural and rural influence. Redundancy analysis shows that Na+, Ca2+, Cl−, K+, and HCO3− in water increase with decreasing temperature. Surface water and some groundwater in the southwestern and southeastern parts are suitable for irrigation. The northern and central parts are less suitable for agriculture because of elevated K+ and Mg2+ levels. This study determines irrigation metrics for regional water management and pinpoints suitable areas in the drought-prone region, which provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainable water management and actionable steps for stakeholders and decision-makers.

Assessing the implications of farm advisory services of Model Farm Services Center from a Productivity Perspective

The aim of this study is to determine the role of Farm Advisory Services in order to offset the problems of the yield productivity gaps in the study area. The farmers’ perceptions of the Model Farm Services Center (MFSC) were statistically examined via a comparison of the differences within two subgroups. A sample size of 120 was selected in order to enable equal representation from both the member farmers and the independent farmers of the MFSC. An independent sample t-test along with a dummy variable was used to identify differences in their farming practices and obtained yield respectively. It was found that 80% of the respondents entirely relied on farming, whereas 20% only partially relied on farming. Similarly, 70% of the farmers were living in a joint familial system, while 30% of them were individual households. Furthers some of the farmers 28% used canals while only 13% relied on tube-wells from the member respondents, whereas 30% of the independent farmers relied on canals and 10% used tube wells. The independent farmers were more productive with wheat, rice, and sugarcane crops, but a lower yield with the maize crop was identified compared to the member farmers. The study concludes that there are inefficiencies and gaps in the service delivery value chain of the MFSCs and recommends actions, such as by providing basic farm inputs, modern equipment, interest free credit as well as technical guidance. The study contributes by using the farmers’ perceptions as a stepping stone for the policy input in regards to the agriculture laden productivity.

Hydrogeologic Constraints for Drinking Water Security in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh: Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 6.1

Transitioning from the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is a big challenge, particularly for SDG 6.1, as the effective delivery of drinking water services drops due to more stringent indicators, especially for water quality constraints. Salinity in groundwater has received less attention compared to arsenic and E. Coli in the MDG era, while its presence and widespread variability has considerable implications in larger coastal areas for achieving SDG 6.1 targets. This article analyzes drinking water security in southwest coastal Bangladesh, through an in-depth field investigation. It reveals that the exponential growth of groundwater-based technologies, such as tube wells, does not necessarily indicate the actual safe drinking water coverage in coastal areas, due to complex hydrogeology with the high spatial variability of groundwater salinity risks. The spatial variability of hydrogeologic constraints and groundwater salinity risks also reinforces concerns of access, reliability, and affordability with different water supply technologies. National estimates can be misleading as the presence of salinity substantially lowers the effective drinking water coverage. Infrastructural investments for drinking water supply need to consider a sound knowledge of hydrogeologic heterogeneity, and the monitoring of water quality, if the SDG 6.1 targets are to be met.

Concentration and Diversification of Crops in Ambedkar Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh, India

People have relied on agriculture as their primary source of income all over the world. More than half of the population of India depends on agriculture for employment and livelihood. Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of food grains because of its fertile Gangetic plains, canal irrigation, and government and private tube wells. Social, economic, political, and technological factors also decide crop production in different parts of the state. In this study, calculation and analysis of crop concentration and crop diversification in Ambedkar Nagar district have been done for 2000 and 2018 to investigate the changing relations between land, humans, and the environment. Crop concentration is calculated using Jasbir Singh's method, whereas crop diversification is calculated using the Gibbs and Martin method. Crop concentrations of crops like rice, wheat, and pulses are increasing, while crop concentrations of sugarcane are decreasing. Crop concentration in Ambedkar Nagar district shows changing trends from 2000 to 2018, crop diversification also follows the same pattern. The high crop concentration of food crops and the high crop diversification index show that agriculture is still the primary occupation and source of income and livelihood in the district.

Estimation of groundwater draft in Rajasthan state

Field methods for the estimation of groundwater unit draft are not fully reliable due to non-uniformity of draft in the time domain. In India, use of norm values recommended by the Groundwater Estimation Committee is in common practice. In this study, a computational method for groundwater unit draft estimation for irrigation sources is proposed. This study presents an estimate, projection and analysis of groundwater draft in the different district of Rajasthan State. using the norms of GEC-1997 unit draft as 0.52 and 2.28 ha-m for dug wells and deep tube wells, respectively, annual groundwater draft for irrigation in this area is estimated to be 1524609 ha-m , out of which (10.53%) is withdrawn using diesel pump.

Distribution of iodine concentration in drinking water in China mainland and influence factors of its variation

ObjectiveTo identify the current spatial distribution of iodine concentration in drinking water (dWIC) at the township-level across China and its influencing factors through visualization and spatial statistical analysis by the geographic information system. MethodsThe dWIC for each township was used to describe the distribution by ArcGIS 10.7. The spatial aggregation characteristics were analyzed by spatial auto-correlation analysis. The inverse distance weight method was used to predict the dWIC at nonsampling sites. The correlation between the dWIC and the distance from each township to the Yellow River as well as the depth of tube wells were analyzed by ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression, respectively. ResultsA total of 37,541 townships were included in this study. dWIC ranged from 0 to 1113.7 μg/L, and the median was 3.3 μg/L. There were 35,606 townships < 40 μg/L (94.85 % of surveyed townships), 40 μg/L ≤ 1015 townships ≤100 μg/L (2.70 % of surveyed townships), and 920 townships > 100 μg/L (2.45 % of surveyed townships). The results were statistically significant of global autocorrelation analysis (Moran's I = 0.43, Z = 922.15, P < 0.01). Local Moran's I showed that 3128 townships (8.33 % of surveyed townships) belong to H-H cluster areas. The dWIC was partially negatively correlated with the distance from each township to the Yellow River, as well as positively correlated with the depth of tube wells in partial areas. ConclusionsThe dWIC varied widely across mainland China (from 0 μg/L to 1113.7 μg/L). 94.85 % of surveyed townships were below 40 μg/L and 2.45 % of surveyed townships were exceeding 100 μg/L. Moreover, the distance from each township to the Yellow River may be one of the geneses of iodine-excess areas. Finally, this study has provided a visible reference of dWIC for the precise control strategy and focused monitoring in China.

Chemical characteristics and water stability evaluation of groundwater in the CKDu Zone of Sri Lanka

Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for the rural population in the chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) zone of the North Central Province (NCP) in Sri Lanka. In this study, a total of 334 groundwater samples (311 dug wells, 21 tube wells and 2 springs) during the wet season from two aquifers in the NCP were collected, and investigated their chemical characteristics and evaluate their water quality, including groundwater chemistry, main ion sources, the corrosion and scaling potential of groundwater. The results showed that the two hydrochemical types of groundwater in the NCP were mainly of the Ca-HCO3, Na·Ca-HCO3 types, with the main HCO3−, Na+ and Ca2+ ions in both types of groundwater originating from silicate and evaporite salt dissolution and influenced by alternating cation adsorption, while the presence of NO3− was mainly anthropogenic. Evaluation of water stability using namely Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), Puckorius scaling index (PSI) and Larson-Skold index (LS), indicated that most groundwater presents corrosion potential and has corrosion behavior tendency of metals to some degrees. The water quality of Polonnaruwa was better than that of Anuradhapura in the NCP, and when the groundwater was worse than the “good” grade, which must be properly treated before it is used as drinking water.

Comparative Analysis of Groundwater Quality near a Dumping Ground in Garchuk Area, Guwahati

Abstract: This project focuses on analyzing and comparing the water quality of a dumping ground, nearby residential area, and commercial area in Garchuk, Guwahati. Water samples were collected from these three locations using tube wells and various parameters were assessed to evaluate the water quality. The analysis included the measurement of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). The Winkler method was employed for DO analysis, involving the oxidation of divalent manganese hydroxide precipitate by dissolved oxygen in the water sample. The BOD determination assessed the oxygen required for the biochemical degradation of organic material during a specified incubation period. Results from the DO analysis indicated varying levels of dissolved oxygen in the water samples collected from the dumping ground, residential site, and commercial site. BOD analysis revealed the oxygen utilization and degradation of organic material in the water samples after a 5-day incubation period. Additionally, the concentrations of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), arsenic (Ar), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and mercury (Hg) were analyzed in the groundwater samples. The results showed that some heavy metal concentrations were below the detectable limit, while others exhibited measurable levels. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the water quality of the studied areas, indicating potential pollution levels and the effectiveness of waste treatment processes. These results contribute to better understanding and management of water resources in the Garchuk area, helping to protect the environment and public health.

Water Use Efficiency and Productivity of Irrigated Rice Cultivation in Nigeria: An Application of the Stochastic Frontier Approach

In the face of declining water resources and low agricultural water productivity, it is vital to increase agricultural production efficiency and efficiency of water usage. The efficacy of irrigating rice fields in Nigeria is evaluated here using a stochastic frontier analysis. This is a parametric frontier that is assumed to have half-normal distribution, allowing the model to be separated from normal errors in a composite error model. Samples of 382 surveys were used in the study; out of the total number, 361 surveys were retrieved and used for the analysis. The analytical tools used in the study are: gross margin, water productivity analysis, and stochastic frontier approach. The results indicate an average yield of 4.69 and 4.94 tons/hectare, and net farm income of $415 and $364 for the farmers using canal irrigation and farmers using tube wells, respectively. The results also showed physical and economic water productivity of 0.51 kg/m3 and $0.11/m3 for canal water users, and 0.568 kg/m3 and $0.10/m3 for tube well users. The canal water users had a mean irrigation water use efficiency of 0.76, compared to 0.70 for the tube well users. The study recommends that effective extension services and their coverage be enhanced to provide adequate training to rice farmers on water use efficiency and the transfer of innovations and farming technologies to farmers.