Assessment of Groundwater Quality Using Heavy Metal Pollution Index During Monsoon & Post-Monsoon Season

摘要

Contamination of groundwater due to heavy metais is a major concern that received attention at regional, local and global levels because of their toxicological importance in ecosystems and impact on public health. The major sources of heavy metals in ground water are industrial wastes originating from mining, manufacturing and processing activities. Mining activities have a significant impact on groundwater in terms of heavy metal contamination and depletion of groundwater resources. This study addressed the contamination of ground-water due to heavy metals. For the assessment groundwater samples over monsoon and post-monsoon were collected from 45 wells which includes all the 5 mining talukas of the study area. From the monitored concentration of heavy metals, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe), heavy metal pollution index values (HPI) were obtained. Groundwater quality of the study area is observed excellent with respect to heavy metals as evidenced by the HPI values. The HPI values are observed well below the critical limit (100). The observed HPI values also indicate that iron ore mining activities have not significant detrimental impacts on the ground water quality with respect to heavy metals in the study area.