Nitrate contamination in groundwater of some rural areas of Rajasthan, India

摘要

Efforts were made to evaluate the level of nitrate in some agro-economy based rural habitations of northern Rajasthan, India. A total of 64 groundwater samples from 21 different villages/sub-villages of district Sri Ganganagar, India were collected and analyzed for nitrate (as NO_3~-), sulphate (as SO_4~(2-)) and few other parameters. NO_3~- level in groundwater was 7.10-82.0 mg I~(-1) for individual samples. But average NO_3~- for total samples was 60.6 ± 33.6 (SD) mg I~(-1), which indicates the non-suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes, if BIS permissible limit (22.6 mgl~(-1)) is considered as reference level. SO_4~(2-) ranged form 28.6 to 660.3 mgl1 in this area. The regression analysis indicates the difference sources for NO_3" and SO_4~(2-) contamination in different regions rather than a common source. The point and non-point sources of N0_3~- and SO_4~(2-) in groundwater of this region may be N-fertilizer, sewerage, animal waste, organic manure, geology of sub-surface soil layers, pit latrines, etc. Results thus indicated that groundwater of this part of the State is severely polluted due to anthropogenic activities. The continuous consumption of such water may pose serious health hazardous in local residents.