NITRATE AND FLUORIDE CONTAMINATION IN GROUNDWATER OF TADIPATRI MANDAL, ANANTAPURAMU DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIAM. NAGARJUNA REDDY, P. ANANDHAN, T. LAKSHMI PRASAD AND B. MURALIDHARA REDDYAbstract Groundwater is a significant source of water in India for drinking, agriculture, and industry. The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of groundwater in Tadipatri Mandal of Anantapuramu District of Andhra Pradesh State, India, with a focus on fluoride contamination. Geologically the area consists of shales dolomites and limestone with mafic intrusives of the Chitravatri group of the Cuddapah super group, Penna is the major river in the study area. Thirty two water samples were gathered from the research area and tested for various physicochemical parameters pH, HCO3- , F- and N03 - as per the standards of WHO and IS. The alkaline pH (7.69-8.91 mg/l) and fluoride-bearing minerals are released into groundwater as a result of high bicarbonate levels which resulted in 96% of the sample locations exceeding the allowable levels of fluoride concentrations in the study area. Fluorides in groundwater sources range from 1.11 to 4.92 mg/l due to the regionâs dry climate, shale rocks, and inadequate clean water exchange due to periodic droughts. The presence of high nitrate content could be caused by intensive cultivation and in these areas, inorganic fertilisers are applied on a continuous basis which resulted in 21% of the sample locations exceeding the allowable limits of Nitrate concentrations in the research field ranging from 6.3 to 114 mg/l. After analyzing the studyâs data, it was determined that there is an immediate need to take preventative measures in this region to protect the population from fluorosis. |