D.K. Verma, S. Kumar, J. Mandal and Rajeev Padbhushan
Abstract
As the toxic element like fluoride (F-) has increased in underground water due to geogenic or anthropogenic activities, quality of drinking and irrigation water has been threatened. A big concern in the availability of the quality water has arisen. The present study was designed to study the quality of groundwater in one of the region of Indogangetic plains whose adjoining areas are affected by the threat of F-. Global Positioning System (GPS) based fifty nine ground water samples were collected from different areas in Sabour block (24°13' 25" N and 87°2 13" E) of Bhagalpur district, Bihar, India. The samples were slightly saline (EC 0.18- 1.41dS m-1), in nature and neutral to alkaline in reaction (pH 6.45-8.36). The cationic elements Ca2+ (10.4- 81.8 mg L-1), Mg2+ (17.9-72.8 mg L-1) were reported to be in excess of the permissible limits and Na+ (6.6-29.7 mg l-1) and K+ (0.16-2.5 mg L-1) under the permissible limit. Anionic elements like Cl- (0.0-337.3 mg L-1) exceeded the permissible level whereas CO3 2-(0.0- 0.0158 mg L-1), HCO3 - (0.006-0.032 mg L-1) and F (0.0-1.34 mg L-1) were under the permissible limits. Regarding the irrigation water quality, SAR (Sodium adsorption ratio) and RSC (Residual sodium carbonate) value of water were 0.48-5.6 and -154.516 to -41.135 respectively, which are under safe category as per guidelines given by U.S. Soil Salinity Laboratory.