A systematic study of uranium in groundwater and its correlation with other water quality parameters

A parametric investigation was carried out to estimate the Uranium concentration and other associated water quality parameters for the groundwater in Deoghar district, Jharkhand. Total 150 groundwater samples have been collected from dig wells, hand pumps, tube wells, etc. for the pre and post-monsoon seasons. A Quantalase Uranium analyzer was used to measure the uranium concentration. The distribution of pH, TDS, DO, nitrate, sulfate, uranium along with the radiation has been determined. It was found that the uranium concentration in groundwater varies from 0.10 to 11.30ppb in pre-monsoon and 0.15–6.50ppb in the post-monsoon which is well below the normal tolerance limit (i.e.30 μg/l WHO). This low availability of Uranium has been attributed due to the existence of a lesser number of rocks containing uranium as a source in that area. An attempt has been made to correlate the uranium concentration with the water quality parameters for both seasons. The correlation data reveals that ORP, nitrate, phosphate, calcium, and magnesium show a positive correlation with uranium concentration for both seasons on the other hand TDS, EC, temperature, DO, fluoride, and chloride show negative correlation. The positive correlation implies that uranium may be present in groundwater as a dissolved salt of these parameters. Comparative studies for the parameters have been done for both the seasons and various factors have been discussed for the occurrence of the same. The annual effective dose associated with the ingestion of uranium by the population of the region has been estimated using USPEA equations.

Geospatial modeling of water supply distribution system: A case study of Dehradun city, India

Water utilities form the core part of any urban infrastructure. A spatial database of water distribution system (WDS) for Dehradun city has been created in a geographic information system (GIS) environment, while drawing data inputs from diverse sources and water supply-demand gap analysis has been performed. Environmental Protection Agency Network (EPANET, 2.0) has been used to analyze the WDS to explore its reliability in current and future scenarios. Mapping of the existing 564 km long distribution network revealed that more than three-quarters of the system has outdated water pipelines. An accuracy of 93% for pipe diameter estimation has been obtained upon validation by ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey. Water supply-demand gap analysis confirmed that although Dehradun city has surplus supply, it suffers from scarcity, mainly due to the unsatisfactory condition of the existing WDS. Twenty-seven percent of the existing pipes are smaller than the prescribed standards; there is an undesirable practice of direct pumping of water from tube wells into the network and storage tanks are required for at least 29 locations in the network. A 24-hour extended period EPANET simulation helped to identify the areas where water supply network experienced very low or negative pressure.

Fishing in Salty Waters: Poverty, Occupational Saline Exposure, and Women’s Health in the Indian Sundarban

Collecting wild tiger prawn seedlings, also known as prawn post-larvae (PL), from rivers and creeks is an important occupation for more than 100,000 poor women in India’s Sundarban estuarine delta. Prawn PL collecting requires many hours of immersion in saline river water. This paper uses a large household survey to explore the determinants of poor women’s engagement in this occupation and the health impacts. The results reveal high significance for two variables: (i) the opportunity wage, proxied by years of education and (ii) child-care demands, proxied by the household child-dependency ratio. Together, these variables are sufficient to distinguish between women who have no engagement with prawn PL collecting and those with many years of engagement. The probability of self-reported health problems is also significantly higher for women with more saline exposure from prawn PL collecting and whose drinking water is from tube wells with higher salinity.

Application of Water Quality Index (WQI) for groundwater quality assessment of Biratnagar, Nepal

This present hydrological study assessed the groundwater quality of Biratnagar Metropolitan by the application of Water Quality Index (WQI). It has been determined on the basis of analyzed groundwater samples for some important physicochemical parameters such as pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), free carbon-dioxide (FCO2), bicarbonate (HCO3), total hardness (TH), phosphate (PO4-P), nitrate-N (NO3-N), arsenic (As), and fluoride (Fl) collected from 110 representative tube wells during post-monsoon period of 2015. The status of fluoride was below detectable level (BDL) in all the analyzed groundwater samples. The WQI for these samples ranged from 84.54 to 403.14. The high value of WQI has been found mainly due to the higher values of turbidity, FCO2 and arsenic in the groundwater. The results of study have been used to recommend models for predicting water quality. The classification of water quality on the basis of WQI value have been found to be good water (18.18%), poor water (59.09%), very poor water (13.64%) and unsuitable for drinking (9.09%). The result of the study suggests that the groundwater of the area needs some degree of treatment before consumption, and it also needs to be protected from the threat of contamination. The groundwater is one of the major source of drinking water as well as for irrigation in study area.

Action Plan for Urban Waste Water Recycling in Lucknow

Urban waste water generation per day in Lucknow city is 84 MLD and the treatment capacity of this urban waste water is 446 MLD and 445 MLD urban waste water flows in Gomti River and 339 MLD urban waste water partially treated. Some waste water is recycled by Water treatment plant which are treating 560 MLD urban waste water and remaining are polluted to ground and as well as gomti river.to achieve 100% recycling and treatment we need a action plan for it. The formation of Lucknow municipal board took place in 1882, while as the water supply demand is fulfilled by tube wells, river Gomti, Sharda Sahayak feeder canal, aquifers, and so on, the maximum source of intake is Gomti which is geographically distinguished as Cis and Trans Gomti. The Cis Gomti side is comparatively lower than the area on Trans Gomti side. Since the city is located on alluvial aquifers of Indo-Gangetic plain, where due to easy accessibility, private tube well construction activity is going on unchecked, especially in residential colonies and multi-storeyed buildings, and this is the reason why the private tube wells/borings have almost mushroomed in this capital city. This has led to heavy pumpage/continuous abstraction of groundwater resources, widespread depletion of aquifers and as a result, going down of groundwater levels drastically to almost unsustainable levels, from where it seems very difficult that the depleted conditions of ground water could ever improve (6). The water supply network depends on sources like tube wells, river Gomti and the Sharda Sahayak feeder canal. The distribution of water supply has a very vast network and it is reported to be 2884 km. The rate of water supply is assumed to be 150 LPCD and water demand is calculated accordingly, The availability of water, as reported by Jawaharlal Nehru national urban and rural mission (JNNURM) on November 2016, was 619 MLD from various sources, however, it keeps fluctuating as the city is more vulnerable to migration from other parts of state. Keywords: urban waste water, waste water recycling, reuse of waste water, sewage treatment plant

Evaluation of anthropogenic nexus on groundwater quality through integration of hydrogeochemical processes and water quality index at Nacharam watershed of greater Hyderabad, India

Anthropogenic activities such as the rapid leap of industrialization and urbanization constitute a significant concern in megacities and have become a key source of groundwater contamination. Twenty-five (25) groundwater samples were collected from tube wells and handpumps from Nacharam watershed, greater Hyderabad. The water samples were analyzed for 13 physicochemical parameters and major dissolved ions using the standard methods. WQI has been computed using a weighted arithmetic index method and integrated with GIS to identify the hotspots of contamination and their spatial distribution. The analytical data plotted on the Piper diagram showed that dominance of Ca-Mg-Cl (52%) type followed by Na-Cl type of water is dominant in 44% of samples might be resulting due to increase in anthropogenic activities such as discharge of waste water from industries. Results reveal that 96% of the samples exceed the F - concentrations compared with WHO permissible limits suggested unfit for drinking. WQI values indicate that 56% of samples fall in the poor category, 28% belong to very poor water, and 4% are unsuitable for drinking. These findings will provide valuable information to policymakers and stakeholders on the proper management and supply of potable water that reduces human health concerns .

Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping of WASA Tube Wells for Irrigation in Quetta Valley Aquifer

This paper investigates the impact of tube wells on the discharge and water table of the Quetta Valley aquifer and conducts a financial analysis of the solar photovoltaic water pumping system (SPVWP) in comparison with a typical pumping system for the Water and Sanitation Agency of Quetta’s (WASA) tube wells. Quetta Valley is dependent on groundwater as surface resources are on decline and unpredictable. The population of this city has exponentially increased from 0.26 million in 1975 to 2.2 million in 2017 which has put a lot of pressure on the groundwater aquifer by installing more than 500 large capacity tube wells by WASA and Public Health Engineering (PHE) departments in addition to thousands of low-capacity private tube wells. The unprecedented running of these wells has resulted in drying of the historical Karez system, agricultural activities, and the sharp increase in power tariffs. There are 423 tube wells in operation installed by WASA in addition to PHE, Irrigation and Military Engineering Services (MES), which covers 60% of the city’s water demand. The results will be beneficial for organizations and positively impact the operation of these wells to meet public water demand. For the two zones, i.e., Zarghoon and Chiltan in Quetta Valley, recommendations are given for improved water management.

Detailed Analysis of Neurological Symptoms and Sensory Disturbances Due to Chronic Arsenic Exposure in Toroku, Japan

As a result of population growth and the development of tube wells, humans’ exposure to arsenic has increased over the past few decades. The natural course of organ damage secondary to arsenic exposure is not yet well understood. In Toroku, Japan, an arsenic mine was intermittently operated from 1920 to 1962, and residents were exposed to high concentrations of arsenic. In this paper, we analyzed 190 consecutive residents for whom detailed records of neurological symptoms and findings were obtained from 1974 to 2005. All participants were interviewed regarding the presence of general, skin, hearing, respiratory, and neurological symptoms. Neurological symptoms were classified into extremity numbness or pain, constipation, dyshidrosis, sensory loss, and muscle atrophy. Superficial and vibratory sensation was also evaluated. More than 80% of participants experienced extremity numbness, and numbness was the most common neurological symptom. Numbness was associated with superficial sensory disturbance, and was correlated with the subsequent development of other neurological symptoms, including autonomic and motor symptoms. No previous studies have investigated the natural course of chronic arsenic intoxication; thus, these data serve as a guide for detecting early symptoms due to arsenic exposure.

Water and Sanitation Facilities in selected schools in Ibadan, South-western Nigeria

Access to clean water and sanitation is a major requirement for all countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The main aim of the study was to investigate the state and condition of water and sanitary facilities in selected secondary schools within Oyo State, Ibadan, Nigeria. Data was collected through the use of structured questionnaires and interviews with the students and teachers. Physical observation was also done onsite to supplement data gathering. The results revealed that deep-tube wells and pit latrines were the most widely used water and sanitation facilities in the study area. 70% of the schools surveyed used traditional pit latrines while 73% of schools had deep-tube wells respectively. In addition, there were limited drinking water and hand washing facilities in all the schools investigated. This study therefore recommends that government should increase funding for the provision of water and sanitation facilities in all schools in this state; as these would ensure good and enabling environment for learning as well as reducing outbreak of infectious diseases.Keywords facilities, sanitation, schools, SDG, water.