Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in Deeg Tehsil of Bharatpur District, Rajasthan

Ground water is one of the most valuable natural resources to meet the water requirements of rapidly expanding urban, industrial and agriculture purposes particularly in arid and semiarid zones. Because of its continuous availability and excellent natural quality, it becomes an important source of water supply in urban and rural areas of any country. Ground water is the important and valuable resources to support human health and economic development. Ground water management is under pressure on increased water demands, climate change and pollution problems. There are changes in quality and quantity of ground water due to human activities and climate change. So, it is necessary to understand these problems and solve scientifically. Various data is required for the computation of significant ground water levels decline. Ground water estimation committee is formed by the Government of India to collect the data of ground water in different regions of India. According to World Health Organisation, the water proposed for human consumption must be free from harmful micro-organisms, organic wastes, excessive amount of minerals and toxic substances (WHO 1996).

Deeg is located to the north of Bharatpur District in Rajasthan and is towards the northern part of Agra (98 Kms. From Agra). The geographical position of Deeg is about 27.47 degree North and 77.33-degree East. The average elevation of Deeg is about 174 meters (571 feet).

133 water samples were collected from 108 villages & Dhanis which covered 36 panchayats of Deeg tehsil. The samples were collected during April 2015 to Sept.2015. The samples were collected in polythene bottles of one litre capacity for chemical analysis. The collected samples were analysed with standard laboratory analysis methods (APHA-2012). Important chemical parameters such as pH, Total dissolved solids, Nitrate, Fluoride, Chloride, Total Hardness and Total Alkalinity were analysed in the laboratory. TDS were estimated by Digital TDS meter (Systronics make 308). Nitrate ions were measured by the UV-Visible spectrophotometer as well as visual comparative method. Fluoride ion was estimated by Orion Fluoride ion meter and different methods have been used for the analysis. Total Hardness was determined by the complexometric titration method using Eriochrome Black T as an indicator. Total Alkalinity of water samples were analysed by titration with N/50 sulphuric acid using Phenolphthalein and Methyl

pH of water indicates the degree of deterioration of water quality. The desirable pH range is 7 to 8.5. pH of water samples analysed in the study area ranged from 6.5 to 8.0 which is according to BIS 2012 and WHO 2011 norms. TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS):TDS of water samples of the study area ranges from 776 to 10130 mg/L. Out of 133 water samples, number of water samples and percentage in different TDS ranges have been shown in table 1. These results represent that most of the water samples (85.70%) have high TDS (more than 3000 mg/L). High value of TDS is due to high dissolution of soluble salts namely Chlorides, Nitrates, Carbonates & Bicarbonates of Ca, Mg, Na, K ions. High TDS is harmful for irrigation, soil, animals, and human health.it deteriorates soil and plants. A large number of populations may have gastrointestinal disorders and high blood pressure. FLUORIDE (F): Fluoride ions present in water samples of the study area ranges from 0.5 to 3.10 mg/L. Out of 133 water samples, number of water samples and percentage in different Fluoride ranges have been shown in table 2. These results show that most of the water samples (87.28%) have less Fluoride ion concentration which is less than 1.0 mg/L. only 8 samples have more than 1.5 mg/L Fluoride ion concentration. This water is safe for drinking purpose from Fluorosis disease point of view. Fluoride comes naturally in water from dissolution of rocks such as fluorspar, cryolite, fluorite, fluorapatite etc. High concentration of Fluoride in drinking water causes dental & skeletal fluorosis and aging effects. NITRATES (NO3) : Nitrate ions present in water samples of the study area ranges from 2 to 361 mg/L. Out of 133 water samples, number of water samples and percentage in different Nitrate ranges have been shown in table 3. These results represent that 51.87 % of water samples have nitrate ion concentration within permissible limits of BIS & WHO, 42.10% of water samples have moderate and borderline concentration and Only 8 samples have very high concentration of nitrate ion. High concentration of nitrate ion causes Blue baby disease (Methemoglobinemia). CHLORIDE (Cl-): Chloride ions present in water samples of the study area ranges from 90 to 8070 mg/L. Out of 133 water samples, number of water samples and percentage in different Nitrate ranges have been shown in table 4. These results show that most of the water samples (84.20%) have high Chloride ion concentration which are more than 1000 mg/L. only 7 samples have less than 250 mg/L Chloride ion concentration. This water is not safe for drinking purpose, Chloride together with sodium may cause increase in blood pressure. TOTAL HARDNESS (TH): Total hardness present in water samples of the study area ranges from 150 to 4290 mg/L. Out of 133 water samples, number of water samples and percentage in different Total hardness ranges have been shown in table 5. Most of the water samples (87.20%) show more than 1000 mg/l TDS. High concentration of carbonates and bicarbonates of Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium salts increases the hardness of water. This type of water is not good for washing and bathing purposes and causes gastrointestinal disorder to humans and animals. TOTAL ALKALINITY: Total Alkalinity present in water samples of the study area ranges from 80 to 930 mg/L. Out of 133 water samples, number of water samples and percentage in different Total alkalinity ranges have been shown in table 6.

These results show that most of the water samples (75.93%) have less total alkalinity which are less than 600 mg/L. only 32 samples have more than 600 mg/L Chloride ion concentration which are 24% of total water samples analysed. It is within permissible limit of BIS and WHO. On the basis of above results we can conclude that the ground water quality of Deeg tehsil of Bharatpur has high concentration of TDS, Chlorides, Carbonates and Bicarbonates of Ca, Mg, Na, K. It can be suggested that water may be intended to use for domestic and drinking purposes after pre-treatment, demineralization and purification of water by standard prescribed methods.

1. Bureau of Indian standards (2012), Drinking water: specification 10500 (II edition). 2. WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking water quality, iv edition WHO press, world health organization, 20 Avenue Apia, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. American Public Health Association (2011), Standard method for examination of water and waste water, APHA, AWWA, WPEC, Washington DC, 20th Edition. 4. A. Goel (2002). Asian J. Chem. 14, 537. 5. S. Sharma (2004). Asian J. Chem. 16, 307. 6. V. K. Chhabra (2010). Manual on Water and Waste Water Analysis, PHED Laboratory, Govt. of Rajasthan.

Department of Chemistry, M.S.J Govt. P.G. College, Bharatpur, Rajasthan