Evaluation of factors influencing surface water quality in a coalfield area of Damodar valley, India: a sustainable uses.
Mukesh Kumar Mahato, Abhay Kumar Singh, Prasoon Kumar Singh and Gurdeep Singh
International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 103(18), 6183-6205 (2023);
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2021.1946685
Abstract
A systematic study on the major ions and heavy metals was carried out for surface water resources of EB coalfield for water quality assessment, source apportionment and studying the geochemical processes controlling the surface water quality. Seasonal effect was not very prominent for the surface water quality parameters inclusive of metals, though some dilution was observed in some parameters during the monsoon season. Some of the parameters exceeded the drinking water limits like TDS, turbidity, NO3−, F−,total hardness and Mg2+ in surface water. The Fe concentrationsexceeded the desirable limit of the BIS standard in about 26% of thewater sample. The surface water chemistry of the EB coalfield isinfluenced by extensive coal mining activities. The principal componentanalysis of metals and health concerning anions demonstratedthat the data were synthesised into three loading factorswith Eigen values >1 and explaining about 71.4% of the totalvariance. The extracted factors seem to indicate geogenic sources,coal mining and associated transportation. The quality assessmentof the surface water for irrigation suitability suggested that thecalculated parameters (SAR, %Na, RSC and MH) of water to be inthe range of good to permissible; however, at a few sites, SARvalues and MH make it unsuitable for irrigation. Thus, the studyexemplified the need for awareness about the contamination ofsurface water within EB coalfield area. The findingsof the presentstudy may be useful to decision-makers in developing plans forsurface water quality management and sustainable use.
KEYWORDS: Surface water, hydrogeochemistry, metals, principal component analysis, quality assessment, East Bokaro.
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