A Study On Groundwater Quality In Sub Urban Zone V Of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Andhra Pradesh India

Abstract

Ground water in ten villages (Appikonda, Dasaripeta, Devada, Gorusuvanipalem, Islampeta, Palavalasa, Peddapalem, Pittavanipalem, Murubai and Maddivanipalem) with 6 stations from each village in and around Sub-Urban Zone 5 of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Andhra Pradesh, India, was assessed for its physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, sulfate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and total alkalinity) and concentrations of heavy metals (aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc) during pre- and post-monsoon season in 2022. The values of physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations obtained are evaluated according to the acceptable and/or permissible limits of BIS (2012) and WHO (2003; 2011). Simple Factor Pollution Index (SFPI) is calculated for selected physicochemical parameters and Water Quality Index (WQI) is calculated based on all assessed physicochemical parameters. SFPI indicated three levels of groundwater rating: safety level, slight and mild pollution level. WQI indicated that groundwater is unsuitable in Pittavanipalem, very poor in Devada and Islampeta, good in Islampeta and Palavalasa, and poor in all other villages during pre- and post-monsoon season. Groundwater assessed for the concentrations of heavy metals indicated that Iron level is slightly more than acceptable limit in Peddapalem, Gorusuvanipalem, Dasaripeta and Pittavanipalem during pre-monsoon season; It is within acceptable limit in all other villages during pre-monsoon and also in all ten villages during post-monsoon season. The concentrations of all other heavy metals were within the acceptable/permissible limit during pre- and post-monsoon season. Indices for groundwater suitability for irrigation used were Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) and Kelley s Index (KI). SAR and KI values indicated that t