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Seasonal Variations of Groundwater Arsenic at Silchar, Assam, and its Correlation with the Flood Plains and Landfill Area


Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Gurucharan College, Silchar 788 004, India
 

In this study, we collected 60 samples from 30 sites in pre- and post-monsoon from Silchar municipal area (15.75 sq. km of Cachar district, Assam) during 2012-13 to evaluate seasonal variations in groundwater arsenic. It was observed that 27% were safe (0-10 μg/l), while 18% exceeded alarming zone (51-100 μg/l) and 3% were in the most alarming zone (>100 μg/l). The highest arsenic contamination of 188 and 161 μg/l was recorded in pre- and post-monsoon. The pH and EC ranged from 5.6-7.4 and 132-854 μS/cm in pre-monsoon. The iron content varied from 0.1 and 9.7 mg/l. Flood plains and landfill areas constituted the majority of arsenic-affected aquifers.

Keywords

Affected Aquifer, Arsenic Contamination, Flood Plains, Landfill Areas.
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  • Seasonal Variations of Groundwater Arsenic at Silchar, Assam, and its Correlation with the Flood Plains and Landfill Area

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Authors

Tushar Deb Kanungo
Department of Chemistry, Gurucharan College, Silchar 788 004, India

Abstract


In this study, we collected 60 samples from 30 sites in pre- and post-monsoon from Silchar municipal area (15.75 sq. km of Cachar district, Assam) during 2012-13 to evaluate seasonal variations in groundwater arsenic. It was observed that 27% were safe (0-10 μg/l), while 18% exceeded alarming zone (51-100 μg/l) and 3% were in the most alarming zone (>100 μg/l). The highest arsenic contamination of 188 and 161 μg/l was recorded in pre- and post-monsoon. The pH and EC ranged from 5.6-7.4 and 132-854 μS/cm in pre-monsoon. The iron content varied from 0.1 and 9.7 mg/l. Flood plains and landfill areas constituted the majority of arsenic-affected aquifers.

Keywords


Affected Aquifer, Arsenic Contamination, Flood Plains, Landfill Areas.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv111%2Fi10%2F1680-1686