Status of Groundwater Quality in Masuda Tehsil of Ajmer District, Rajasthan during Pre-Monsoon Season

In this work an attempt has been made to access the groundwater quality in the Masuda Tehsil situated south-west of Ajmer city covering an area of 87,898 hectare and having the population of 1,87,295 in the year 2001. It consists of 147 villages, nearby all facing an acute shortage of water and, thus, creating a tremendous pressure on the fragile water resources due to high population growth and over consumption, finally leading to deterioration of the quality and quantity of water. The present investigation was carried out by collecting the groundwater samples during the pre-monsoon 2006 from 25 different sites in the Masuda Tehsil. The physicochemical parameters which were analysed are pH, electrical conductivity, TDS, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, total alkalinity, sodium, potassium, fluoride, sulphate and nitrate. The value obtained were compared with standards prescribed by WHO and BIS. The analysis revealed high content of TDS, fluoride, nitrate, bicarbonate, etc. along with high variability, which is a matter of great concern, thus, leading to adverse effects on the people residing in the study area. As it is never late to realize that water is the most critical factor, so we need to take proper remedial measures to maintain its quality and conserve it as we do not have it on any other planet except earth making it the only place where man can survive.