Physicochemical analysis of some dug well ground waters of Imphal West district of Manipur during pre-monsoon

 

Somita Thapa, Nandababu Singh Laishram*

Post-Graduate Department of Chemistry, D.M. College of Science, Imphal – 795001 Manipur, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: l.nandababu@yahoo.com

Fifteen (15) dug well ground water samples (represented by S-1 to S-15) were collected during pre-monsoon period (March) of 2018. They were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), electrical conductivity (EC), total alkalinity (TA) (and hence COand HCO), total hardness (TH), Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^-. All the values/concentrations of the above different physicochemical parameters for the fifteen ground waters, were found to be below / within acceptable limits of BIS standard for drinking water as well as that of WHO. So, all the ground waters are found to be fit for drinking purpose. Further, as the TDS values for all the fifteen ground waters were found to be less than 1000 mg/L, such ground waters are also suitable for other domestic purposes.       In addition to this, all these ground waters are also found to be suitable for irrigation (agriculture) purpose as their % Na (percent sodium), RSC (residual sodium carbonate) and SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) values are within the categories of excellent / good category of water for irrigation purpose.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Ground water is about 0.6% of the total global water resources and out of this, only 0.3% is extractable economically¹. With the population growth all over the world, there is increasing demand for ground water as surface water bodies are diminishing day by day. This is mainly due to the increase in rate of urbanization as well as expansion of urban areas which results in the loss of many surface water bodies². Such surface water body sites are used for construction of houses, building, offices, institutions, commercial areas, industrial sites etc

 

 

and thus ground water is becoming another source of water to meet the requirements of human beings for drinking, other domestic, irrigation, industrial purposes etc. But, not only the surface waters such ground waters should not be taken for granted that they are always safe for drinking, other domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes. Therefore, not only the surface waters, it is always necessary to monitor the qualities of such ground waters from time to time. With a view to the objective many researchers of different countries, had carried out extensive investigations on qualities of surface waters as well as ground waters so as to examine whether they are fit for drinking, other domestic and irrigation purposes mainly^3-7. Similarly, in our country India also, many researchers of different states, had carried out extensive researches on the qualities of surface waters and ground waters so as to examine whether they are fit for drinking, other domestic and irrigation purposes mainly^8-14.

The present aim of the research work is to carry out physicochemical analysis of some dug well ground waters of Imphal West district of Manipur during pre-monsoon period (March) of 2018 so as to examine whether such ground waters are fit for drinking, other domestic and irrigation purposes.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

All the chemicals were of analytical reagent grade and were used as received. Fifteen dug well ground water samples (S-1 to S-15) were collected in well sterilized polythene bottles of 1 litre capacity each in accordance with sampling and preservation guidelines of APHA¹⁵. The fifteen dug well ground water samples were collected during pre-monsoon period (March of 2018). The geographical positions of the fifteen different sampling sites, were recorded with the help of a GPS instrument and are shown on table – 1 given below:

 

 

 

Table -1 : Locations of different sampling sites for fifteen ground water samples

 

 

The fifteen dug well ground water samples (S-1 to S-15) were analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), electrical conductivity(EC), total alkalinity (TA) (henceand ), total hardness (TH), Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^-. Parameters such as temperature, pH, TDS and electrical conductivity were measured at different sampling sites while other parameters such as total alkalinity, total hardness, Ca²⁺ and Cl^- were determined at departmental research laboratory using standard methods¹⁵. Parameters like ,and Mg²⁺ were found out by calculation method while Na⁺ and K⁺ were determined using Flame photometer 128 (Systronics, India). Brief methods and instruments used for determinations / measurements of different physicochemical parameters, are shown in table – 2 below:

 

Table–2: Instruments and methods used for measurements / determination of physicochemical parameters of ground water samples

Physicochemical parameters  measured / determined	Instruments and brief methods used
Temperature	TDS Meter (TDS-3) (TDS/Temp.) (HIMEDIA, India)
pH	pHep® Pocket-sized pH meter (HI98107) (HANNA Instruments, Romania)
TDS (Total dissolved solids)	TDS Meter (TDS-3) (TDS/Temp.) (HIMEDIA, India)
Electrical conductivity (EC)	Conductivity Tester (Dist3: HI 98303) (HANNA Instruments, Romania)
Total alkalinity (TA)	Titrimetric method with standard HCl solution using phenolphthalein and methyl orange indicators
and	By calculation method from total alkalinity values
Total Hardness (TH)	EDTA titrimetric method (using Eriochrome Black T indicator)
Calcium (Ca2+)	EDTA titrimetric method (using Murexide indicator)
Magnesium (Mg2+)	By calculation method
Sodium (Na+) and Potassium (K+)	Flame Photometer 128 (Systronics, India)
Chloride (Cl-)	Argentometric titrimetric method (using K2CrO4 indicator solution)

 

The values of parameters such as %Na (percent sodium), RSC (residual sodium carbonate) and SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) for different dug well ground waters, were calculated using the following relationships^16-17:

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION :

All the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) from different dug wells, were found to be colourless and odourless. The experimental values of different physicochemical parameters for the fifteen ground waters, are shown in table–3 given below :

 

 

Table -3 : Values of physicochemical parameters for different dug well ground waters

Sample code	Temperature (0C)	pH	TDS (mg/L)	Electrical conductivity (mS/cm)	Total alkalinity (as CaCO3) (mg/L)	HCO (mg/L)
S-1	22.2	6.7	81	174	41.8	51.0
S-2	22.1	6.8	100	213	27.2	33.2
S-3	21.4	6.7	105	221	37.6	45.9
S-4	22.4	6.5	86	180	43.9	53.5
S-5	23	6.7	84	179	48.1	58.6
S-6	21.2	6.8	85	178	46.0	56.1
S-7	20.6	6.8	92	195	54.3	66.2
S-8	20	6.6	88	186	56.4	68.8
S-9	21.3	7.4	162	334	110.8	135.1
S-10	20.4	6.7	100	207	58.5	71.4
S-11	21.2	6.7	79	164	66.9	81.6
S-12	22	7.2	64	135	35.5	43.3
S-13	22.7	6.9	66	139	35.5	43.3
S-14	21.3	6.9	73	153	35.5	43.3
S-15	21.9	6.9	69	143	41.8	51.0

 

Table -3 : Cont....

Sample code	Total hardness (as CaCO3) (mg/L)	Ca2+ (mg/L)	Mg2+ (mg/L)	Na+ (mg/L)	K+ (mg/L)	Cl- (mg/L)
S-1	36	6.4	4.9	13.8	1.4	15.6
S-2	46	8.8	5.8	16.2	1.5	21.3
S-3	50	9.6	6.3	16.7	1.6	24.1
S-4	36	7.2	4.4	14.5	1.5	15.6
S-5	28	8.0	1.9	14.0	1.5	14.2
S-6	28	8.1	1.5	14.3	1.5	14.2
S-7	46	12.0	3.9	15.8	1.2	19.8
S-8	44	12.0	3.4	12.6	1.1	14.2
S-9	94	32.1	3.4	18.7	4.4	19.8
S-10	50	16.8	1.9	13.2	2.3	11.3
S-11	36	12.0	1.5	11.2	1.5	8.5
S-12	24	6.4	1.9	11.1	1.2	9.9
S-13	28	8.8	1.5	11.5	1.1	12.7
S-14	32	6.4	3.9	12.5	1.1	11.3
S-15	30	4.0	4.9	11.6	0.9	11.3

 

 

 

Based on the above table -3, the following discussion has been made:

 

Temperature:

The temperatures of the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) are in the range 20 – 23⁰C (table – 3). S-5 has highest temperature (23⁰C) while that of S-8 is lowest (20⁰C).

 

pH values:

The pH values of the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) are in the range 6.5 – 7.4 (table – 3). All these pH values are within acceptable limit (6.5 – 8.5) of BIS standard for drinking water as well as that of WHO^18-19. S-9 has highest pH values (7.4) while that of S-4 is lowest (6.5). Except S-9 and S-12 which are slighty alkaline, other remaining ground waters (S-1 to S-8, S-10 to S-11 and S-13 to S-15) are slightly acidic.

 

TDS (total dissolved solids):

The values of TDS for all the ground waters (S-1 to S-15) range from 64 mg/L to 162mg/L (table-3). All these values are below the acceptable limit (500 mg/L) of BIS standard for drinking water¹⁸. S-12 has lowest TDS value (64 mg/L) while that of S-9 is highest (162 mg/L). As all the TDS values are below 1000 mg/L, such ground waters may also be used for other domestic purposes²⁰.

 

Electrical conductivity (EC):

The electrical conductivity values for all the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) are in the range 135-334 mS/cm (table-3). S-12 has the lowest electrical conductivity value (135 mS/cm) while that of S-9 is highest (334 mS/cm).

 

Total alkalinity (TA):

The total alkalinity values for all the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) are in the range 27.2-110.8 mg/L (table -3). All these values are below the acceptable limit (200 mg/L) of BIS standard for drinking water¹⁸. S-9 has highest value of total alkalinity (110.8mg/L) while that of S-2 is lowest (27.2 mg/L)

and:

 

Each of the fifteen ground waters has concentration of equal to zero. However, the concentration of  for all the ground waters (S-1 to S-15) range from 33.2 mg/L to 135.1 mg/L (table – 3). S-9 has highest concentration of  (135.1 mg/L) while that of S-2 is the lowest (33.2 mg/L).

 

 

 

Total Hardness (TH):

The total hardness values for all the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) range from 24mg/L to 94 mg/L (table -3). All these values are below the acceptable limit (200 mg/L) of BIS standard for drinking water¹⁸. S-12 has the lowest value of total hardness (24 mg/L) while that of S-9 is highest (94 mg/L). Ground waters represented by S-1 to S-8 and S-10 to S-15 belong to soft water category (0-75 mg/L) as their total hardness values are within this category while S-9 belongs to moderately hard water category (75-150 mg/L) as its total hardness value (94 mg/L) is within this category²⁰.

 

Calcium (Ca²⁺):

The concentrations of Ca²⁺ for the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) are in the range 4.0-32.1 mg/L (table-3). All these values are below the acceptable limit (75 mg/L) of BIS standard for drinking water¹⁸. S-15 has the lowest concentration of Ca²⁺ (4.0mg/L) while that of S-9 is highest (32.1mg/L).

 

Magnesium (Mg²⁺):

The concentrations of Mg²⁺ for the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) range from 1.5mg/L to 6.3 mg/L (table-3). Each of S-5, S-11 and S-13 has lowest concentration (1.5 mg/L) of Mg²⁺ while that of S-3 is highest (6.3 mg/L). All these values are below the acceptable limit (30 mg/L) of BIS standard for drinking water¹⁸.

 

Sodium (Na⁺) :

The concentrations of Na⁺ for all the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) are in the range 11.1-18.7 mg/L (table-3). All these values are below the threshold limit (200 mg/L) of WHO¹⁹. S-9 has highest concentration of Na⁺ (18.7 mg/L) while that of S-12 is lowest (11.1mg/L).

 

Potassium (K⁺):

All the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) have low concentrations of K⁺ ranging from 0.9 mg/L to 4.4 mg/L (table - 3). S-15 has lowest concentration of K⁺(0.9 mg/L) while that of S-9 is highest (4.4 mg/L).

 

Chloride (Cl^-):

All the fifteen ground waters (S-1 to S-15) have their concentrations of Cl^- ranging from 8.5 mg/L to 24.1 mg/L (table-3). All these values are the below the acceptable limit (250 mg/L) of BIS standard for drinking water¹⁸. S-11 has lowest concentration of Cl^-(8.5 mg/L) while that of S-3 is highest (24.1 mg/L).

 

Ground water quality for irrigation :

The values of %Na (percent sodium), RSC (residual sodium carbonate) and SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) for the fifteen dug well ground waters (S-1 to S-15), are shown in table-4 given below:

 

Table-4 : Values of %Na, RSC and SAR for different dug well ground waters

Sample code no.	S-1	S-2	S-3	S-4	S-5	S-6	S-7
%Na	46.8	44.8	43.5	48.1	53.8	55.6	43.8
RSC (meq/L)	0.11	-0.37	-0.24	0.16	0.41	0.39	0.17
SAR	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.2	1.2	1.0

 

Table-4 : Cont....

Sample code no.	S-8	S-9	S-10	S-11	S-12	S-13	S-14	S-15
%Na	39.6	33.0	38.9	42.1	51.9	48.4	47.2	46.5
RSC (meq/L)	0.25	0.33	0.18	0.62	0.23	0.15	0.07	0.23
SAR	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	1.0	0.9	1.0	0.9

 

 

 From the above table-4, it is clearly seen that the %Na values of S-8, S-9 and S-10 are 39.6%,  33% and 38.9% respectively and they belong to good category of water for irrigation (20-40%) but S-1 to S-7 and S-11 to S-15 belong to permissible water class for irrigation¹⁷.

 

On the basis of RSC values, all the fifteen ground waters show their RSC values ranging from -0.37meq/L to 0.62 meq/L which are all less than 1.25 meq/L and thus all of them are safe for irrigation purpose¹⁶.

 

The SAR values for all the fifteen ground waters range from 0.8 to 1.2 (table-4) and all of them belong to excellent category of water for irrigation (SAR upto 10)¹. Further from table-3, it is clearly seen that the electrical conductivity values of S-1 to S-8 and S-10 to S-15 are less than 250mS/cm and thus they belong to excellent category of water while S-9 belongs to good quality of water for irrigation¹⁷.

 

CONCLUSIONS :

From the above discussion based on various experimental results for the different fifteen dug well ground waters, the following conclusions are drawn:

1.     All the fifteen dug well ground waters are fit for drinking and other domestic purposes.

2.     All the fifteen dug well ground waters are also suitable/fit for irrigation (agriculture) purposes.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS :

The authors are thankful to Head, Post Graduate Department of Chemistry and Principle, D.M. College of Science, Imphal for laboratory facilities provided for carrying out this research (project work). Further, the authors are also thankful to local people of the different sampling sites for their cooperations extended to the authors during the field visits.

 

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Received on 28.03.2018         Modified on 13.04.2018

Accepted on 30.04.2018         © AJRC All right reserved