Evaluation of Physico Chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metals Concentrations of groundwater Using Water Quality Index in and around Pendurthi Mandal Visakhapatnam District Andhra Pradesh India

Abstract

newline newlineABSTRACT newlineGroundwater is the major source of domestic, agricultural, industrial and other newlinesectors. Water Quality is important factor for performing different activities. newlineIndiscriminate use of ground water deteriorates the quality and quantity of water. Ground newlinewater is polluted due to Urbanization and Industrialization such as run-off, use of newlineinorganic fertilizers, land leachates, septic tank effluents. newlineThe present work evaluated the status of groundwater quality in and around newlinePendurthi Mandal, Visakhapatnam by analysing physico-chemical parameters and heavy newlinemetals. These parameters were compared with the BIS (10500:2012) drinking water newlinestandards. Overall water quality has been examined by using Water Quality Index. newline newlinePendurthi is one of the major residential and commercial suburbs in newlineVisakapatnam. Rapid growth of population and urbanization affects the groundwater newlinequality of the area. Groundwater quality is manifested in its physical, chemical and newlinebiological qualities and a study of this subject poses its own challenges. The objective of newlinethis study is to determine physio-chemical parameters and heavy metals contamination of newlinegroundwater samples during post and pre-monsoon seasons and to evaluate the quality of newlinegroundwater using Water Quality Index. newline newlineThe physico-chemical parameters include pH, Conductivity, Total Dissolved newlineSolids, Total Suspended Solids, Alkalinity, Turbidity, Total Hardness, Calcium, newlineMagnesium, Chlorides, DO and BOD. The physico-chemical parameters in most of the newlinesamples did not meet the drinking water standards. The concentrations of heavy metals newline newlinexv newlineAndhra University, Visakhapatnam newline newline newlinelike lead, manganese, iron, zinc, copper and chromium are above the acceptable limits of newlineBIS standards. newline newlineElated levels of nitrates and sulphates were observed mostly in rural samples newlinealong with a few urban and residential sample stations like Mudapaka, Gorapalle newlinePuligalipalem, etc. Excess use of fertilizers, pesticides, animal manure, septic tank newlineleakages, domestic sewage, percol