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Geochemical evolution of groundwater in southern Bengal Basin: The example of Rajarhat and adjoining areas, West Bengal, India

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Abstract

Detailed geochemical analysis of groundwater beneath 1223 km2 area in southern Bengal Basin along with statistical analysis on the chemical data was attempted, to develop a better understanding of the geochemical processes that control the groundwater evolution in the deltaic aquifer of the region. Groundwater is categorized into three types: ‘excellent’, ‘good’ and ‘poor’ and seven hydrochemical facies are assigned to three broad types: ‘fresh’, ‘mixed’ and ‘brackish’ waters. The ‘fresh’ water type dominated with sodium indicates active flushing of the aquifer, whereas chloride-rich ‘brackish’ groundwater represents freshening of modified connate water. The ‘mixed’ type groundwater has possibly evolved due to hydraulic mixing of ‘fresh’ and ‘brackish’ waters. Enrichment of major ions in groundwater is due to weathering of feldspathic and ferro-magnesian minerals by percolating water. The groundwater of Rajarhat New Town (RNT) and adjacent areas in the north and southeast is contaminated with arsenic. Current-pumping may induce more arsenic to flow into the aquifers of RNT and Kolkata cities. Future large-scale pumping of groundwater beneath RNT can modify the hydrological system, which may transport arsenic and low quality water from adjacent aquifers to presently unpolluted aquifer.

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Acknowledgements

The first author (PS) is thankful to Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India for their financial assistance for carrying out the research work (DST Sanction No: SR/WOS-A/ES-01/2010). PS also conveys thanks to Prof S A Bari, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Gujarat and Prof. M H Fulekar, Dean, School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat for providing necessary infrastructure and encouragement for the research work. The authors are also grateful to Prof Amitava Sarkar, Director, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) for providing necessary infrastructure for the research work. They thank Sanghamitra Misra, Mintu Saha and Azizul Islam for assistance in the field, and Atanu Pal for chemical analysis of water samples.

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  1. School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, 382 030, India.

    Paulami Sahu

  2. Department of Environment Management, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata, 700 073, India.

    P K Sikdar & Surajit Chakraborty

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Sahu, P., Sikdar, P.K. & Chakraborty, S. Geochemical evolution of groundwater in southern Bengal Basin: The example of Rajarhat and adjoining areas, West Bengal, India. J Earth Syst Sci 125, 129–145 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0656-3

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