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Evaluating Hydrogeological and Topographic Controls on Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in the Middle-Ganga Plain in India: Towards Developing Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation Models

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Emerging Issues in Groundwater Resources

Part of the book series: Advances in Water Security ((AWS))

Abstract

We investigated the spatial distribution and severity of groundwater arsenic contamination in three previously un-studied villages located near the confluence of the Rivers Ganges and Sone, within the Maner block of Patna district in the Bihar State, India. We also gathered information on the demographic, socioeconomic and health issues of local residents in order to identify at-risk populations due to the exposure to elevated concentrations of arsenic. Arsenic concentrations were measured in 157 drinking water sources, which were tested using field-tests kits. Spatial patterns in arsenic distribution were compared with local physiographic and hydrogeologic parameters. Arsenic levels exceeding the WHO and the BIS standards (10 μg/L and 50 μg/L respectively) were found in all three villages, with a maximum of 300 μg/L. The shallow aquifers (≤50 m below ground surface) and older hand pumps were found to be arsenic contaminated. The deeper aquifers (>50 m) exhibited arsenic levels within permissible limits. Elevated arsenic levels are observed close to the River Ganges. However, a moderate (r = 0.240, p = 0.031) positive correlation with the surface water flow direction indicates that arsenic migrates from south to north and from west to east in the study area. This suggests that River Sone alluvium is a potential source of arsenic contamination in Bihar.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Amy V. Ferdinand, Director, Environmental Health and Safety, Montclair State University, New Jersey, USA for providing a RICOH Digital GPS Camera. Thanks also extend to Dr. Dipankar Saha, Regional Director, Central Groundwater Board, Mid-Easter Region, Patna, Bihar, India for providing block-level shapefile of Bihar. Additionally, the authors are also grateful to Mr. Basant Singh, Sunil Kumar Singh, Kundan Kumar Singh, and Arvind Kumar Singh of Rampur Diara village; Ramlagan Kumar, Guddu Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Babloo Kumar, Mohan Ray, and Jaswant Kumar of Suarmarwa village for logistic assistance in survey administration, and to the three village heads Mr. Randhir Kumar, Mr. Shailesh Singh, and Mrs. Suman Singh for their cooperation during the survey.

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  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA

    Sushant K. Singh, Stefanie A. Brachfeld & Robert W. Taylor

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  1. Sushant K. Singh
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Correspondence to Sushant K. Singh .

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  1. Prairie View A&M University, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Prairie View, Texas, USA

    Ali Fares

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Singh, S.K., Brachfeld, S.A., Taylor, R.W. (2016). Evaluating Hydrogeological and Topographic Controls on Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in the Middle-Ganga Plain in India: Towards Developing Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation Models. In: Fares, A. (eds) Emerging Issues in Groundwater Resources. Advances in Water Security. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32008-3_10

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