Abstract
With the progradation of Godavari delta in the east coast of India, increase in iron (Fe) concentrations in the groundwater was observed. High concentrations of Fe (>10 mg/l) were observed in khondalite and charnockite formations. A lower portion of the Godavari river basin, viz. East Godavari district was chosen for the study of the distribution of iron with special reference to the existing geological formations and the geomorphology of the area. The concentration of iron was observed to vary from below detection limit to 69 mg/l in the groundwater while it was less than 1 mg Fe/l in river and spring waters. The Fe of river water was reduced due to seawater mixing and the electrical conductivity (EC) was increased approximately to half of the seawater conductivity. Unlike the mixing of seawater at the surface, the same seawater mixing with groundwater yielded a water having similar order of EC with relatively high Fe. Fe was inversely related with nitrate in the groundwater. Fe was found to correlate considerably better with manganese in fluvial and coastal alluvium zones. The locations having higher Fe in delta are suspected to be related to palaeo channels. The association between Fe and Mn and their negative association with NO3 may be due to the possible autotrophic denitrification that might have taken place in the subsurface.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
APHA (American Public Health Association) (1976) Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, 14th edn. APHA, American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation, Washington DC
APHA (American Public Health Association) (1989) Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, 17th edn. APHA, American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation, Washington DC
Ayotte JD, Nielsen MG, Robinson GR Jr, Moore RB (2000) Relation of Arsenic, Iron and manganese in groundwater to aquifer type, bedrock lithogeochemistry and landuse in the New England Coastal Basins. USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4162:1-63
Bottcher J, Strebel O, Durynesveld WHM (1985) Vertikale Stoffkonzentrationsprofile im Grundwasser eines Lockergesteins-Aquifers und deren Interpretation (Beispiel Fuhrberger Field). Z Dtsch Geol Ges 136:543–552
HACH (2002) Water analysis hand book. HACH company, Calorado
Hem JD (1986) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water, 3rd edn. US Geol Surv Water Supply Pap 2254:1–264
Korom SF (1992) Natural denitrification in the saturated zone: a review. Water Resour Res 28:1657–1668
Lind AM (1983) Nitrate reduction in the subsoil. In: Golterman HL (ed) Denitrification in the nitrogen cycle. Plenum, New York
Mariotti A, Landreau A, Simon B (1988) 15N isotope biogeochemistry and natural denitrification process in groundwater: application to the Chalk aquifer of northern France. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 52:1869–1878
Matthess G (1982) The Properties of groundwater. Wiley, New York
Millward GE, Tuner A (1995) Trace metals in estuaries. In: Salbu B, Steinnes E (eds) Trace elements in natural waters. CRC Press, Boca Raton
Naidu AS (1968) Some aspects of texture, mineralogy and geochemistry of modern deltaic sediments of the Godavari River. PhD, Andhra University, India
NRSA (National Remote Sensing Agency) (1994) Landuse planning atlas, east Godavari district. AP, Govt. of India, India
Ouddane B, Skiker M, Fischer JC, Wartel M (1999) Distribution of iron and manganese in the Seine river estuary: approach with experimental laboratory mixing. J Environ Monit 1:489–496
Rao NS (1997) The occurrence and behaviour of fluoride in the groundwater of the lower Vamsadhara River basin, India. Hydrol Sci J 42:877–892
Rao GD, Setty BK, Raminaidu Ch (1989) Heavy mineral content and textural characteristics of coastal sands in the Krishna–Godavari, Gosthani–Champavathi, and Penna River deltas of Andhra Pradesh, India: a comparative study. In: Exploration and research for atomic minerals (vol 2), Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, India
Sagar TVSRK, Sarma BBG (1956) Occurrence of lignitic material in the Godavari Delta. Curr Sci 2:54–55
Sambasivarao M (1979) Geomorphology and evolution of the modern Godavari delta. PhD, Andhra University, India
Sambasivarao M, Vaidyanadhan R (1979) Morphology and evolution of Godavari Delta, India. Z Geomorph NF 23:243–255
WHO (World Health Organization) (1984) Drinking water quality control in small community supplies. In: Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (vol 3), Geneva
Woo NC, Moon J, Won JS, Hahn JS, Lin XY, Zhao YS (2000) Water Quality and pollution in the Hunchun Basin, China. Environ Geochem and Health 22:1–18
Acknowledgments
The author is awarded Research Associateship by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi (Award No. 3(31)042-2 K1/1). The financial support from CSIR for carrying out this study is gratefully acknowledged. The author is grateful to Dr. B. K. Handa (formerly of Central Ground Water Board, Chandigarh) for his guidance and valuable suggestions. He is also grateful to the reviewer for his valuable suggestions to improve the paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rao, N.S. Distribution of iron in the surface and groundwaters of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 52, 1455–1465 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0584-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0584-7