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Assessing the efficacy of river bank filtration around a check dam in a non-perennial river for rural water supply in southern India

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Abstract

Ideal locations for bank filtration wells were identified by assessing the efficiency of river bank filtration around a check dam in a non-perennial river located in southern India. The methodology of this study includes water sampling and water level measurements from existing wells, analysis of geochemical and biological parameters, pumping tests and borehole drilling. The conservative chloride and water level measurements indicate that production wells can be positioned up to 300 m from the check dam along the groundwater flow direction. It is recommended that if wells are not receiving 50% surface water contribution, then the production wells must be chosen within 110 m. In addition, the effectiveness of a river bank in improving water quality is evaluated by examining its hydraulic conductivity of 20 to 50 m/day (estimated using borehole data and pumping tests) and travel time and analysed water quality parameters. A significant reduction in microbiological load from surface water is evident even with a short travel time of 46 days. Substantial reduction in turbidity and improved geochemical characteristics were observed in wells located within the production zones which are supported by the Schoeller plot. The above results reveal that for the non-perennial river, in order to achieve maximum benefit through bank filtration, the same well cannot be used as a production well. Based on the water level in the check dam, the direction of groundwater flow and the percentage contribution of the river, it is necessary to shift the production well.

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Funding

The authors thank the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India, for funding this research under the Early Career Research Scheme (Grant number ECR/2016/000840).

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  1. Department of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India

    Anbuchezhian Rajendiran & Parimalarenganayaki S

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  1. Anbuchezhian Rajendiran
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  2. Parimalarenganayaki S
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R Anbuchezhian contributed in conception and design of study, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data and drafting the manuscript. S Parimalarenganayaki contributed in revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content and approval of the version of the manuscript to be published.

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Correspondence to Parimalarenganayaki S.

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Rajendiran, A., S, P. Assessing the efficacy of river bank filtration around a check dam in a non-perennial river for rural water supply in southern India. Environ Monit Assess 195, 883 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11485-2

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