Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of pit-toilet leachate on groundwater chemistry and role of vadose zone in removal of nitrate and E. coli pollutants in Kolar District, Karnataka, India

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Assessment of chemistry of groundwater infiltrated by pit-toilet leachate and contaminant removal by vadose zone form the focus of this study. The study area is Mulbagal Town in Karnataka State, India. Groundwater level measurements and estimation of unsaturated permeability indicated that the leachate recharged the groundwater inside the town at the rate of 1 m/day. The average nitrate concentration of groundwater inside the town (148 mg/L) was three times larger than the permissible limit (45 mg/L), while the average nitrate concentration of groundwater outside the town (30 mg/L) was below the permissible limit. The groundwater inside the town exhibited E. coli contamination, while groundwater outside the town was free of pathogen contamination. Infiltration of alkalis (Na+, K+) and strong acids (Cl−, SO4 2−) caused the mixed Ca–Mg–Cl type (60 %) and Na–Cl type (28 %) facies to predominate groundwater inside the town, while, Ca–HCO3 (35 %), mixed Ca–Mg–Cl type (35 %) and mixed Ca–Na–HCO3 type (28 %) facies predominated groundwater outside/periphery of town. Reductions in E. coli and nitrate concentrations with vadose zone thickness indicated its participation in contaminant removal. A 4-m thickness of unsaturated sand + soft, disintegrated weathered rock deposit facilitates the removal of 1 log of E. coli pathogen. The anoxic conditions prevailing in the deeper layers of the vadose zone (>19 m thickness) favor denitrification resulting in lower nitrate concentrations (28–96 mg/L) in deeper water tables (located at depths of −29 to −39 m).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • APHA (1999) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohlke JK (2002) Groundwater recharge and agricultural contamination. Hydrol J 10:153–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockman FJ, Kieft TL, Fredrickson JK, Bjornstad BN, Li SMW, Spangenburg W, Long PE (1992) Microbiology of vadose zone in south-central Washington State. Microbiol Ecol 23:279–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carsel RF, Parrish RS (1988) Developing joint probability distribution of soil water retention characteristics. Water Resour Res 24:755–769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cave B, Kolsky P (1999) Groundwater, latrines and health. Well Study, Task No.163. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • DMG and CGWB (2005) Report on dynamic groundwater resources of Karnataka as on March-2004. Department of Mines and Geology (Government of Karnataka) and Central Ground Water Board Southwestern Region, Bangalore

  • Fredlund DG, Xing A, Huang S (1994) Predicting the permeability function for unsaturated soils using the soil–water characteristic curve. Can Geotech J 31:533–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerba CP, Powelson DK, Yahya MT (1991) Fate of viruses in treated sewage effluent during soil aquifer treatment designed for wastewater reclamation and reuse. Water Sci Technol 24:95–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry. Science 170:1088–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard G, Jahnel J, Frimmel FH, McChesney D, Reed B, Schijven J, Braun-Howland E (2006) Human excreta and sanitation: potential hazards and information needs. In: Schmoll O, Howard G, Chilton J, Chorus I (eds) Protecting groundwater for health: managing the quality of drinking-water sources. IWA Publishing, London, UK, pp 275–308

    Google Scholar 

  • IS 10500 (2003) Drinking water specifications. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • IS 1622 (1981) Methods of sampling and microbial examination of water. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • IS 5401 (2002) Microbiology—general guidance for the enumeration of coliforms: part 2 most probable number technique. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Jal Nirmal Project Report (2004) Groundwater quality scenario in Karnataka. Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KRWSSA), Govt of Karnataka, Bangalore

  • Korum SF (1992) Natural denitrification in the saturated zone: a review. Water Resour Res 28:1657–1668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonard M, Gilpin B (2006) Potential impacts of on-site sewage disposal on groundwater. Client Report prepared by Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, New Zealand

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis J, Foster S, Drasar BS (1980) The risk of groundwater pollution by on-site sanitation in developing countries. International Reference Centre for Wastes Disposal (IRCWD—now SANDEC) Report No. 01/82

  • Lu N, Likos WJ (2004) Unsaturated soil mechanics. Wiley, New Jersey, p 556

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JH, Ela WP, Lansey KE, Chipello PL, Arnold RG (2006) Nitogen transformations during soil–aquifer treatment of wastewater effluent-oxygen effects in field studies. J Environ Eng ASCE 32:1298–1306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parten SM (2010) Planning and installing sustainable onsite wastewater systems. McGraw-Hill, New York, p 412

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrini R, Slejko F, Lutman A, Pison S, Franceschini G, Zini L, Italiano F, Galic A (2011) Natural arsenic contamination in waters from the Pesariis village, NE Italy. Environ Earth Sci 62:481–491. doi:10.1007/s12665-010-0541-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao SM (2011) Sustainable water management: nexus between groundwater quality and sanitation practice. India Urban Conference 2011, Mysore. http://www.arghyam.org/node/343

  • Rao SM, Venkatesh KH (2012) Residual soils of India. In: Huat B, Toll DG, Prasad A (eds) A handbook of tropical residual soils engineering. CRC Press, New York, pp 463–489

  • Rao SM, Nanda J, Mamatha P (2008) Groundwater quality issues in India. In: Rao SM, Mani M, Ravindranath NH (eds) Advances in water quality and management. Research Publishing, Singapore, pp 33–55

  • Stamatis G, Alexakis D, Gamvroula D, Migiros G (2011) Groundwater quality assessment in Oropos-Kalamos basin, Attica, Greece. Environ Earth Sci 64:973–988. doi:10.1007/s12665-011-0914-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevika TK, Aab K, Auslanda G, Hanssen JF (2004) Retention and removal of pathogenic bacteria in wastewater percolating through porous media: a review. Water Res 38:1355–1367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd DK (1980) Groundwater hydrology, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, p 535

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson LG, Amy GL, Gerba CP, Gordon H, Johnson B, Miller J (1995) Water quality changes during soil aquifer treatment of tertiary effluent. Water Environ Res 67:371–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Arghyam for funding the research project “Water quality management for Mulbagal Town under the Integrated Urban Water Management Project of Arghyam”. The results presented in this paper were obtained as part of the project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India

    Sudhakar M. Rao, M. Sekhar & P. Raghuveer Rao

Authors
  1. Sudhakar M. Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Sekhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Raghuveer Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sudhakar M. Rao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rao, S.M., Sekhar, M. & Raghuveer Rao, P. Impact of pit-toilet leachate on groundwater chemistry and role of vadose zone in removal of nitrate and E. coli pollutants in Kolar District, Karnataka, India. Environ Earth Sci 68, 927–938 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1794-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1794-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation