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Hydrochemistry of reservoirs of Damodar River basin, India: weathering processes and water quality assessment

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Water samples collected from the six reservoirs of Damodar River basin in pre- and post-monsoon, have been analysed, to study the major ion chemistry and the weathering and geochemical processes controlling the water composition. Ca, Na and HCO3 dominate the chemical composition of the reservoir water. The seasonal data shows a minimum concentration of most of the ions in post-monsoon and a maximum concentration in pre-monsoon seasons, reflecting the concentrating effects due to elevated temperature and increased evaporation during the low water level period of the pre-monsoon season. Water chemistry of the reservoirs strongly reflects the dominance of continental weathering aided by atmospheric and anthropogenic activities in the catchment area. Higher concentration of SO4 and TDS in Panchet, Durgapur and Tenughat reservoirs indicate mining and anthropogenic impact on water quality. The high contribution of (Ca+Mg) to the total cations, high concentration of dissolved silica, relatively high (Na+K)/TZ+ ratio (0.3) and low equivalent ratio of (Ca+Mg)/(Na+K) suggests combined influence of carbonate and silicate weathering. Kaolinite is the possible mineral that is in equilibrium with the water, implying that the chemistry of reservoir water favours kaolinite formation. The calculated values of SAR, RSC and sodium percentage indicate the ‘excellent to good quality’ of water for irrigation uses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Director, Central Mining Research Institute for his kind permission to publish this paper. AKS is thankful to Dept. Science & Technology, Govt. of India for financial assistance in the form of Fast Tack Project (SR/FTP/ES-99/2001). Help rendered by Mr. Suresh, KK Singh and A. Barat in analysis is thankfully acknowledged.

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  1. Environmental Management Group, Central Mining Research Institute, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826 001, India

    Abhay Kumar Singh, G. C. Mondal, P. K. Singh, S. Singh, T. B. Singh & B. K. Tewary

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  1. Abhay Kumar Singh
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  2. G. C. Mondal
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  3. P. K. Singh
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  4. S. Singh
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Correspondence to Abhay Kumar Singh.

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Singh, A.K., Mondal, G.C., Singh, P.K. et al. Hydrochemistry of reservoirs of Damodar River basin, India: weathering processes and water quality assessment. Environ Geol 48, 1014–1028 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1302-6

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