Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of recharge from a check dam and river bank filtration on geochemical and microbial composition of groundwater

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Check dams are often constructed across the rivers to store excess runoff and to improve groundwater recharge. Quality of groundwater around the check dam depends on the chemical and biological characteristics of the water stored in the check dam. The aim of this study is to determine the benefits due to changes in chemical and microbial composition of groundwater during the process of recharge. This study was carried out in and around a check dam constructed across Arani River, Tamil Nadu, India, where people depend on groundwater reserves for domestic and irrigation requirements. Water samples were collected from the river and surrounding wells and were analysed for chemical and microbial contents. WQI based on the chemical composition indicates that the groundwater was good in this area, but microbes such as Escherichia spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Clostridium spp. were present. However, the microbial quality of groundwater is far better than the water stored in the check dam. Hence, production wells can be planned at a distance of about 400 m in the east so that the bank filtrate will take at least 60 days to reach the well. This will considerably reduce the microbial load and also the cost of post-treatment. Thus, river bank filtration may be adopted near the check dams so as to maximise well yield and to achieve natural filtration. This will also enable to use a portion of water that otherwise would be lost due to evaporation from the dam.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akkaraboyin MK, Raju BSN (2012) Assessment of water quality index of River Godavari at Rajahmundry. Univ J Environ Res Tech 2(3):161–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Alam M, Pathak JK (2010) Rapid assessment of water quality index of Ramganga River, Western Uttar Pradesh (India) using a computer programme. Nat Sci 8(11):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Khatib IA, Arafat HA (2009) Chemical and microbiological quality of desalinated water, groundwater and rain-fed cisterns in the Gaza strip, Palestine. Desalination 249:1165–1170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1998) American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Aydin A (2007) The microbiological and physico-chemical quality of groundwater in West Thrace, Turkey. Polish J Environ Stud 16(3):377–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhagavan S, Raghu V (2005) Utility of check dams in dilution of fluoride concentration in groundwater and the resultant analysis of blood serum and urine of villagers, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Geochem Health 27(1):97–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) (2012) Indian standard drinking water specification, second revision ISO: 10500:2012, Bureau of Indian Standards. Drinking Water Sectional Committee, FAD 25, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Brindha K, Elango L (2011) Hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater for domestic and irrigation purposes in Madhuranthakam, Tamil Nadu, India. Earth Sci Res J 15(2):101–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Brindha K, Elango L (2012) Impact of tanning industries on groundwater quality near a metropolitan city in India. Water Resour Manag 26(6):1747–1761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cappuccino JG, Sherman N (2001) Microbiology: a laboratory manual. Benjamin Cummings Publishing, Tempe

  • Clancy JL, Stendahl D (1997) Ground water or surface water—microscopic evaluation of an Ontario River well system. Proceedings of the American Water Works Association Water Quality Technology Conference. Denver, CO, American Water Works Association

  • David SN, DeWiest RJM (1966) Hydrogeology. Wiley, New York, p 463

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon PJ, Miller M, Fallowfield H, Hutson J (2002) The potential of riverbank filtration for drinking water supplies in relation to microcystin removal in brackish aquifers. J Hydrol 266(3–4):209–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeze RA, Cherry JA (1979) Groundwater. Prentice Hall Inc, New Jersey, p 604

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrity GM, Brenner DJ, Krieg NR, Staley JT (eds) (2009) Bergey’s manual of systemic bacteriology, volume 2, 2nd edn. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollnitz WD, Cossins F, DeMarco J (1997) Impact of induced infiltration on microbial transport in an alluvial aquifer. Proceedings of the American water works association water quality technology conference. Denver, CO, American Water Works Association

  • Hertig AW, Gleeson T (2012) Regional strategies for the accelerating global problem of groundwater depletion. Nat Geosci 5:853–861

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiscock KM, Grischek T (2002) Attenuation of groundwater pollution by bank filtration. J Hydrol 266(3–4):139–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knorr N (1937) Die schutzzonenfrage in der trinkwasserhygiene [protection zones in drinking water hygiene]. Gas Wasserfach 80:330–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd JW, Heathcote JA (1985) Natural inorganic hydrochemistry in relation to groundwater. Clarendon, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Locas A, Barthe C, Margolin AB, Payment P (2008) Groundwater microbiological quality in Canadian drinking water municipal wells. Can J Microbiol 54(6):472–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massoud MA (2012) Assessment of water quality along a recreational section of the Damour River in Lebanon using the water quality index. Environ Monit Assess 184:4151–4160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mudrakartha S (2003) Augmenting groundwater resources by artificial recharge at Aravalli Hills. Gujarat, India. Online at: http://r4d.dfid.gov.uk/PDF/Outputs/Water/R8169-VIKSAT_INCEPTION_REPORT12_May_04.pdf

  • Niranjan V, Srinivasu VK (2012) Small water harvesting and artificial recharge interventions in Singoda river basin, coastal Saurashtra: hydrological and socio-economic impacts. Report-Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy, Hyderabad

    Google Scholar 

  • Palanisami K, Raviraj A, Thirumurthi S (2006) Artificial recharge in hard rock areas of Coimbatore District—a case study. International conference on groundwater sustainable development problems, perspectives and challenges (IGC-2006). Online at: http://jnuenvis.nic.in/publication/IGC %202006%20Abstracts.pdf

  • Parimalarenganayaki S, Elango L (2014) Impact of recharge from a check dam on groundwater quality and assessment of suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. Arab J Geosci 7(8):3119–3129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parimalarenganayaki S, Prock J, Yu L, Wintgens T, Elango L (2014) Microbiological quality of groundwater and surface water in a part of Arani River basin, Tamil Nadu, India. In: Prasad NBN, Harikumar PS, Gopinath EJJG, Resmi TR, Surendran U, Ambili GK (eds.) Proceedings of international symposium on integrated water resources management, CWRDM, Kozhikode, India, vol. 1, pp. 415–424

  • Pius A, Jerome C, Sharma N (2012) Evaluation of groundwater quality in and around Peenya industrial area of Bangalore, South India using GIS techniques. Environ Monit Assess 184:4067–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray C, Melin G, Linsky R (eds) (2002) Riverbank filtration: improving source water quality. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakthivadivel R (2007) The agricultural groundwater revolution: opportunities and threats to development and the groundwater recharge movement in India. Chapt 10. Vol. 3. In: Giordano M, Villholth KG (eds) Comprehensive assessment. CABI Publ, Wallingford, pp 195–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandhu C, Grischek T, Kumar P, Ray C (2011) Potential for riverbank filtration in India. Clean Tech Environ Policy 13:295–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer CN, McCarty PL (1978) Chemistry of environmental engineering, 3rd ed. Series in water resources and environmental engineering. McGraw–Hill, New York, p 532

    Google Scholar 

  • Schijven JF, Rietveld LC (1997) How do field observations compare with models of microbial removal? Under the microscope—examining microbes in groundwater. American Water Works Association Research Foundation and the American Water Works Association, Denver

    Google Scholar 

  • Umar R, Alam F (2012) Assessment of hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in parts of Hindon–Yamuna interfluves region, Baghpat District, Western Uttar Pradesh. Environ Monit Assess 184:2321–2336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UN Development Programme (1987) Hydrogeological and artificial recharge studies. Technical report number DP/UN/IND-78-029/2, Madras

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2006) Guideline for drinking water quality. Vol. Recommendations. World Health Organization, Geneva, p 130

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

First two authors and the last author thank the Department of Science and Technology’s Funds under the Women Scientist Scheme (SR/WOS-A/ET-49/2010(G)) for funding this work. Partial support from the Department of Science and Technology’s Funds for Improvement in Science and Technology scheme (Grant No. SR/FST/ESI-106/2010) and University Grants Commission’s Special Assistance Programme (Grant No. UGC DRS II F.550/10/DRS/2007 (SAP-1)) is also acknowledged. All authors thank the Centre with Potential for Excellence in Environmental Science scheme of the University Grants Commission (Grant no. F.No.1-9/2004 (NS/PE)) which facilitated this multidisciplinary research work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600025, India

    S. Parimalarenganayaki & L. Elango

  2. International Water Management Institute, South East Asia Office, Vientiane, Lao PDR

    K. Brindha

  3. Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, 600025, India

    K. Sankaran

Authors
  1. S. Parimalarenganayaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Brindha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Sankaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. Elango
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Elango.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Parimalarenganayaki, S., Brindha, K., Sankaran, K. et al. Effect of recharge from a check dam and river bank filtration on geochemical and microbial composition of groundwater. Arab J Geosci 8, 8069–8076 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1825-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1825-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation