Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrogeochemical processes and contaminants enrichment with special emphasis on fluoride in groundwater of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India

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

Abstract

The hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in rural parts of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India, has been studied to understand the contaminants and prime processes involved in their enrichment with a focus on F− concentration. The lithological units consist of Quaternary alluviums with underlying Rajmahal basaltic rocks of Middle Jurassic age. Groundwater occurs in the alluviums, weathered residuum and fracture zone of Rajmahal rocks. Studies show elevated concentration of Cl−, SiO2, Fe and F−; excess Cl− is attributed to anthropogenic inputs, SiO2 is ascribed to high degree of weathering of silica rich host rocks, and high Fe is due to the interaction of water with Fe-rich sediments under reducing condition. The F− concentration is found high (>1.20 mg/L) mainly in water from Rajmahal rocks revealing a lithological control on F− enrichment. The weathering of silicates and ion exchange are the leading controlling processes for major ions in groundwater. The F− enrichment is due to the dissolution of F−-bearing minerals and perhaps also through anion exchange (OH− for F−) on clay minerals at high alkaline conditions; precipitation of CaCO3 favours CaF2 dissolution leading to elevated F− concentration. CaHCO3, the dominant water type, contains low F− while NaHCO3 and NaCl types exhibit high F− concentrations. Among the three spatial associations, Cluster-1 and Cluster-2 are CaHCO3 type; Cluster-3 shows NaHCO3 and NaCl waters with low Ca2+ and Mg2+ and high Na+ contents. Cluster-1 and Cluster-2 waters are, in general, drinkable barring the elevated Fe content, while Cluster-3 water is unsafe for drinking due to the high F− concentration.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Apambire WB, Boyle DR, Michel FA (1997) Geochemistry, genesis and health implication of fluoriferous groundwater in the upper regions, Ghana. Environ Geol 33:13–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. American Public Health Association, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelo CAJ, Postma D (2005) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution, 2nd edn. A A Balkema, Amsterdam

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Back W (1966) Hydrochemical faciès and groundwater flow patterns in northern part of Atlantic coastal plain. US Geological Survey Professional Paper 498-C

  • Bardsen A, Bgorraton K, Selving KA (1996) Variability in fluoride content of sub-surface water reservoir. Acta Odontol Scand 54:343–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batabyal AK, Chakraborty S (2015) Hydrogeochemistry and water quality index in the assessment of groundwater quality for drinking uses. Water Environ Res 87:607–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) (1991) Drinking water specification. BIS 10500, pp 1–8

  • Central Ground Water Board (1985) Hydrogeology and groundwater resources of Birbhum district, West Bengal. Technical report; series D; no. 30

  • Chae GT, Yun ST, Mayer B, Kim KH, Kim SY, Kwon JS, Kim K, Koh YK (2007) Fluorine geochemistry in bedrock groundwater of South Korea. Sci Total Environ 385:272–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis NS (1964) Silica in streams and groundwater. Am J Sci 262:870–891

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis SN, DeWiest RJM (1966) Hydrogeology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch WJ (1997) Groundwater geochemistry: fundamentals and applications to contamination. Lewis, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobrzynski D (2005) Silica origin and solubility in groundwater from the weathered zone of sedimentary rocks of the Intra-Sudetic Basin, SW Poland. Acta Geol Pol 4:445–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeze AR, Cherry JA (1979) Groundwater. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaciri SJ, Davies TC (1993) The occurrence and geochemistry of fluoride in some natural waters of Kenya. J Hydrol 143:395–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghose NC, Singh SP, Singh RN, Mukherjee D (1996) Flow stratigraphy of selected sections of the Rajmahal basalts, eastern India. J Southeast Asian Earth Sci 13:83–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Q, Wang Q, Ma T et al (2007) Geochemical processes controlling the elevated fluoride concentrations in groundwaters of the Taiyuan Basin, Northern China. J Geochem Explor 93:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S, Banerjee S, Saha RN et al (2006) Fluoride geochemistry of groundwater in Birbhum, West Bengal, India. Fluoride 39:318–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Handa BK (1975) Geochemistry and genesis of fluoride containing groundwaters in India. Ground Water 13:275–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handa BK (1988) Fluoride occurrence in natural waters in India and its significance. Bhu Jal News 3(2):31–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Hem JD (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water, 3rd edn. US Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254

  • http://birbhum.gov.in/geog1.htm. Accessed on 05 Mar 2015

  • http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/WestBangal/Birbhum.pdf. Accessed on 06 Mar 2015

  • http://data.gov.in/catalog/villagetown-wise-primary-census-abstract-2011-west-bengal#web_catalog_tabs_block_10. Accessed on 24 July 2015

  • Hu S, Luo T, Jing C (2013) Principal component analysis of fluoride geochemistry of groundwater in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, China. J Geochem Explor 135:124–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISI (1983) Indian standard specification for drinking water. IS:10500

  • Jacks G, Bhattacharya P, Chaudhary V, Singh KP (2005) Controls on the genesis of some high-fluoride groundwaters in India. Appl Geochem 20:221–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain CK, Bandyopadhyay A, Bhadra A (2010) Assessment of ground water quality for drinking purpose, District Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. Environ Monit Assess 166:663–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kortatsi BK (2007) Hydrochemical framework of groundwater in the Ankobra Basin, Ghana. Aquat Geochem 13:41–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar M, Ramanathan AL, Rao MS, Kumar B (2006) Identification and evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes in the groundwater environment of Delhi, India. Environ Geol 50:1025–1039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur JM, Sikdar PK, Nath B, Grassineau N, Marshall JD, Banerjee DM (2012) Sedimentological control on Mn, and other trace elements, in groundwater of the Bengal Delta. Environ Sci Technol 46:669–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M (1987) Global chemical weathering of surficial rocks estimated from river dissolved loads. Am J Sci 287:401–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mondal D, Gupta S, Reddy DV, Nagabhushanam P (2014) Geochemical controls on fluoride concentrations in groundwater from alluvial aquifers of the Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. J Geochem Explor 145:190–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee B, Rao MG, Karunakaran C (1969) Genesis of kaoline deposits of Birbhum, West Bengal, India. Clay Miner 8:161–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL, Appelo CAJ (1999) User’s guide to PHREEQC (version 2)—a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. US Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4259

  • Patra PK, Mandal B, Chakraborty S (2010) Hydrogeochemistry of fluoride rich groundwater in Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. Ecoscan 4(2 and 3):209–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickering WF (1985) The mobility of soluble fluoride in soils. Environ Pollut 9:281–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analyses. Am Geophys Union Trans 25:914–923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajmohan N, Elango L (2004) Identification and evolution of hydrogeochemical processes in the groundwater environment in an area of the Palar and Cheyyar River Basins, Southern India. Environ Geol 46:47–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramanaiah SV, Venkatamohan S, Rajkumar B, Sarma PN (2006) Monitoring of fluoride concentration in groundwater of Prakasham district in India: correlation with physicochemical parameters. J Environ Sci Eng 48:129–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer CN, McCarty PL (1967) Chemistry of sanitary engineers. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoeller H (1965) Qualitative evaluation of groundwater resources. In: Methods and techniques of groundwater investigations and development. UNESCO, pp 54–83

  • Schoeller H (1967) Geochemistry of groundwater. In: An international guide for research and practice. UNESCO, pp 1–18

  • Sikdar PK, Chakraborty S (2008) Genesis of arsenic in groundwater of North Bengal Plain using PCA: a case study of English Bazar Block, Malda District, West Bengal, India. Hydrol Process 22:1796–1809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh CK, Mukherjee S (2015) Aqueous geochemistry of fluoride enriched groundwater in arid part of Western India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:2668–2678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh CK, Rina K, Singh RP, Shashtri S, Kamal V, Mukherjee S (2011) Geochemical modeling of high fluoride concentration in groundwater of Pokhran Area of Rajasthan, India. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 86:152–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasa Rao N (1997) The occurrence and behaviour of fluoride in the groundwater of the Lower Vamsadhara River basin, India. Hydrol Sci 42(6):877–892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasamoorthy K, Chidambaram S, Prasanna MV, Vasanthavihar M, Peter J, Anandhan P (2008) Identification of major sources controlling groundwater chemistry from a hard rock terrain—a case study from Mettur taluk, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India. J Earth Syst Sci 117:49–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stallard RF, Edmond JM (1983) Geochemistry of Amazon, the influence of geology and weathering environment on the dissolved load. J Geophys Res 88:9671–9688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao N (2009) Fluoride in groundwater, Varaha River Basin, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Monit Assess 152:47–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao N (2011) High-fluoride groundwater. Environ Monit Assess 176:637–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subba Rao N, Devadas DJ (2003) Fluoride incidence in groundwater in an area of Peninsula India. Environ Geol 45:243–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF (1999) States of the art report on the extent of fluoride in drinking water and the resulting endemicity in India. Report by Fluorosis and Rural Development Foundation for UNICEF, New Delhi

  • Vengosh A, Keren R (1996) Chemical modifications of groundwater contaminated by recharge of sewage effluent. J Contam Hydrol 23:347–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viero AP, Roisenberg C, Roisenberg A, Vigo A (2009) The origin of fluoride in the granitic aquifer of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. Environ Geol 56:1707–1719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei C, Guo H, Zhang D, Wu Y (2015) Occurrence and hydrogeochemical characteristics of high-fluoride groundwater in Xiji County, southern part of Ningxia Province, China. Environ Geochem Health. doi:10.1007/s10653-015-9716-x

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen X, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Liu F (2005) Hydrochemical characteristics and salinity of groundwater in the Ejina Basin, Northwestern China. Environ Geol 48:665–675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel WW, Blum WEH (1992) Fluoride speciation and mobility in fluoride contaminated soil and minerals. Soil Sci 153:357–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Yidana SM, Ophori D, Yakubo BB, Samed AA (2012) A factor model to explain the hydrochemistry and causes of fluoride enrichment in groundwater from the middle Voltaian sedimentary aquifers in the northern region, Ghana. ARPN J Eng Appl Sci 7(1):50–68

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to the Director, CSIR—Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur, for giving permission to publish this paper. The author is also indebted to CSIR, Govt. of India for the financial support through Clean Water Project (ESC0306). The author acknowledges Ms. Ankita Mukherjee for assistance in the field work. Thanks are due to the Assistant Engineers of Nalhati-I and Rampurhat-I Subdivisions, PHED for providing drilling well log data of Nalhati–Rampurhat areas. The author is also thankful to the Block Development Offices of Nalhati-I and Rampurhat-I and Gram Panchayats of Haridaspur and Narayanpur for providing relevant data and support during the field work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering Group, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur, 713 209, India

    Asit Kumar Batabyal

Authors
  1. Asit Kumar Batabyal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asit Kumar Batabyal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Batabyal, A.K. Hydrogeochemical processes and contaminants enrichment with special emphasis on fluoride in groundwater of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. Environ Earth Sci 76, 285 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6584-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6584-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation