Articles

Modeling Contaminant Transport from a Red Mud Pond – A Case Study from South India

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The present study focused on impact assessment of redmud pond on groundwater using numerical groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling using pertinent data including water quality and 2D electrical resistivity imaging data. The observed groundwater depths range from 1.2 to 25.8 meters below ground level with deeper levels observed in upstream and higher elevated regions in the study area. Elevated pH and electrical conductivity (>3000 μS/cm) characterize the Redmud ponds, while other groundwater samples meet BIS drinking water standards. Major ion concentrations contouring indicates high total dissolved solids (TDS) around Redmud ponds due to leakage and in the downstream due to domestic sewage pollution. Most locations adhere to BIS drinking water limits except for one downstream site. The resistivity data indicated hard formations (>18 m depth) with resistivity >500 Ohm.m, weathered basalt (12-18 m, 60-150 Ohm.m), and saturated water (12 m, 1-5 Ohm.m). Contaminated aquifers (<1 Ohm.m) are detected up to 3 m depth, and noticed accumulating contaminated water (27 m depth) in the NW corner of the Redmud pond from seepage. Predominant groundwater flow from the Redmud pond towards public water bodies and streams is highlighted by simulated contaminant transport model. Collaboration and comprehensive management are recommended to protect the watershed’s environmental integrity and public health.

Groundwater Distribution in Urban Settlement

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Urban cities are noted for technological and economic advancement but are also the convergent localities for poverty, humans’ disparity, environmental degradations and the propagation of communicable diseases. This study examined groundwater distribution in urban settlement with a view to identify and proffer solutions to the associated problems of improper distribution of groundwater in such area. Literature search was employed mainly to unravel the various groundwater distribution techniques and inferences were made on how to improve the distribution techniques. The study reveal springs, sunk wells and boreholes as the main methods of groundwater distribution in urban areas. Urban settlement leads to uncontrollable rise in population which adversely affects the quantity and quality of the groundwater. There is a general decrease in quantity due to overexploitation while the quality degraded as a result of pollution from industrial waste and the people.  In addition, pollution could be linked to saltwater intrusion since most urban regions of the world are in the coastal area. Groundwater distribution could be ameliorated through recharge management employing artificial recharge. Degraded groundwater quality could be treated to the standard of potable water. Protecting  groundwater  resources  amidst  the  prevailing  rapid  urbanization represent  a  considerable  challenge  that  can  lead  to  escalating  costs  of provision  of  drinking  water  in  the  areas  and  cause considerable decrease  in  public  health conditions. Also, as  it  is  technologically  difficult  and  economically  expensive  to  treat  a contaminated  aquifer,  groundwater  protection  measures  must  be  sought beforehand.

Analysis of Water Quality of Saket by using Geophysical Logging Located in Saket, New Delhi

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Geophysical logging application was incorporated for the perusal of the groundwater analysis. The study area involves the parts of the Saket area, situated in the Indian capital Delhi. For the purpose of study VES(vertical electrical sounding) method was adopted to reach to desired analysis. The study carries the objective of an analysis of the condition of groundwater along with the investigation of the geological situation. Abem Terrameter SAS-300c system with the with Geomac II, ABEM SAS log200 system with Geomac III were used in the study to perform the VES of the Schlumberger configuration along with the tubewell geophysical logging. Lithological investigation of the tubewell depicts the presence of alluvial topsoil, Badarpur sand, fractured and weathered rock along with the sandy silt and silty sand for subsurface of soil. Also, the presence of four geoelectric layer found. In these layers the fourth layer that is observed at a depth range from 15 ft to 450 ft, were found with the aquifer and 50 to 2000 Ωm resistivity were observed for this layer consisting aquifer. Geophysical logging analysis depicts the observation results for total dissolved solid in aquifer as 430 ppm. the obtained limit of TDS is found to be in standard limits, as the standard limit is 500 ppm set for the potable water by standard organization of India. Ground water development is found to be feasible for the fourth layer, since the layer is observed as potential non-conductive zone in the study area.

Investigation of Groundwater Potential Using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) Techniques in Fakai Local Government of Kebbi State, Nigeria

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Groundwater is one of the most precious natural resource which supports human health, economic development and ecological diversity. Remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) Techniques have been effectively used for the investigation of the potentiality of groundwater resource in Fakai local government area. The dataset for this research work are Landsat 8 Operational land imager (OLI), ASTER DEM, Topographical map and Geological map from which the essential criteria were obtained. The study used Weighted Linear Combination approach which involves mathematical weighing and ranking of the criteria. Multi-criteria evaluation was carried out on all the criteria using the Weighted Linear Combination approach in ArcGIS 10.4. Spatial analysis was carried out on the derived result using the Suitability Index (SI) value created from pairwise comparison analysis. The suitability map for groundwater recharge in the study area was hence produced using the suitability index. The result shows four classes for the study area. The classes include highly suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable and least suitable. Thus, the area most suitable for groundwater are found most towards the northern part, around the center and some regions in the northern part of the study area this serves as an indicator that most of the study area has good potential for groundwater recharge.