Delineation of safe groundwater aquifers in a Fluoride contaminated region: Walwa Taluka, Maharashtra

Abstract

Groundwater aquifer contamination has leads health problems in village areas of Maharashtra, India. In this study, groundwater analysis was carried out for different groundwater parameters along with fluoride to delineate the high and low contaminated fluoride region in the Walwa taluka, Maharashtra. A distinct contaminated regions for high and low F‒ contaminated regions were identified in the collected post monsoon groundwater samples (n = 144). In total 98% samples are unsuitable for consumption. Hydro-geochemistry of the region showed highest anion concentration for bicarbonate (1880 mg/L), whereas highest cation concentration for calcium was measured as 118 mg/L. It is main cause for alkaline groundwater condition in this region. The 2D ordinary kriging results are well corborated with the obtained hydrogeochemistry results. The low F‒ concentration region was found near the Krishna River, whereas high concentration regions were found near the agricultural and high land region. The primary hydrogeochemistry of the region suggests that the geogenic source of F‒ minerals in the region. The practice of fertiliser, herbicides and pesticides on agricultural field suggests that these are the secondary source for groundwater F‒ contamination. The applied numerical groundwater modelling software, provided technically viable and effective decision making-tool for identification of safe region in the study area.