Appraisal of salinity and fluoride in a semi-arid region of India using statistical and multivariate techniques

Abstract

15Various physico-chemical parameters including fluoride (F -) were analyzed to 16 understand the hydro geochemistry of an aquifer in a semi-arid region of India. 17Furthermore, the quality of the shallow and deep aquifer (using tube-well and hand-18 pumps) were also investigated for their best ecological use including drinking, 19 domestic, agricultural and other activities. Different multivariate techniques were 20 applied to understand the groundwater chemistry of aquifer. Findings of correlation 21 matrix were strengthened by the factor analysis and this shows that salinity is mainly 22 contributed by magnesium-salts as compared to calcium-salts in the aquifer. The 23 problem of salinization seems mainly compounded by the contamination of the shallow 24 aquifers by the recharging water. High factor loading of total alkalinity and bicarbonates 25 indicates that total alkalinity was mainly due to carbonates and bicarbonates of sodium. 26

A study of arsenic, iron and other dissolved ion variations in the groundwater of Bishnupur District, Manipur, India

“…Ngakhalawai showed the highest concentration in the monsoon, whereas in Kwakta it was during pre-monsoon (5.26 mg L -1 ) season. High concentrations of PO 4 3-in the groundwater are due to effluents induced by agriculture or domestic wastes entering the alluvial aquifer because of their high permeability (Ravindra et al 2003;Mor et al 2006Mor et al , 2008.…”

Assessing seasonal variation of fluoride in groundwater for irrigation uses through hydro-geochemical and multivariate statistical approach

“…The EC is the indicator of salinity. The positive high loading on EC and higher loading on Mg compared to Ca may be due to the fact that salinity is mainly produced by salts of Mg compared to Ca (Mor et al 2008). In addition to this, the high loadings on SO 4 may be attributed to the external source, i.e.…”

Geochemical and statistical evaluation of groundwater in Imphal and Thoubal district of Manipur, India

“…In Thoubal, numerous brine springs are present which are major sources of salt production by the method of evaporation. Seepage with rainwater resulted in the high Cl À content of the groundwater (Mor et al, 2009). An increase in concentration may cause salinization of the aquifer (Richter and Kreitler, 1993); however, this phenomenon was observed in only few samples indicating the presence of confined aquifers.…”

“…The groundwater in both districts were evaluated with respect to its TDS content, EC values and chloride concentration for its suitability in irrigation (Mor et al, 2009) (Table 4). More than 86% of the samples from Imphal district were categorized in class I based on TDS content and rest were categorized in class II throughout the year.…”

“…The classification of groundwater based on EC as irrigation standards suggested that approximately 90% of the samples were in Class I and II in both districts i.e. they were fit for irrigation purpose (Mor et al, 2009). 58% of the samples showed that the groundwater were excellent for irrigation based on the chloride content while 20% of the samples were unfit for irrigation during three seasons in both district.…”