Influences of groundwater extraction on the distribution of dissolved As in shallow aquifers of West Bengal, India

Neidhardt, Harald; Berner, Zsolt; Freikowski, Dominik; Biswas, Ashis; Winter, Josef; Chatterjee, Debashis; Norra, Stefan

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.01.044

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…However, long-term trends in As concentrations, both increases and decreases, have been documented over a period of 8 years for a number of wells within a relatively small region of West Bengal, India (McArthur et al, 2010). Some shorter time series have shown significant seasonal variability in groundwater composition, particularly in shallow aquifers, but by and large variations in groundwater As have been much more limited (BGS/DPHE, 2001; Cheng et al, 2005; Dhar et al, 2008; Bhattacharya et al, 2011; Planar-Friedrich et al, 2012; Neidhardt et al, 2013; Radloff et al, this volume). Only for large perturbations induced by local pumping in the vicinity of a spatial gradient have larger variations in groundwater As concentrations been reported (McArthur et al, 2010; Jessen et al, 2012; Neidhardt et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of decoupling between arsenic and phosphate in shallow groundwater of Bangladesh and potential implications

Aziz

Bostick

Zheng

et al. 2017

Applied Geochemistry

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Reductive dissolution of iron oxyhydroxides and reduction of arsenic are often invoked as leading causes of high dissolved As levels in shallow groundwater of Bangladesh. The second of these assumptions is questioned here by comparing the behavior As and phosphate (P), a structural analogue for As (V) which also adsorbs strongly to Fe oxyhydroxides but is not subject to reduction. The first line of evidence is provided by a detailed groundwater time-series spanning two years for three wells in the 6–9 m depth range showing removal of As(III) from shallow groundwater during the monsoon without of loss of P. The data indicate a loss of ~90% of the dissolved As from groundwater in the intermediate well relative to a level of 3 μmol/L As predicted by conservative mixing between groundwater sampled from the shallower and the deeper well. In contrast, P concentrations of ~30 μmol/L in the intermediate well closely match the prediction from conservative mixing. Reduction therefore appears to inhibit the release of As to groundwater at this site relative to P instead of enhancing it. A re-analysis of existing groundwater As and P data from across the country provides a broader context for this finding and confirms that, without reduction, elevated concentrations of As would probably be even more widespread in shallow aquifers of Bangladesh. Without providing definite proof, X-ray absorption spectroscopy of sediment from the time-series site and elsewhere suggests that the loss of As from groundwater may be coupled to precipitation of As sulfide. Further study is needed to assess the implications of these observations for shallow aquifers that have been subjected to increased withdrawals for irrigation in recent decades.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of decoupling between arsenic and phosphate in shallow groundwater of Bangladesh and potential implications

Aziz

Bostick

Zheng

et al. 2017

Applied Geochemistry

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“…The direction of piezometric head gradient is indicated (upward or downward) based on field observations at six sites, see supporting information for details, for site 5 (Khulna) piezometric data from BWDB was used (BWDB, 2013a). (d) Depth variations in simplified lithology and total depths for piezometers and public supply sites: DI (Public Health Engineering, 2016); SA (Mukherjee et al, 2011); KM (Neidhardt et al, 2013); GA-BA, LAa (BWDB, 2013b); LAb-c (BGS/DPHE, 2001); KA (Hoque & Burgess, 2012). key knowledge gaps remain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Security of Deep Groundwater in the Coastal Bengal Basin Revealed by Tracers

Lapworth

Zahid

Taylor

et al. 2018

Geophysical Research Letters

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Uncertainty persists regarding the vulnerability of deep groundwater across Asia's megadeltas. In the coastal Bengal Basin aquifer system, shallow groundwater (<100 m) commonly features high salinity or arsenic concentrations, and deep, better‐quality, groundwater supplies drinking water to >80 million people. Here we report new radiocarbon evidence from a network of nine dedicated, multilevel monitoring wells, which indicates residence times of between 103 and 104 years for groundwater at depths >150 m. Modern groundwater detected in some deep abstraction wells using anthropogenic tracers (SF6, CFCs) is attributed to short circuiting of shallow groundwater within wells. Age‐depth profiles and hydrochemical data in monitoring wells confirm the regional resilience of deep groundwater to ingress of shallow contaminated groundwater. Our results are consistent with high regional anisotropy in the aquifer and support continued use of deep groundwater though the potential for leakage of shallow contaminated groundwater in deep abstraction wells requires careful monitoring.

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“…Observed uctuations of arsenic are primarily induced by seasonally occurring groundwater movement (19). Elevated levels of arsenic may also be in uenced by the weathering/erosion of minerals as well as application of various agricultural fertilizers (20,21).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metal levels in drinking water sources of Chingola District, Zambia

Hamwiinga

Meki

Mubita

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: One of the factors impeding access to safe water is water pollution. Of particular concern is heavy metal contamination of water bodies. This study was aimed at determining the levels of heavy metals in drinking water sources of Chingola District of Zambia. Methods: A cross sectional study was employed. A total of 60 water samples were collected. Thirsty (30) samples were collected in the dry season in the month of October 2016 and another 30 in the wet season in the months of February and March, 2017. For each season 10 water samples were collected from each of the three water sources. i.e. Tap water, Urban ground water sources and Rural ground water sources. Heavy metal analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).Results: This study revealed that the concentrations of Iron, Manganese, Lead, Nickel and Arsenic were beyond maximum permissible levels in various water sources. Combined averages for both dry and wet seasons were as follows: Iron: 2.3, Copper: 0.63, Cobalt: 0.02, Manganese: 0.36, Lead: 0.04, Zinc:3.2, Nickel: 0.03, Arsenic: 0.05. Chromium and Cadmium were below detection limit in all water samples. The median concentrations of iron, arsenic, copper, manganese in drinking water from the Tap, rural and urban ground water sources were different, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The median concentrations of arsenic, nickel, manganese and cobalt were different between dry and wet season, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: Sources of heavy metals in water seems to be both natural and from human activities. The concentration of heavy metals in different water sources in this study was found to be above the recommended levels. This calls for improvement in water monitoring to protect the health of the public. Therefore, there is need for continuous monitoring of heavy metals in drinking water sources by regulatory authorities.

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Influences of groundwater extraction on the distribution of dissolved As in shallow aquifers of West Bengal, India

Cited by 28 publications

References 45 publications

Evidence of decoupling between arsenic and phosphate in shallow groundwater of Bangladesh and potential implications

Evidence of decoupling between arsenic and phosphate in shallow groundwater of Bangladesh and potential implications

Security of Deep Groundwater in the Coastal Bengal Basin Revealed by Tracers

Heavy metal levels in drinking water sources of Chingola District, Zambia

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