Quality assessment of ground water of Jharia coalfield areas (West Bengal): A Case Study

Abstract

The physiochemical characteristics of ground water of the upper catchments of Jharia coalfield (WB) were studied to evaluate the water

quality assessment. The aims of the present work is to characterize and to assess the suitability of Ground water for domestic purposes

by comparing various parameters of ground water with drinking water standard as per IS: 10500. Representative twenty water samples

from ground water (tubewell and dug wells) were collected from different sampling sites including mining, rural and town areas of Lodna,

Bastacolla, Sijua, Western Jharia, Block-II, Barora, Digwadih, Dhansar, Alkusa and Tasra mining area of Jharia Coalfield. Water samples

were analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, alkalinity, major anions (F, Cl, NO3 HCO3, and SO4) and major cations (Na, K, Ca and Mg). Ground water

quality assessment of the Jharia coal field indicating that soft to very hard, fresh to brakish type and alkalinity type of the nature. The

quality assessment shows that in general, the water is suitable for domestic purposes with some exceptions. However, EC, TDS, NO3, Mg,

Caand SO4 values are exceeding the desirable limits at some site, making it unsafe for drinking.