International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Index Analysis, Graphical and Multivariate Statistical Approaches for Hydrochemical Characterisation of Damodar River and its Canal System, Durgapur, West Bengal, India

    , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, 731235, Birbhum, West Bengal, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 2, Issue (2), Pages 53-62, February,22 (2013)

Abstract

Damodar river, one of the most important tributaries of river Ganges, flows through two Indian states Jharkhand and West Bengal. The river basin is characterised by the presence of large scale mining and industrial activities owing to the rich occurrence of mineral resources. The river in West Bengal flows through the steel city Durgapur where a massive 692 metres barrage is located across the river. Two main canals originate from the Durgapur barrage supplying water to an extensive network of canal systems. The major objectives of the present study were, i. to investigate the hydrochemical profile of the Damodar river and its canal waters, ii. to develop an objective water quality index (WQI) indicating their overall ecological status, iii. to apply intelligent data analyses techniques like graphical methods and multivariate statistical approaches on water quality data for better interpretation of water chemistry, iv. to test the suitability of waters for irrigation using sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percentage sodium (%Na) and permeability index (PI). Water samples were analysed for sixteen parameters to develop a suitable hydrochemical profile. Piper diagram was used for plotting major cations and anions suggesting the water types. Principal component analysis (PCA)/Factor analysis (FA) and cluster analysis (CA) along with correlation analysis was performed on the data matrix for apportionment of sources of chemicals found in the river and canal waters. Important findings of the study are i.WQI (53.63 – 65.00) classified river and canal waters into medium category indicating anthropogenic influence on the surface water characteristics, ii. Piper diagram suggested water types ranging from Mixed-Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl to Na-Cltype, iii. PCA/FA and CA interpreted both geogenic and anthropogenic factors responsible for influencing the water chemistry, iv. SAR (1.43 – 2.27), %Na (39.96 – 55.93) and PI (56.49 – 101.19) values along with the United States Salinity Laboratory diagram and the Wilcox diagram reflected suitability of the river and canal waters for irrigation. The organic pollution load emerged to be a serious concern and proper attention is required for controlling this problem.

References

  1. Damodar River, From Wikipedia the Free Encyclopaedia., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damodar_River, Accessed on 10th October (2012)
  2. Durgapur, West Bengal, From Wikipedia the Free Encyclopaedia., http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/ Durgapur,_West_Bengal, Accessed on 10th October (2012)
  3. Sarkar L. and Banerjee S., Breeding Ground Profile of Food Fish Species in Damodar River System, Int. J. Biol.,2(1), 51-61 (2010)
  4. Gupta S. and Banerjee U.S., Geochemistry of the River Damodar-the Influence of the Geology and Weathering Environment on the dissolved load, Int. J. Geomatics Geosci.,2(3), 853-867 (2012)
  5. Durgapur barrage, From Wikipedia the Free Encyclopaedia., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durgapur _Barrage, Accessed on 10th October (2012)
  6. Bhardwaj V., Singh D.S. and Singh A.K., Water Quality of the Choti Gandak River Using Principal Component Analysis, Ganga Plain, India, J. Earth Syst. Sci.,119(1), 117-127 (2010)
  7. American Public Health Association (APHA), Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, APHA, AWWA, WPCF, 21st Centennial Edition, Washington DC, USA (2005)
  8. Pesce S.F. and Wunderlin, D.A. Use of Water Quality Indices to Verify the Impact of Córdoba City (Argentina) on Suquia River, Water Res.,34(11), 2915-2926 (2000)
  9. Jonnalagadda S.B. and Mhere G., Water Quality of the Odzi River in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, Water Res.,35(10), 2371-2376 (2001)
  10. Sánchez E., Colmenarejo M.F., Vincete J., Rubio A., García M.G., Travieso L. and Borja R., Use of the Water Quality Index and Dissolved Oxygen Deficit as Simple Indicators of Watersheds Pollution, Ecol. Indic., 7, 315-328 (2007)
  11. Yongming H., Peixuan D., Junji C. and Posmentier E.S., Multivariate Analysis of Heavy Metal Contamination in Urban Dusts of Xi’an, Central China, Sci. Total Environ.,355 (1-3), 176-186 (2006)
  12. Tiri A. and Boudoukha A., Hydrochemical Analysis and Assessment of Surface Water Quality in Koudiat Medouar Reservoir, Algeria, Eur. J. Sci. Res.,41(2), 273-285 (2010)
  13. United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) Staff., Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkaline Soils, U.S. Department of Agriculture Hand Book no. 60, (1954)
  14. Wilcox L.V., Classification and Use of Irrigation Waters, US Department of Agriculture Circular no. 969, Washington DC (1955)
  15. Doneen L.D., Notes on Water Quality in Ariculture, Water Science and Engineering Paper 4001, Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, University of California (1964)
  16. Suthar S., Sharma J., Chabukdhara M. and Nema. A.K., Water Quality Assessment of River Hindon at Gazhiabad, India: Impact of Industrial and Urban Waste Water, Environ. Monit. Assess.,165, 103-112 (2009)
  17. Piper A.M., A Geographic Procedure in the Geochemical Interpretation of Water Analysis, Trans. Am. Geophysics Union., 25, 914-923 (1944)
  18. Tatawat R.K. and Chandel C.P.S., Quality of Ground Water of Jaipur city, Rajasthan (India) and its Suitability for Domestic and Irrigation Purpose, Appl. Ecol. Environ. Res., 6(2), 79–88 (2008)
  19. Ravikumar P. and Somashekar R.K., Multivariate Analysis to Evaluate Geochemistry of Ground Water in Varahi River Basin of Udupi in Karnataka, India, The Ecoscan, 4(2and3), 153-162 (2010)
  20. Nair I.V., Singh K., Arumugam M., Gangadhar K. and Clarson D., Trace Metal Quality of Meenachil River at Kottayam, Kerala (India) by Principal Component Analysis, World Appl. Sci. J.,9(10), 1100-1107 (2010)
  21. Nishanthiny S.C., Thushyanthy M., Barathithasan T. and Saravanan S., Irrigation Water Quality Based on Hydro Chemical Analysis, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, American-Eurasian J. Agric. and Environ. Sci.,7(1), 100-102 (2010)
  22. Todd D.K., Groundwater Hydrology. John Wiley and Sons, New York, USA, (1980)
  23. Le Breton E.G. and Berg A.V., Chemical Analyses of Groundwaters of East-central Alberta, Research Council of Alberta, preliminary report 65(5), 1-24 (1965)