Handbook of environmental isotope geochemistry

Groundwater quality in the alluvial aquifer system of northwest India: New evidence of the extent of anthropogenic and geogenic contamination.

https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/57293/9/1-s2.0-S0022169418301380-main.pdf

Tracing groundwater recharge sources in the northwestern Indian alluvial aquifer using water isotopes (δ18O, δ2H and 3H)

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its δ13C in the Ganga (Hooghly) River estuary, India: Evidence of DIC generation via organic carbon degradation and carbonate dissolution

The present study was conducted to examine the water quality of karst springs located along the Piedmont of Beni-Mellal Atlas (Morocco) for drinking purposes. Twenty-five water samples were collected from seven springs in June, July, August and September 2013, and May 2016 have been analyzed for their physicochemical and microbial characteristics. The analytical data of temperature, pH, DO, TAC, TH, oxidizability and NH4+ showed that all sampled springs are suitable as drinking water according to Moroccan and the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Nevertheless, EC, turbidity, and NO3− were sometimes noted higher than the allowable limits, what would be ascribed to erosion and leaching of soil and karstic rocks. The microbial analysis revealed the presence of fecal contamination (total coliforms, E. coli, and intestinal enterococci) in all springs at various times. The water quality index (WQI) calculated based on physicochemical and microbial data reveled that water quality categorization for all sampling springs was found to be ‘medium’ to ‘good’ for drinking uses in the National Sanitation Foundation WQI (NSF-WQI), and ‘‘necessary treatment becoming more extensive’’ to ‘‘purification not necessary’’ in the Dinius' Second Index (D-WQI). The Aine Asserdoune and Foum el Anceur springs showed the good quality of drinking water. According to Moroccan standards for water used for drinking purposes, the waters belong to category A1 that requires becoming drinkable a simple physical treatment and disinfection. From the type of parameters present in quantities exceeding drinking water limits, it is very obvious that these water resources are under the influence of anthropogenic activities such as sewage, waste disposal, deforestation and agricultural activities, caused land degradation and nonpoint pollution sources. Environmental attention, such as systematic quality control and adequate treatment before being used for drinking use and access to sewage sanitation, are required to guarantee sufficient protection of the studied springs.

Physicochemical and microbial assessment of spring water quality for drinking supply in Piedmont of Béni-Mellal Atlas (Morocco)

Stable isotopes and salinity in the surface waters of the Bay of Bengal: Implications for water dynamics and palaeoclimate

This study was carried out to find out the distribution of radon (222Rn) activity concentration measured in the groundwater samples from the East coast of West Bengal, India. The 222Rn activity in 20 groundwater samples were measured using Durridge RAD-7and the values of 222Rn were found between 1.9 ± 0.78 and 9.0 ± 1.13 Bq L−1 with average of 5.0 ± 0.83 Bq L−1. These are well within the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 11.1 Bq L−1.

Radon concentration in groundwater of east coast of West Bengal, India

Controls on water vapor isotopes over Roorkee, India: Impact of convective activities and depression systems

The continuous and large-scale abstraction of groundwater has created a groundwater depletion problem in several parts of the Punjab state including Bist Doab, the interfluve region of Beas and Satluj rivers. In the present study, a few important parameters, viz. water level, stable isotope, EC, temperature, groundwater age, that can be used to fingerprint the over-exploitation of groundwater have been examined. It has been observed that with the increase in over-exploitation, the yield of shallow aquifer is progressively getting reduced and as a result forcing the farmers to sink their wells to deeper depths. With abstraction of deeper aquifer, the storage of old groundwater at the deeper aquifer is declining and getting replaced by induced accelerated inflow of young water from the recharge zone and the overlying shallow aquifer. The signatures of the modern water have been observed in the data analyzed for isotopic, hydro-chemical facies, electrical conductivity and temperature of water from deeper aquifer. The study has identified the usefulness of these parameters for identifying groundwater over-exploitation in the region. Depleting water resource may stagnate the economic progress of the region. The paper provides suitable water resource management strategies to be adopted to improve the sustainability of water resources and economic growth in the region.

Observing changes in groundwater resource using hydro-chemical and isotopic parameters: a case study from Bist Doab, Punjab

Increasing demand of the irrigation water led to improper surface water irrigation policies resulting in water logging problems in southwest Punjab coupled with apprehension of saline zones formation by salinity ingression towards central Punjab due to excessive groundwater abstraction. A network of piezometers exploring 4 upper aquifers was constructed at 6 sites in Sri Muktsar Sahib district of south-west Punjab. Groundwater samples were collected from these piezometers, TDS was measured and analysed for stable isotopes (ẟ18O and ẟD). Based on isotope characterization 4 zones were identified as: (1) zone A: source as fresh water or precipitation (2) zone B evaporation either during precipitation or infiltration (3) zone C intermediate of evaporated and recycled water (4) recycled water. This study can be useful in proper management of the water resources in this region by identifying the fresh water and saline groundwater zones in the area.

M. S. Rao

Papers

Stable isotopes and salinity in the surface waters of the Bay of Bengal: Implications for water dynamics and palaeoclimate

Radon concentration in groundwater of east coast of West Bengal, India

Controls on water vapor isotopes over Roorkee, India: Impact of convective activities and depression systems

Observing changes in groundwater resource using hydro-chemical and isotopic parameters: a case study from Bist Doab, Punjab

Groundwater salinity and isotope characterization: a case study from South-West Punjab, India