Springshed Management

Training Curriculum 2016

The Springs Initiative

SESSION TITLE:

Water Quality

SECTION: Understanding the Resource

MODULE: BMPs for Restoration, Recharge & Participation

AUTHORS: PSI

CONTRIBUTING ORGANIZATIONS: People Science Institute

PURPOSE: To overview general water quality issues & specifics regarding groundwater and springs in India

IMPACT: Participants will be able to list and define main issues and some remediation activities

TIME REQUIRED: 50-60 minutes

MATERIALS: This ppt

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Springshed Management Training Curriculum, Draft 2

Outline:

• Definition of water quality

• The main issues

• Constituents

• Geogenic versus anthropogenic

• Monitoring protocols

• Data analysis

Springshed Management Training Curriculum, Draft 2

Peoples’ Science Institute,

Dehradun

Why Water Quality ?At the United Nations conference at Mar del Plata in 1977,

which launched the International Drinking-Water Supply

and Sanitation Decade, this philosophy was adopted

unambiguously:

“all peoples, whatever their stage of development and social

and economic condition, have the right to have access to

drinking-water in quantities and of a quality equal to their

basic needs.”

Mud

Feacal Coliforms

pH 7.3

A B

pH 3.2

Arsenic = 0.2 mg/L

Fluoride = 4.5 mg/L

People’s Perception of safe water are based on

subjective values :

Color, Odour, Taste and Suspended Impurities

Water Quality

Surface water quality depends upon Season Anthropogenic

Substratum (bed soil) Geogenic

Land use Anthropogenic

Size of habitation. Anthropogenic

Industries and waste disposal Anthropogenic

Groundwater quality depends upon Geology Geogenic

Land use Anthropogenic

Industries and waste disposal Anthropogenic

Parameters for Water Quality

Assessment Physical

pH

Temperature

Colour

Odour

Transparency

Chemical

Hardness

Chloride

Fluoride

Alkalinity

Phosphate

Nitrate

Heavy metals

Toxins

Organics

Biological

Bacteria

Virus

Fungi

Algae

Benthic Organism

Radioactive

Constituents in GroundwaterMajor Secondary Trace Trace

(1.0 – 1,000

mg/l)

(0.01 – 10 mg/l) (0.0001 – 0.1 mg/l) (less than 0.001

mg/l)

Sodium,

Calcium,

Magnesium

Potassium, Iron Aluminum, Arsenic,

Cadmium,

Antimony,

Chromium, Copper,

Lead, Manganese,

Molybdenum,

Nickel, Phosphate,

Zinc, Uranium,

Vanadium, Selenium

etc

Beryllium,

Bismuth, Cesium,

Gallium, Gold,

Platinum, Silver,

Thorium, Tin,

Zirconium etc

Bicarbonate,

Sulfate,

Chloride,

Silica

Carbonate,

Nitrate, Fluoride,

Boron

Toxicity to Human Health

Common elements found in the

Earth's rocks

Element Chemical Symbol Percent Weight in

Earth's Crust

Oxygen O 46.60

Silicon Si 27.72

Aluminum Al 8.13

Iron Fe 5.00

Calcium Ca 3.63

Sodium Na 2.83

Potassium K 2.59

Magnesium Mg 2.09

Water

Interaction with

rocks is less so

low TDS

Water Interaction

with rocks is More

so higher TDS

TDS Value =

20-250 mg/L or

PPM

TDS Value =

200-18000 mg/L

or PPM

Major ions Ca,

Mg, Cl, NO3

Major ions Ca,

Mg, Cl, NO3,

SO4, Na, K

Minor ions Zn,

Pb, Cd, Cu,

etc.

Minor ions As,

F, U etc.

Unconfined Aquifer

Confined Aquifer 1

Confined Aquifer 2

Basic

Water Parameters

pH

Degree of acidity or alkalinity

Extreme low or high pH is hazardous

High value causes eye irritation and of skin disorder

Low pH value causes redness and irritation of eyes, impart a sour taste to

water, increase toxicity of water by dissolving heavy metals easily

The BIS standard 10500:2012 is 6.5-8.5

Geology and pH

Many rocks having the elements/chemicals of nature alkalinity or basicity.

Dissolving these rocks make water alkaline and acidic

More acidic water increase the rate of dissolving of other chemicals and

elements, especially metals

Calcite (CaCO3) and Basalt (Oxides of Alkaline earth metals e.g. Ca, Mg,

Na, P etc.) are the basic rocks

Quartzite (SiO2) and Feldspar (KAlSi3O8–NaAlSi3O8 –CaAl2Si2O8)are the

acidic rocks

Total Hardness

Indicator of calcium and magnesium ions

Ameliorate toxicity of hazardous heavy metals

High value of Hardness consumes more soap

Encrustation in water supply structure

Scale formation in boilers.

The BIS standard 10500:2012 is 300-600 mg/l.

Geology and Hardness

Natural sources, dissolved polyvalent metallic ions

from sedimentary rocks, seepage and runoff from

soils

Calcium and magnesium, from sedimentary rocks,

limestone and chalk

Minor contribution by aluminium, barium, iron,

manganese, strontium and zinc

Rock type/Elements Vs. Groundwater Quality

Calcite

Carbonates

Nitrates

Borates

Dolomite

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Total dissolved solids (TDS) is a measure of the all substances dissolved in

water.

TDS is in the study of water quality for streams, rivers and lakes, although

TDS is not generally considered a primary pollutant.

Total dissolved solids arise from the weathering and dissolution of rocks

and soils.

Primary sources for TDS in receiving waters are agricultural and residential

runoff, leaching of soil contamination and point source water pollution

discharge from industrial or sewage treatment plants.

The BIS standard 10500:2012 is 500–2000 mg/l

Electrical Conductivity (EC)

Conductivity is the ability of water to conduct an electrical

current, and the dissolved ions are the conductors.

Salts that dissolve in water break into positively and negatively

charged ions.

TDS is related to EC with a factor of 0.65.

TDS Vs EC TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)

EC (Electrical Conductivity)

1 Liter

Water

Table Salt (NaCl) =

1 Spoon full

TDS

EC

NaCl = Na+ + Cl-

NaCl as one entity

NaCl as two entity as

Na+ & Cl-

Salinity Salinity is a measure of the amount of salts in the water.

Because dissolved ions increase salinity as well as conductivity, the two

measures are related. The salts in sea water are primarily sodium chloride

(NaCl).

Salinity is the total of all non-carbonate salts dissolved in water unlike

chloride (Cl–) concentration, you can think of salinity as a measure of the

total salt concentration, comprised mostly of Na+ and Cl– ions.

Salinity (ppm) = 1.8066 ✕ Cl– (mg/L)

Chloride

Major inorganic anions.

Indicator of fecal coliforms in water source.

Produce salty taste, harmful for metallic pipes and growing plants

A sudden increase in chloride content indicates organic (sewage)

contamination

The BIS standard 10500:2012 is 250-1000mg/l.

Chloride Contamination

Leaching of sedimentary rocks and soils and the dissolution of salt deposits.

Other sources of chloride in groundwater include

River Streambeds with salt-containing minerals

Runoff from salted roads

Irrigation water returned to streams

Water softener regeneration

Saltwater intrusion and sea spray in coastal areas.

Leachate from dumps or landfills.

Water softener backwash.

Sewage contamination.

Leachate from abandoned, deep exploration holes or mines (rare).

Total Alkalinity

Acid neutralizing capacity

Carbonate, bicarbonate & hydroxide ions

High value unfits water for irrigation

Alkalinity imparts bitter taste to water

The BIS standard 10500:2012 is 200–600 mg/l

Geology and Alkalinity

Sources are rocks which contain carbonate, bicarbonate, and

hydroxide compounds.

Borates, silicates, and phosphates also may contribute to

alkalinity.

Limestone bedrocks contributes high alkalinity

Granites and some conglomerates and sandstones contributes

low alkalinity.

Nitrate

Nitrate generally occurs in traces in surface water, but may attain

considerable concentrations

Inadequately treated sewage waters, run-off, and poorly functioning

septic systems.

Blue baby syndrome in infants.

Causes eutrophication

The BIS standard 10500:2012 is 45 mg/l.

Geology and Nitrate

Nitrate depends on land use, amount of nitrogen applied to

the land surface and the presence of dissolved oxygen in the

aquifer

Inputs of nitrogen higher in urban and agricultural areas than

forested areas

Fine-grained soils and aquifer materials commonly contain

higher amounts of organic materials than do coarser

materials, and therefore less dissolved oxygen.

Fluoride

Occur naturally in water added by anthropogenic and

geogenic activities.

Up-to 0.5 mg/l, fluoride reduces dental caries without harm.

Higher levels may cause fluorosis in the following stages:

• Dyspepsia and indigestion – non–skeletal fluorosis.

• Affecting the human teeth (dental fluorosis)

• Disruption of entire skeletal system (skeletal fluorosis).

The BIS standard 10500:2012 is 1-1.5 mg/l.

Victims of Fluorosis

Geology and Fluoride

Abnormal level of fluoride is common in fractured hard rock

zone composed of minerals like topaz, fluorite, fluor-apatite,

villuamite, cryolite and fluoride-replaceable hydroxyl ions in

ferro-magnesium silicates.

Fluoride ions from these minerals leach into the groundwater

and contribute to high fluoride concentrations. Occasionally,

mica group of minerals like muscovite and biotite also

contribute.

Concentration of Fluoride in

different rocks SN Rocks Ave. fluoride content (ppm)

1 Granites 870

2 Slates and clays 800

3 Basalts 360

4 Phosphorites 31000

5 Sandstone 180

6 Limestone 220

Total Iron

An essential trace element, required to transport oxygen in blood and to

reduce toxicity of other heavy metals

Aesthetic problem

Water becomes brackish color, rusty sediment, bitter or metallic taste,

brown-green stains water gets iron bacteria, discolored beverages.

The BIS standard 10500:2012is 0.3 mg/l

Rock type/Elements Vs. Groundwater Quality

Pyrite

Iron and Sulfite Iron oxide

Hematite

Fecal Coliform

The most important and critical parameter.

Coliforms bacteria, including fecal coliforms, are not pathogenic, but occur

along with enteric pathogenic organisms which may cause diseases like

typhoid, para-typhoid, gastroenteritis, cholera, dysentery, diarrhea.

Fecal coliforms bacteria are mainly found in the faeces of human and other

mammals & birds, which are prime causes of water borne diseases.

Presence of coliforms in treated water suggest inadequate treatment, post

treatment contamination or excessive nutrient load.

Contamination flow

Contaminant’s Behavior Tendency to concentrate

Bioaccumulation of contaminants in Non-confined

Aquifers.

The polluted river system will contaminate the large scale

at a very high rate.

For example Yamuna River in Delhi the contaminants

present in river are also in handpumps or borewell

Erin Brockovich Movie is the best example.

Kanpur is also facing same chromium contaminants in

groundwater.

Rivers as a source of Ground

Water Pollution

Unconfined Aquifer

Confined Aquifer 1

Confined Aquifer 2

Contaminants

Water Quality Monitoring

Testing Protocol

Testing FrequencyWeekly or in 15 days Seasonal (Once or Twice)

pH Alkalinity (Also Required when change in

pH)

Temperature (If Required) Hardness (Calcium & Magnesium)

Colour Chloride

Odour Sulphate

Turbidity Nitrate

Total Dissolved Solids Phosphate

Residual Chlorine Fluoride

Total Coliforms Iron

Heavy Metals

Seasonal Testing Summer (Lean Season)

Determines the contaminants load added to a human body

Pre Monsoon

Determines the status of contaminants before onset of

monsoon

Post Monsoon

Determines the dilution of contaminants after monsoon

Winters (Lean Season)

Determines the aquifer behaviour.

Data

Interpretation

Case Study

Contamination Control or eradication of contaminants through

water harvesting Structure

This is a case of village where recharge activities fulfill the

basic right for safe and sufficient water.

Community Mobilization also done to protect recharge site –

social fencing

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Microbial Load

Rainfall Feacal Coliforms

Mineral Map

Coal Mining

Coal Deposits occur along

southern fringe of Shillong

plateau distributed in Khasi

Hills, Garo Hills, and Jaintia

Hills.

Coal Extraction was done by

primitive methods known as rat

hole mining.

Water bodies are the greatest

victims of coal mining.

Jaintia Hills The Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya is a major coal

producing area with an estimated coal reserve of about 40

million tonnes.

The three coal seams vary from 30 to 212 cm in thickness.

The main characteristics of the coal found in Jaintia Hills

are its low ash content, high volatile matter, high calorific

value and comparatively high sulphur content (Acidic

Mines).

Deterioration of water quality

The water is badly affected by contamination of Acid

Mines Drainage (AMD) originating from mines and

spoils, leaching of heavy metals, organic enrichment and

silting by coal and sand particles.

Low pH (between 2-3, facilitates leaching of toxic metals

into the water), high conductivity, high concentration of

sulphates, iron and toxic heavy metals, low dissolved

oxygen (DO) and high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

characterize the degradation of water quality.