Water Quality Assessment in and Around Sandur Taluk, Bellary District, South India

Abstract

Assessment of surface and groundwater quality has been carried out in the parts of the Sandur taluk, Bellary district, Karnataka, South India. Surface and ground water samples collected from different villages in and around Sandur taluk. Sandur taluk is well known for iron ore deposits. At the same time, rigorous and unplanned mining methods causing intensive natural hazards like water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution dust pollution etc. Based on the analysis of these parameters, the villages are classified as safe and unsafe. Results show gradual decreasing of ground water quality and surface water pollution in the study area. GIS interpolation technique performed to represent the concentration parameters in the affected villages of the study area. Northern and central part of the taluk is more affected by mining activity whereas south eastern part of the taluk is well thought-out to be safe. Standard samples the following parameters analyzed as follows pH, Total Hardness (TH), Fluoride (F), Sulphate (SO₄), Nitrate (NO₃), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg). The tests carried out for characterization of surface waters and groundwater for the month of August and September 2012, Interpolation technique was performed using ArcMap 9.3.