GROUND WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF RURAL HABITATION AT MEHAM BLOCK, ROHTAK, HARYANA (INDIA): FOCUSED ON FLUORIDE AND NITRATE

Abstract

The present study was carried out to find the ground water quality of Meham Block Rohtak, Haryana (India) with special focus on fluoride and nitrate.  Fifty seven samples of ground water (well, tube well and hand pump) from nineteen villages were collected during January 2014. The samples were analysed for physico-chemical characteristics, viz., electric conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS),  pH, nitrate (NO₃^-), fluoride (F^-), total hardness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), cations (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) and anions (chloride, sulphate, bicarbonate and carbonate). The pH and EC varied from 7.11-8.63 and 210 – 4578 µmho cm^-1, respectively. Seventeen samples showed EC above highest permissible limit given by WHO. TDS was fluctuated from 134-2930 mg l^-1. In the present study pH, sulphate ions (SO₄^2-), chloride (Cl^-), calcium (Ca⁺²), potassium (K⁺) and magnesium (Mg⁺²) of the analysed samples were below the WHO highest permissible limits, whereas sodium in 9%, bicarbonate in 30% and total hardness in 43% samples were above the highest permissible limit. The nitrate in 32% samples showed the excess concentration than prescribed limit. Fluorides in 86% samples were above the highest permissible limit given by WHO (1.5 mg l^-1). On the bases of fluoride concentration it is concluded that ground water of the area is not suitable for drinking purpose.