`

ESSENCE - International Journal for Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation

Volume VII: No. 1 2016 [119 – 125] [ISSN 0975 - 6272]
[www.essence-journal.com]

Assessment Of Physico-Chemical Characteristics Of Ground Water, Roorkee

(Uttarakhand), India

Kamboj, Nitin; Rani, Anchal; Bharti, Manisha; Kamboj, Vishal and Sharma, Shalini

Received: March 17, 2016  Accepted: April 14, 2016  Online: June 30, 2016

Abstract
The present study was carried out for
assessment of physico chemical parameters of
ground water, Roorkee region, Uttarakhand.
This study would provide baseline data for
ground water management. For this purpose,
three sampling sites viz, Salempur, Ramnagar
and Paniyala were selected to analyse various
parameters like Temperature, TDS,
Conductivity, pH, DO, BOD, Hardness,
Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Alkalinity and
Free CO 2 were analyzed as per the standard
methods prescribed by APHA (1995) and
Trivedy and Goel (1986). All these twelve
parameters were found within the permissible
limit. As per study, it was found that the TDS
level in water
Keywords: Water Quality Assessment |
Physico-chemical parameters | Roorkee |
Groundwater | Uttarakhand |
For correspondence:
Department of Zoology and Environmental Science,
Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, India
Email: kambojgurukul@gmail.com
sample were in ranges between 504.1mg/l to
504.9mg/l. The present study concluded that
all the twelve parameters were above the
desirable limit but within the permissible limit.
Introduction
Ground water is a major source of fresh water
and fulfills about 97% of fresh water
requirement (Rao and Husain, 2003; Matta et
al., 2014). During the past several decades
ground water qualities have emerged as one of
the most important and confronting
environmental issues. Man made activities,
agricultural and industrial use of ground water
increased day by day resulting in the shortage
of ground water (Sivagurunathan, 2005 and
Kesavan and Parameswari, 2005; Arora, et
al., 2014). Ground water pollution is mainly
due to process of industrialization and
urbanization that has progressively developed
over time without any regard for
environmental consequences. Its quality is
based on the physical and chemical soluble
parameters due to weathering from source

119
 Kamboj et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/119 – 125
rocks and anthropogenic activities. Protection
of ground water is a major environmental issue
since the importance of water quality and
developing strategies to protect aquifers from
contamination are necessary for proper
planning and designing water resources
(Bajpayee et al., 2001; Matta et al., 2016).
Groundwater is affected by many factors, such
as physico-chemical characteristics of soil,
rainfall, soil erosion, weathering of rocks,
chemical reactions below land surface,
activity of micro-organisms, human and
agricultural wastes and effluents pollute the
ground water by leaching (Reza and Singh et
al., 2009). Ground water protection against
contamination by the human activities is one
of the most important tasks of environmental
awareness on a world wide scale. If the ground
water reservoir is left unchecked, the minor
contamination can damage the whole reservoir
with the passage of time. (Kamboj, 2012)
The safe portable water is absolutely essential
for healthy living. Ground water is ultimate
and most suitable fresh water resource of
human consumption in both urban as well as
rural areas. The importance of ground water
for existence of human society cannot be over
emphasized. There are several states in India
where more than 90% populations are
dependent on ground water for drinking and
other purposes (Ramchandraiah, 2004;
Khanna, et al., 2011). In India, there are over
20 million private wells in addition to
government tube wells. The wells are
generally considered as the worst type of
ground water sources in the term of physico-
chemical contamination due to lack of
concrete plinth and surrounding damage
system (WHO, 1997). Over burden of the
population pressure, unplanned urbanization,
unrestricted exploration and dumping of
polluted water at inappropriate place enhance
the infiltration of harmful compounds to the
ground water (Pandey and Tiwari, 2009).
There are various ways of ground water
contamination such as use of fertilizer in
farming (Altman and Parizek, 1995). Sewage
from effluent bearing water body (Adekunle,
2009). Most of the industries discharge their
effluent without proper treatment into nearby
open pits or pass them through unlined
channels, resulting in the contamination of
ground water (Jinwal and Dixit, 2008).
According to World Health Organization
(WHO), there were estimated 4 billion cases
of diarrhea and 2.2 million deaths annually.
The consumption of unsafe water has been
implicated as one of the major causes of the
disease most gradual deterioration of water
quality was resulted by the increase in human
population and urbanization (WHO, 2004).
Materials and Methods
Study area
Present study was conducted in Roorkee,
district Haridwar, Uttarakhand. For the study
three different sites demarcated at Roorkee
region. The description of sampling sites and
their GPS coordinates and mean sea level are
given below in Table 1.
Collection of samples
The water sample collection and analysis has
been done as per the standard methods
prescribed in Bureau of Indian Standards
120
 Kamboj et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/119 – 125

(BIS): 10500 (2012) method. The water temperature of groundwater was recorded to
samples were collected from tube wells which be 19.5 ºC. Kamboj et al., (2015) observed the
were located at above mentioned three sites at minimum and maximum values of temperature
Roorkee. 19.30-19.64 ºC in water samples of Solani
Mean Sea River during the March- April, 2015. In
Sampling
Level Location coordinates present study the average pH value was found
Sites
(MSL)
Longitude -29.9600ºN,
to be 7.3. Kamboj and Aswal, (2015) observed
1. Salempur 268m
Latitude -78.1600ºE the pH value varied from 7.66-7.76 for
Longitude -29.9870ºN, suitability of Ganga canal water for drinking
2. Ramnagar 268m
Latitude -78.1400ºE
purpose at Haridwar city. Average value for
Longitude –
3. Paniyala 268m 29.9217ºN, total alkalinity was found to be 299.4mg/l.
Latitude-78.1275ºE Kamboj et al., (2015) observed the value of
Table 1: Details of sampling sites at
different locations with Alkalinity 229.6 (mg/l) was found in
coordinates municipal supplied water for drinking purpose
in Haridwar city. Average value for Electrical
Analysis procedure of ground water sample Conductivity is 843.6µS/cm. Kumar, G.A. et
Two physico chemical parameters i.e., al., (2015) observed the Conductivity value
temperature and pH were analysed on site and varied from 570-10305 (µS/cm) for
remaining ten parameters Total Dissolved groundwater of Agra city. Average value for
Solid, Conductivity, DO (Dissolved Oxygen), TDS is 504.5 mg/l. Kumar, G.A. et al.,(2015)
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), observed the TDS value varied from 356-654
Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, (mg/l) for groundwater of Agra city.
Alkalinity, Free CO 2 were analysed in However, some evidence indicates its role in
laboratory. Analysis of Calcium and heart diseases and hardness of 150-300 mg/l
Magnesium were analysed by Atomic and above may cause kidney problems and
Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and TDS and stone formation. The average value of total
conductivity were analysed by conductivity Hardness was 222.6 mg/l observed. Rao et al.,
and TDS meter while all the remaining (2013) observed the value of Total Hardness
parameters were analysed by titrimetric 221-474 (mg/l) in Vuyyuru, Part of East Coast
methods using standard methods (APHA, 2012 of India.
and Trivedy and Goel, 1986). In the present study the average value of
Results and Discussion calcium was 86.7 mg/l observed. Kamboj and
The statistically analysed of twelve parameters Choudhary, (2013) observed the value of
of ground water of Roorkee region sampling calcium ranged between 31-151(mg/l) in
sites were Salempur, Ramnagar and Paniyala ground water samples of Gazipur Municipal
from March to April month of the year 2016 Corporation of Delhi landfill sites. Magnesium
are given in table 2. During the study average is an essential ion for functioning of cells in
121
 Kamboj et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/119 – 125

enzyme activation, but at higher concentration, an important role in balancing level of

it is considered as laxative agent, whose
deficiency may cause structural and functional
changes in human beings. The permissible
limit is 30 mg/l as per BIS standards. In the
present study the average value of Magnesium
was 49.1 mg/l observed. Shayamala, et al.,
(2008) observed the value of Magnesium 30-
100 (mg/l) in Vuyyuru, Part of East Coast of
India.
Dissolved oxygen is an important parameter in
water quality assessment and reflects the
physical and biological processes prevailing in
the water, the D.O. value indicate the degree
of pollution in water bodies. In the present
study the average D.O. was 3.53 mg/l
observed. Rao et al., (2013) observed the
value of D.O 4.27-5.16 (mg/l) in Vuyyuru,
Part of East Coast of India. The Chloride plays
electrolyte in blood plasma, but higher
concentration can produce some physical
disorder. In the present study the average
value of chloride was 287.1 observed. Rao et
al., (2013) observed the value of Chloride 278-
347.94 (mg/l) in Vuyyuru, Part of East Coast
of India. Choudhary et al., (2014) find the
value of chloride 9.5± 2.22 in Ri- Bhoi
District, Meghalaya. Biochemical oxygen
demand is the amount of oxygen utilized by
micro-organism in stabilizing the organic
matter. BOD in general gives a qualitative
index of organic substance which is degraded
quickly in a short time period. In the present
study the average B.O.D. of groundwater was
0.41mg/l. The average value of free CO 2 was
found 17.6 mg/l.

S. No. Parameters Site-1 Site-2 Site-3 Average BIS std. (IS

(Ramnagar) (Salempur) (Paniyala) Value 10500:2012)
1. Temperature (ºC) 19.5 19.5 19.5 19.5 --
2. TDS(mg/l) 504.6 504.9 504.1 504.5 500-2000
3. Conductivity(µS/cm) 841 842.1 847.6 843.6 781-3125
4. pH 7.2 7.4 7.3 7.3 6.5-8.5
5. DO(mg/l) 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.53 >6
6. BOD(mg/l) 0.62 0.62 0.61 0.41 <2
7. Hardness(mg/l) 221.8 224.1 222.1 222.6 200-600
8. Chloride(mg/l) 286.3 288.1 286.9 287.1 250-1000
9. Calcium(mg/l) 86.3 87.1 86.8 86.7 75-200
10. Magnesium(mg/l) 49.4 49.8 48.3 49.1 30-100
11. Alkalinity(mg/l) 299.5 300.5 298.2 299.4 200-600
12. Free CO 2 (mg/l) 17.3 17.5 18.1 17.6 --
Table 2: Analyzed data of twelve ground water
parameters at three sites from March to
April 2016
Conclusion experimental sites namely Ramnagar,
The present study assessed the ground water Salempur and Paniyala. The study concluded
quality of Roorkee region at three different

122
 Kamboj et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/119 – 125
that the water quality of all the sites were
within the desirable limits as per specified BIS
specifications 2012 and suitable for drinking
purpose. The present study will be helpful in
drawing attention of water sector planning and
management department, industrial
management planning authorities,
municipalities and thus maintain and sustain
the ground water quality for drinking purpose
in above said region. Additionally several
strong, legislation and policies are required to
save ground water quality in near future as the
industrialization is increasing day by day.
References
Adekunle, A. S. (2009): Effects of Industrial
Effluent on quality of well water with in
Asa Dam Industrial Estate, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Nature and Science. 7(1):53-58.
Altman, S. J. and Perizek, R.R. (1995): Dilution
of non-point source Nitrate in
groundwater. Journal of Environmental
Quality 24(4): 707-718.
APHA, (2012): In: Standard methods for the
examination of the water and waste
water. American Public Health
Association, New York, 1995.
Arora, T.; Mishra, A.; Matta, G.; Chopra, A.
K.; Kumar, A.; Khanna, D. R. and
Kumar, V. (2014). Human health risk
assessment of temporal and spatial
variations of ground water quality at a
densely industrialized commercial
complex at Haridwar, India. Journal of
Applied and Natural Science, 6(2), 825-
843.
Bajpayee, S.K.; Kumar, R. and Verma, A.
(2001): Water quality of groundwater of
Kerala, South Western, India. In:
Subramanian, U. and Ramanathan, A.L.,
(Edso), Proceedings of the International
workshop on Eco hydrology capital
publishing company, New Delhi, India.
307-308.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), (2012):
Specification of drinking water. IS:
10500, Bureau of Indian Standards, New
Delhi.
Choudhary, M., Chinmoy, P. and Kamboj, N.
(2014): Potable water is a serious
Environmental issue: A special study on
Umiam area, of RI-Bhoi District,
Meghalaya, India. International Research
Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(9):
37-42.
Jinwal, A. and Dixit, S. (2008): Pre and post
monsoon variation in physico-chemical
characteristic in ground water quality in
Bhopal, India. Asian J.Exp.Sci. (3):53-58.
Kamboj, N. (2012): Physico-chemical and
metallics contamination analysis of
underground water in SIDCUL inductrial
area, district Haridwar (U.K.) India.
Journal of sustainable Environmental
Research, 1 (2): 211-216.
Kamboj, N. and Aswal, R.S. (2015): Suitability
of Ganga canal water for drinking purpose
at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Journal
of Environmental and applied
bioresearch, 3(3):137-141.
Kamboj, N. and Choudhary, M. (2013): Impact
of solid waste disposal on ground water
123
 Kamboj et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/119 – 125
quality near Gazipur dumping site, Delhi,
India. Journal of applied and Natural
Sciences, 5 (2): 306-312.
Kamboj, N.; Chaubey, A.K.; Kumar, S. and
Parasher, C.K. (2015): Assessment of
Physico-Chemical Parameter of Solani
River at Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India.
International journal of current research,
7 (6):16670-16673.
Kamboj, N.; Chaubey, A.K.; Kumar, S. and
Parasher, K. P. (2015): Quality
Assessment Of Municipal supplied water
for drinking purpose, District Haridwar,
Uttarakhand, India Journal of Global
Biosciences (ISSN 2320-1355),
4(5):2375-2379.
Kesavan, K. G. and Parameswari, R. (2005):
Evaluation of groundwater quality in
Kancheepuram. IJEP, 25(3): 235-239.
Khanna, D.R;. Singh, Shivom; Saxena, Neetu;
Bhutiani, R.; Matta, Gagan and Kulkarni,
Dipali Bhasker (2011). Physico-chemical
and microbiological characterization of
the ground water across the city Bareilly
(U.P.) India. Journal of Applied and
natural Science. Vol. 3 No. 2:315-318.
Kumar, G.A.; Pitchaiah, P.S.; Sudhakar, G. and
Swarnalatha. G. (2015): Physico-chemical
parameters of groundwater of Agra city.
Int. Journal of Engineering Research and
Application ISSN: 2248-9622, 5 (4): 65-
70.
Matta, Gagan; Chauhan, Amit; Kumar,
Avinash and Kumar, Ajendra (2016):
Impact of industrial effluent on ground
water and surface water quality A case
study of Dhampur region (U.P.), India.
Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences. Vol 9 (2) 709 - 713.
Matta, Gagan; Kumar, Ravindra; Kumar.
Avinash and Kumar, Ajendra (2014):
Effect of industrial effluent on ground
water quality with special reference to
DO, BOD and COD. Journal of
Sustainable Environmental Research, 3
(2): 183-186.
Pandey, K.S. and Tiwari, S. (2009): Physico-
chemical analysis of ground water quality
in Ghazipur City- A case study. Nature
and Science. 7 (1): 17-20.
Ramachandraiah, C. (2004): Right to drinking
water in India, Indian Journal Human
Rights. 8(1&2): 115-130.
Rao and Hussain, J. (2003): Evaluation of
groundwater quality of the villages
situated near Banas, Rajasthan. Indian J.
Env. Prot., 23(6): 640-645.
Rao, A., Sudhkar, M. and Mamatha, P. (2013):
Water quality in sustainable water
management. Current science. 87(7): 234-
239.
Reza, R. and Singh, G. (2009): Physico-
chemical analysis of Ground water in
Angul Talcher Region of Orissa, India.
Journal of American Science. 5(5): 53-58.
Shyamala, R.: Shanthi, M. and Lalitha, P.
(2008): Physico-chemical analysis of bore
well water samples in Telungupalayam
area in Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu,
India. Journal of Chemistry. 5(4): 924-
929.
124
 Kamboj et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/119 – 125

Sivagurunathan, P. (2005): Seasonal variation WHO (2004): Guidelines for Groundwater

in Groundwater quality of Sethiyathope quality.V. L, Geneva.
area in Cuddalore district, IJEP. 25(10):
905-911.
Trivedi, R.K. and Goel, P.K. (1986): In:
Chemical and biological methods for
water pollution studies. Environmental
publication Karad.
WHO (1997): Guidelines for Groundwater
quality. L, Geneva.

125