Assessment of Groundwater Quality with Special Reference to Impact of Anthropogenic Activities in Warna River Basin District Kolhapur Maharashtra

Abstract

In case of Warna river basin, the hydro-geochemical study carried out by nodal newlineagencies like Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA) and Central Ground newlineWater Board (CGWB) as a part of the regional study and individuals. The drinking and newlinedomestic sources of water in the study area are not assessed or monitored till recently; hence newlineit is very important to prepare a baseline data to identify the impact of industrial activities newlineand for futuristic comparative assessment and monitoring as well as policy decisions. To newlinestudy the groundwater quality from Warna river basin we considered the significant newlinephysicochemical parameters and heavy metals. These parameters are discussed in depth to newlinebe aware for the present status of surface water and groundwater with possible sources of newlinecontamination. Present study was conducted with a focus on assessment of groundwater newlinequality from Warna river basin, covering two districts viz. Kolhapur and Sangli from newlineMaharashtra. For the present study, 65 groundwater samples were collected from places so newlineas to cover the whole section of the Warna River basin during the pre-monsoon and postmonsoon newlineseason in 2012 and 2013.The focus of study was assessment of groundwater newlinequality. newlineWater is a natural precious resource on Earth and is vital for sustenance of life. Water newlinecovers nearly 71 % of the Earth s surface and comprises 70- 90 % of the weight of any living newlineorganism. Out of the total water on the Earth, 97.5 % is saline water and 2.5 % freshwater. newlineFreshwater is distributed in lakes and rivers (0.3 %), glaciers and snow (30.8 %), and newlinegroundwater and soil moisture (68.9 %). Fresh surface water is distributed in lakes (89.5 %), newlineplants and animals (9.9 %) and rivers occupying 0.6 %. In the sub-surface, deep groundwater newlinecomprises 55.2 %, shallow groundwater 44 % and soil moisture 0.8 %. It is estimated that in newlinethe hydro geological cycle, annually, an average of 4,58,000 km3 of precipitation occurs over newlinethe oceans, and 1,10,000 km3 over the land; evapo-transpiration from land is 65,200 km3 and newliner