Comparative assessment of ground water quality in Kokrajhar, India.

Abstract

A study was undertaken to understand the comparative assessment of ground water quality of Kokrajhar in both pre and post monsoon seasons. Kokrajhar is witnessing a considerable growth in terms of population and urbanization. Ground water plays a crucial role for consumption and in supporting daily activities of the local population. With the potential risk of groundwater contamination due to various activities, it is essential to assess the quality of this vital resource in order to meet the needs of the local population. In this study, ground water samples were collected from 20 different locations during both pre and post monsoon periods. The ground water samples were tested for 12 different parameters. The geo-locations of the sample points were mapped using GIS software and contour maps were generated for various test parameters. The ground water quality was determined using two methods: The Weighted Arithmetic Index method and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index method. The result obtained from both the methods have been compared. A very small to some significant changes in different parameters were noted when both pre and post monsoon ground water samples were considered.