VIJAYWADA: The southern region of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has found high levels of contaminants and total dissolved solids in the groundwater samples collected from various parts of Vijayawada and surrounding areas.
CGWB carried out the study to arrive at the baseline data on various types of pollutants - chemical, physical and biological - in groundwater in Vijayawada as new capital city of Amaravati is coming up in the vicinity. The data will help the CGWB to estimate the level of pollution in the region once the capital city is fully developed. The baseline data will serve as a reference point for further studies in Vijayawada-Amaravati-Guntur region.
The results of the baseline study were published in the recent issue of 'Journal of the Geological Society of India'. Researchers from CGWB suggested the need to protect the groundwater sources in the capital region through sound environmental protection measures for the welfare of inhabitants in Vijayawada.
According to the CGWB data, groundwater in Vijayawada is found to be "fresh to brackish, hard to very hard, often enriched with nitrate, phosphate, and faecal coliform." This shows that there has been a lot of human interference in groundwater sources thanks to rapid urbanization.
"Manganese and iron of natural (geogenic) origin are also found to be in high concentration in some localities. The quality deterioration is more in shallow aquifers, as also in core urban and red soil covered areas. Spatial variations in groundwater quality are discernible, with high concentration of sulphates and nitrates in core urban area suggesting the impact of urbanization," the report pointed out.
Referring to the presence of a wide range of chemical constituents in the groundwater in the city, the CGWB said this indicated water rock interactions under human influence. The chemicals found included sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium.
Earlier studies on groundwater quality in the city blamed the contaminants on the thermal power stations at Ibrahimpatnam and unscientific dumping of garbage and municipal solid waste by the civic body as well as environment-illiterate citizens. The pollution level in the city is going to increase in the coming years with mass migration of people expected in the near future thanks to Amaravati.
