Chloride Contamination in the Groundwater in ...

Chloride Contamination in the Groundwater in and around Bhadrakali Lake, Warangal, Telangana, India

Author Name : Ramakrishna Pochana, K. Sreenu

ABSTRACT Groundwater serves as the primary source of drinking water in rural areas across most developing nations worldwide. The presence of elevated Chloride concentrations in groundwater presents a significant challenge in many regions due to its adverse effects on human health. This study focuses on the spatial distribution of Chloride levels in groundwater within the vicinity of Bhadrakali Lake, Warangal, Telangana, India. Despite groundwater being the main drinking water resource, its quality continues to deteriorate unchecked. In rural regions, Chloride contamination remains uncontrolled, receiving insufficient attention despite its anthropogenic origin. In the study area, 42 groundwater samples have been collected and analyzed for the major ions such as Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Na+ , K+ , Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl- , HCO3 - , CO3 - , SO4 - , NO3 - and F- . Out of the 42 samples, 36 samples (85.71%) exceeded the permissible limits for at least one major ion based on WHO/BIS standards. The study revealed that 11.9% of the samples were found to be unsuitable for drinking purposes due to excess Chloride (>250 mg/l) content in the groundwater. High Chloride concentration may cause blue baby syndrome or methemoglobinemia.