Evaluation of Surface Water Quality by Using GIS and a Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) Model in a Coal Mining Area, India

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 95; no. 3; pp. 304 - 310
• Main Authors: Tiwari, Ashwani Kumar, De Maio, Marina, Singh, Prasoon Kumar, Mahato, Mukesh Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aquatic Pollution; arsenic; barium; Chromium; coal; Coal Mining; copper; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Geographic Information Systems; Heavy metals; India; iron; manganese; Mass Spectrometry; Metal concentrations; Metals, Heavy - analysis; mining; Monsoons; Nickel; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Pollution index; seasonal variation; Seasons; selenium; Soil Science & Conservation; Surface water; Waste Water Technology; Water analysis; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water Pollution - analysis; Water Pollution Control; Water Quality; Water sampling; World Health Organization; zinc; India; HPI; GIS; Seasonal fluctuation; West Bokaro coalfield; test; Metals
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-015-1558-9

Twenty eight surface water samples were collected from fourteen sites of the West Bokaro coalfield, India. The concentration of Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, As, Se, Al, Cr, Ba, and Fe were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determination of seasonal fluctuations and a heavy metal pollution index (HPI). The HPI values were below the critical pollution index value of 100. Metal concentrations were higher in the pre-monsoon season as compared to the post-monsoon season. The Zn, Ni, Mn, As, Se, Al, Ba, Cu, and Cr concentrations did not exceed the desirable limits for drinking water in either season. However, at many sites, concentrations of Fe were above the desirable limit of the WHO ( 2006 ) and Indian drinking water standard (BIS 2003 ) in both seasons. The water that contained higher concentrations of Fe would require treatment before domestic use.