February 2014- April 2014, Vol. 4, No. 2; 1773-1779.

E- ISSN: 2249 1929

Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences
An International Peer Review E-3 Journal of Sciences
Available online atwww.jcbsc.org
Section D: Environmental Sciences
CODEN (USA): JCBPAT Research Article
1773 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. D.; Feb. 2014-Apr.-2014; Vol.4, No.2; 1773-1779.


Geochemistry of Groundwater in Rural, Rurban and Urban
Areas in and Around Steel City Rourkela, Odisha, India
Rabindranath Barik
*
and S. K. Pattanayak
*Padmanava College of Engineering, Rourkela,Pin: 769002, Odisha, India.
Department of Environmental Sciences, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar,
Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India,
Received: 19 March 2014; Revised: 31 March 2014; Accepted: 02 April 2014
Abstract: A total of 25 drinking water samples collected from different locations of
Rourkela, Sundergarh District Odisha, India were analysed for water quality parameters such
as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, total hardness, fluoride,
bicarbonates, calcium, magnesium and chloride. The results obtained were found within the
permissible limits. It is observed that most of the groundwater is alkaline in nature. The
Total Dissolved Solids of the groundwater in the study area is ranging from 144 mg/l to 266
mg/l. The Total hardness of the groundwater in the study area is ranging from 63 to 230
mg/l. Groundwater of the study area is hard in nature. The calcium concentration of the
groundwater in the study area is ranging from 08 mg/l to 61 mg/l. The Mg concentration of
the groundwater in the study area is ranging from 02 mg/l to 65 mg/l. The chloride
concentration of the groundwater in the study area is ranging from 9.9 to 111.2 mg/l during
pre-monsoon period. The bicarbonate concentration of the groundwater in the study area is
ranging from 122 mg/l to 498 mg/l during pre-monsoon period. The fluoride concentrations
of the groundwater in the study area are found less than 0.1 mg/l during premonsoon period.
The Piper tri-linear graphical representation of chemical data of representative samples from
the study area for pre-monsoon reveal the analogies, dissimilarities and different types of
waters in the study area. This clearly explains the variations or domination of cation and
anion concentrations during pre-monsoon season.
Geochemistry Barik and Pattanayak.
1774 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. D.; Feb. 2014-Apr.-2014; Vol.4, No.2; 1773-1779.


Keywords: Groundwater Quality, Piper tri-linear graphical representation, pre-monsoon
season, Geochemistry, Rourkela
INTRODUCTION
Groundwater is almost globally important for human consumption as well as for the support of habitat
and for maintaining the quality of base flow to rivers. Being naturally filtered in their passage through the
ground, they are usually clear, colorless, and have excellent quality, being free from microbial
contamination and require minimal treatment
1
. Unfortunately, it seems that we can no longer take high
quality groundwater for granted, as a threat is now posed by an ever-increasing number of soluble
chemicals from urban development, industrial activities and modern agricultural practices. There has been
indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater resources in the Asian countries, particularly in India, leading
to a decrease in groundwater potential, lowering of water table (hence an increase in cost of groundwater
withdrawal) and deterioration in groundwater quality
2
. Since, the quantity and quality of water available
for irrigation in a country like India is variable from place to place, in order to meet the increasing
demands for water supply due to overall development in agriculture, industry and urbanization, the
dependence on groundwater has increased tremendously in recent years mainly due to the vagaries of
monsoon and scarcity of surface water, contributing to the complexity of its quality assessment. And it is
impossible to control the dissolution of undesirable constituents in the waters after they enter the ground
3
.
Hence, the investigation/assessment of geochemical element distribution and the natural background of
these resources are of paramount importance in reconciling the exploitation of surface and ground waters
with the protection of the environment, including the wellbeing of both mankind and local fauna and
flora
4
. Because, the chemical (quality) of groundwater is not only related to the lithology of the area and
the residence time the water is in contact with rock material, but also reflects inputs from the atmosphere,
from soil and weathered mantle/water-rock reactions (weathering), as well as from pollutant sources such
as mining, land clearance, agriculture, acid precipitation, domestic and industrial wastes
1
. A number of
studies on groundwater quality with respect to drinking and irrigation purposes have been carried out in
the different parts of India
5-11
. But, so far the geochemistry of groundwater in the rural, rurban and urban
area of Rourkela has not been studied in great detail and hence, an effort has been made in the current
paper to assess groundwater quality through geochemical analysis.
THE STUDY AREA
Rourkela is located at 84.54E longitude and 22.12N latitude in Sundergarh district of Odisha at an
elevation of about 219 meters above mean sea level. Rourkela is an important industrial city in the state of
Orissa. The current population of Rourkela is more than 4 lakh and the city is spread over an area of 264.7
km
2
. Surrounding Rourkela there are iron ore, dolomite and coal belts. Durgapur hill range bifurcates the
city into two parts- Northern and Southern Clusters. A perennial river Koel flows through this valley and
meets another perennial river Sankh at a place known as Vedavyas in the west of Rourkela. After this
point of confluence at Vedavyas, the river is known as Brahmani, which is one of the 14 major river
systems in the country. In addition to the giant steel plant, the Rourkela Industrial Complex also contains
many medium industries and more than 300 small-scale industries. The area receives an average of 137
cm rainfall with 90 Rainy days (in average) in a year. The rainfall in the monsoon period (Rainy season)
Geochemistry Barik and Pattanayak.
1775 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. D.; Feb. 2014-Apr.-2014; Vol.4, No.2; 1773-1779.


accounts for more than 70 % of the total annual rainfall of the area. The air temperature of the region goes
down to 6
o
C during winter (December-January) and rises up to 47
o
C during summer (May). The average
relative humidity ranges from 35 % (January) to 85 % (July). The population density of Rourkela urban
area is about 2924 persons per sq. km. Due to rapid occupation and landscape transformations in the last
fifty years, defining what is rural and urban in Rourkela and its surrounding region is not a simple task.
There is great variation within the region. At the extremes, there are areas in rural sectors and areas that
are considered urban. Between these two extremes a vast area also exists. For this area, the discrete
definitions of rural and urban settings are often blurred and such areas are considered rurban settings.
However, urban, rurban and rural are unified systems where people, ideas and materials circulate.
METHODOLOGY
Hydrochemical analysis: This study was conducted March to May2013 during pre-monsoon seasons;
twenty five ground water samples were collected from the study area. The samples were collected from
three sources i.e. bore wells, tube wells and dug wells, that are being extensively used for drinking and
other domestic purposes. The water samples were collected after 10 minutes of pumping and transferred
into pre-cleaned polyethylene bottles and stored at 10
0
C. Electrical conductivity, pH, temperature and
total dissolved solids for the collected samples were measured in the field immediately after sampling.
The major anionic and cationic concentrations were determined at the laboratory using the standard
analytical procedures as recommended by APHA
12
. The accuracy of all chemical analyses was checked
using the Ion charge Balance Equation or Ion Balance Error Computation
13,14
, taking the relationship
between the total cations (Na
+
, K
+
, Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
) and the total anions (SO
4
2
, CO
3
2-
, HCO
3
-
and Cl
-
) for each
set of complete analyses of water samples using Equation(1)
E =

x 100 (1)
Where the sum of major cations and anions are expressed in meq/L and E is the error percent/reaction
error/cationic and anionic balance. The reaction error of all ground water samples was less than the
accepted limit of 10%
15
and an added proof of the precision of the data. And E greater than 10% was
eliminated from subsequent analyses. The suitability of groundwater sources for drinking and domestic
purposes were evaluated by comparing the values of different water quality parameters with drinking
water guideline values provided by the bureau of Indian Standards
16
and World Health Organization
17,18
.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
General parameters: The analytical results for all the physico-chemical parameters for the pre-monsoon
groundwater samples from the study area are presented in Table 1. The values of pH in groundwater
samples collected from the study area varied from 6.5 to 7.8, indicating slightly acidic to slightly basic in
nature. In the study area, the electrical conductivity (EC) of groundwater varies between 228 to
303S/cm. The total dissolved solid (TDS) values varied between 144 to 266 mg/L which are within the
permissible limit. The total alkalinity (as CaCO
3
) values were found to vary from 22 to 235 mg/L in the
pre-monsoon samples, well within the permissible limit of 600 mg/L
16
. Water hardness is caused
primarily by the presence of cations such as calcium and magnesium and anions such as carbonate,
bicarbonate, chloride and sulphate in water. The total hardness (as CaCO
3
) values range between 63 to
230 mg/L in the pre-monsoon samples in the study area.
Geochemistry Barik and Pattanayak.
1776 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. D.; Feb. 2014-Apr.-2014; Vol.4, No.2; 1773-1779.


Table-1: Physico-chemical analysis of ground water
Parameters
with Unit
pH EC
(S/
cm)
TDS
(mg/
L)
TH
(mg
/L)
Cl
(mg
/L)
SO
4
(mg
/L)
F
(mg
/L)
Ca
(mg
/L)
Mg
(mg
/L)
Na
+
(mg/
L)
K
+
(mg
/L)
HCO
3
-
(mg/L)
CO
3
2-
(mg/L)
Sample ID
S
1
(RU) 6.7 277 156 103 25 115 <0.1 22 19 91.2 14.4 427 23
S
2
(R) 6.8 264 155 100 25 114 <0.1 28 19 80.2 40.5 495 24
S
3
(R) 6.6 278 161 100 29 114 <0.1 26 2 111.2 79.8 498 21
S
4
(R) 6.6 303 144 104 34 130 <0.1 23 24 65.7 4.6 488 22
S
5
(RU) 6.9 266 162 104 60 138 <0.1 23 22 78.4 4.4 378 18
S
6
(R) 7.3 301 166 104 55 167 <0.1 26 25 70.8 11.3 329.4 18
S
7
(R) 7.4 278 261 106 65 170 <0.1 28 28 68.6 7 390.4 22
S
8
(RU) 6.9 230 158 98 22.5 144 <0.1 28 28 37.5 14.5 366 17
S
9
(R) 6.8 230 156 100 22.5 120 <0.1 20 26 54.4 3.7 340 17
S
10
(R) 6.8 248 144 92 30 120 <0.1 22 22 59.4 3.4 366 12
S
11
(R) 6.7 240 144 84 30 145 <0.1 18 24 68 14.4 340.5 10
S
12
(U) 6.6 240 146 84 28 130 <0.1 16 11 10.2 2.8 122 Nil
S
13
(U) 6.7 232 162 86 26.5 130 <0.1 16 12.6 9.9 3 125 Nil
S
14
(U) 6.6 244 162 84 20 155 <0.1 15 10 10 2.8 122 Nil
S
15
(U) 6.5 232 150 128 42 144 <0.1 14 27 21.8 9.5 330 Nil
S
16
(U) 7.4 228 172 63 63 185 <0.1 20 11 61.7 11.1 325 Nil
S
17
(U) 7.8 280 266 74 243 42 <0.1 22 14 60.2 14.7 376 11
S
18
(U) 7.8 230 234 155 138 178 <0.1 61 22 60.5 11.5 334 Nil
S
19
(U) 7.5 250 220 230 30 145 <0.1 35 15 52.6 8.8 245 10
S
20
(U) 7.8 244 149 72 128 35 <0.1 26 65 48.4 7.8 267 10
S
21
(R) 7.2 232 184 98 47 140 <0.1 15 15 41 6.8 286 10
S
22
(U) 7.6 248 174 125 48 165 <0.1 08 22 44.4 6.9 296 Nil
S
23
(U) 6.9 248 162 115 44 25 <0.1 32 21 37.5 14.5 340 Nil
S
24
(U) 7.4 262 198 173 25 82 <0.1 40 31 48.4 7.8 334 Nil
S
25
(RU) 7.6 255 220 141 165 18 <0.1 45 20 54.4 3.7 366 17
R: Rural, U: Urban, RU: Rurban
Cation chemistry: Among the alkaline earths, the concentrations of calcium and magnesium were in the
range of 08 to 61 mg/L and 2 to 65 mg/L, respectively which shows all the 25 samples are within the BIS
permissible limits of 200 and 100 mg/L. Among the alkalies, the concentrations of sodium and potassium
ranged from 9.9 to 111.2 mg/L and 2.8 to 79.8 mg/L, respectively. Out of 25 samples, 40% have high
potassium contents above the permissible limit of 10 mg/L
16
, while the sodium concentration was within
the permissible limit of 200 mg/L.
Anion chemistry: Bicarbonate is the predominant anion in the pre-monsoon season samples, ranging
from 122 to 498 mg/L. In the area of investigation, the chlorides value were the range of 20 to 243 mg/L,
well within the permissible limit of 1000 mg/L
16
. The sulphate contents in pre-monsoon season in
groundwater vary from 18 to 185 mg/L, well within the permissible limit of 400 mg/L
16
. The nitrate
concentration was in the range of 2.5 to 24.0 mg/L, which is within the permissible limit of 45 mg/L
16
.
Geochemistry Barik and Pattanayak.
1777 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. D.; Feb. 2014-Apr.-2014; Vol.4, No.2; 1773-1779.


The fluoride concentrations in all the samples have less than 0.1mg/L. The presence of low concentrations
of fluoride in the majority of wells in the study area is of no minor concern as all the samples are found to
have fluoride concentrations within the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L
17,18
.
Legend:
Calcium type
No dominant type
Magnesium type
Sodium and Potassium type
Bicarbonate type
Sulphate type
Chloride type
Hydrochemical facies: To know the hydro-geochemical regime of the study area, the analytical values
obtained from the groundwater samples are plotted on Piper tri-linear diagram. These plots include two
triangles, one for plotting cations and the other for plotting anions. The cation and anion fields are
combined to show a single point in a diamond-shaped field, from which inference is drawn on the basis of
hydro-geochemical facies concept. These tri-linear diagrams are useful for bringing out chemical
relationships among groundwater samples in more definite terms rather than with other possible plotting
methods. Facies are recognizable parts of different characters, belonging to any genetically related
system. Hydrochemical facies are distinct zones that possess cation and anion concentration categories
and this concept helps to understand and identify the water composition in different classes. To define
composition class, Back and Hanshaw
19
suggested subdivisions of the tri-linear diagram (Fig. 1) to
define composition class, based on which the interpretation of distinct facies from the 0 to 10% and 90%
to 100% domains on the diamond-shaped cation to anion graph is more helpful than using equal 25%
increments. The Piper tri-linear graphical representation
20
of chemical data of representative samples from
the study area for pre-monsoon reveal the analogies, dissimilarities and different types of waters in the
study area, which are identified and listed in Table 2. This clearly explains the variations or domination
of cation and anion concentrations during pre-monsoon season
21-24
.
Table-2: Characterization of groundwater of study area based on Piper tri-linear diagram
Subdivision of
the diamond
Characteristics of corresponding subdivision of diamond-
shaped field
Sample
No. Percentage
1. Alkaline earth(Ca+Mg) exceeding alkalies(Na+K) 11 44
2. Alkalies exceeding Alkaline earths 07 28
3. Weak acids(CO
3
+HCO
3
) exceeding strong acids(SO
4
+Cl) 12 48
4. Strong acids exceeding Weak acids 05 20
5. Magnesium bicarbonate type 08 32
6. Calcium-chloride type 0 Nil
7. Sodium-chloride type 02 8
8. Sodium-bicarbonate type 01 4
9. Mixed type (No cation-anion exceeding 50%) 06 24
Geochemistry Barik and Pattanayak.
1778 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. D.; Feb. 2014-Apr.-2014; Vol.4, No.2; 1773-1779.



Fig. 1: Classification diagram for anion and cation facies in the form of major-ion percentages. Water
types are designed according to the domains in which they occur on the diagram segments
CONCLUSIONS
The groundwater sources in and around Rourkela were evaluated for their chemical composition and
suitability for drinking purposes. It is evident from the higher values of physico-chemical parameters like
hardness, alkalinity, bicarbonates, potassium that most of the groundwater samples analyzed in the
present investigation might had natural and anthropogenic influences, through infiltration and percolation
during monsoon. The groundwater in the region is classified as low to moderately hard category based on
hardness. Based on the attempt made to study the hydrochemistry of groundwater, it was found that HCO
3

type predominated the anions and Ca
2+ -
Mg
2+
type dominated the cations during the pre-monsoon period.
The water type that predominates in the study area is of Ca
2+
-Mg
2+
-HCO
3
type, followed by Ca
2+
-Mg
2+
-
Cl

-SO
4
2
. It was also noticed that alkaline earth elements exceeded alkalies concentrations and weak
acids exceeded the strong acid elements. Based on Cl, SO
4
, HCO
3
concentrations, the groundwater
sources were categorized as normal chloride and normal sulfate and normal bicarbonate types. Finally, it
can be concluded that the overall quality of groundwater controlled by lithology apart from other local
environmental conditions. Recommendations have been made to the local authorities to adopt conjunctive
use of surface water with groundwater to stringently monitor and control low groundwater quality regions
to ensure sustainable safe use of the groundwater resource.
Geochemistry Barik and Pattanayak.
1779 J. Chem. Bio. Phy. Sci. Sec. D.; Feb. 2014-Apr.-2014; Vol.4, No.2; 1773-1779.


REFERENCE
1. I.S. Babiker, M.A.A. Mohamed and T. Hiyama, J. Water Resour. Manage, 2007, 21,
699.
2. R.K. Prasad, N.C. Mondal, Pallavi Banerjee, J. Environ. Geol.2008, 55, 467.
3. J.C.V. Sastri, Groundwater Chemical Quality in River Basins, Hydro geochemical
Modeling. Lecture notes-Refresher course, School of Earth Sciences, Bharathidasan
Univ., Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. 1994.
4. W.M. Edmunds, J.J. Carillo-Rivera, and A. Cardona J. Hydrol. 2002, 258, 1.
5. A.M. Dasgupta and K.M. Purohit, J. Pollut. Res. 2001, 20, 219.
6. S.H. Khurshid, N. Hasan, and Zaheeruddin, J. Appl. Hydrol, 2002, 14, 30.
7. D. Sujatha and R.B. Reddy,J. Environ. Geol. 2003, 44, 579.
8. P.D. Sreedevi, J. Goel. Soc. India. 2004, 64, 619.
9. J.S. Pulle, A.M.Khan, N.E.Ambore, J. Pollut Res. 2005, 24, 657.
10. V. Sunitha, V. Sudarsha, and B.Rajeswara Reddy, India J. Pollut. Res. 2005, 24, 217.
11. N. Subba Rao, India J. Environ. Geol. 2006, 49, 413.
12. APHA. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water. 17th
Edition. Washington D.C.: APHA, AWAA, WPFC, 2005, 1989 P. 113
13. G. Mathhess, The Properties of Ground Water (1st ed.), John Wiley & Sons, New
York.
1982.
14. P.A. Domenico and F.W. Schwartz, Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology, Wiley,
New York.1990, 410.
15. J.D. Hem, J. U.S. Geol. Water Supply Paper, 1975, 1473, 363.
16. BIS Drinking Water Specifications. Bureau of Indian Standards IS: 10500, 1998,
Revised 2003.
17. WHO, Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality Vol.1: Recommendations. World
Health Organization. Geneva, 1984, b.1.
18. WHO. Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. Vol. 2. Health Criteria and other
Supporting Information. World Health Organization. Geneva. 1984, c.
19. W. Back and B. B. Hanshaw, Advances in hydroscience in chemical Geohydrology,
Academic Press, New York, 1965, Vol. 11, p-49.
20. A. M. Piper, A graphic procedure vol-I, The geo-chemical interpretation of water
analysis, USGS Groundwater Note no, 1953, 12.
21. Standard Methods, Standard methods for the examination of water and waste Waters
(21Edn). American water works Association (2002).
22. R. K. Trivedy and P. K. Goel, Chemical and biological methods for water pollution
studies,
23. Environmental Publication, Karad, Maharashtra, 1986.
24. D.K.Todd, Groundwater Hydrology.2nd ed. Wiley, New York,. 1980, .315


*Corresponding author: Rabindranath Barik; *Padmanava College
of Engineering, Rourkela,Pin: 769002, Odisha, India.