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UGC Approved Journal No: 63495

ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION INDEX (HPI) FOR GROUNDWATER SAMPLES OF

NEEMUCH TOWN (M.P), INDIA
1
Amb Vijayshree and 2Reddy, P.B*
1, 2,
PG Department of Zoology Govt. Art and Science College Ratlam, M.P. (India)
*reddysirr@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Neemuch is a town and district of Madhya Pradesh (India) (Coordinates at Latitude (N) 24º4763850N -25º02’
Longitude (E) 74.870E). The present investigation was intended to assess the occurrence of heavy metals
concentration in the groundwater samples of Neemuch town. The water samples from bore wells were collected in
winter months at three different zones ( CRPF Mandir, Barukheda and Meena mohalla) of Neemuch town analysed
for seven heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr and Zn) by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) methods
using model Systronics- (AI 1200). Results revealed that the average concentration of studied metals in the ground
water was lower than the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for Drinking Water Quality. The HPI values of surface
water of CRPF Mandir, Barukheda and Meena mohalla were found to be 14.05, 20.469 and 29.27 respectively
which have fallen in excellent category (14.085and 20.469) to ‘good’ category. The outcomes of this research
clearly, which reflected the local good governance and least interference of anthropogenic activities. The results of
the current study are significant for policy makers for making critical decisions in water quality management. The
low concentration might also be endorsed to the metal holding capacity of sediments. Therefore, factors influencing
bioavailability of heavy metals in dregs have to be studied expansively to give a firm conclusion. The present study
delivers valuable information on the ecological risk of heavy metals in ground water by comparison with BIS
recommendations. These outcomes can offer as a measure in the investigation of approaches to take care of both
ecosystem and human health.
KEY WORDS: Ground water, HPI, Neemuch, Rampura, Water Quality

INTRODUCTION
Rapid industrial development and suburbanization with allied land use practices have deteriorated the freshwater
quality and a number of ecosystem services (Reddy 2012, 2016, 2017; Kar et al. 2019). Heavy metals in drinking water
pose serious challenges for the survival of biota of freshwater ecosystem and human beings. The presence of heavy
metals even in the micro concentration in freshwater can greatly influence the water quality and freshwater organisms.
Due to their probable toxicity, lengthy half-life and bioaccumulation properties, the heavy metal pollution of surface
waters has become a severe environmental problem. For that reason, accurate analysis of their existence in freshwater is
of great biological and ecological significance (Tchounwou et al., 2012; Patel et al., 2018; Kar et al., 2019). Heavy
metal contamination of freshwater sources is one of the foremost global ecological issues (Goher et al., 2014; Masindi
and Muedi, 2018). Both natural and anthropogenic activities (industrial, municipal, agricultural and mining)
deteriorated the water quality of various freshwater bodies in India (Reddy and Baghel 2010; Khatri and Tyagi 2015;
Srivastava and Reddy 2017; Reddy, 2017b).

Several multidisciplinary approaches have been developed globally that integrates physiochemical, eco-toxicological
and ecological data. Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) is a technique of ranking that offers the combined influence of
each heavy metal on the overall quality of water. Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) is the weightage for every single
designated water quality parameter, which is inversely proportionate to the standard acceptable value (Si) for the
corresponding parameter. The ground water quality of Neemuch town is a matter of importance due to the spreading
out of manufacturing, agricultural and tourism activities. The locality’s landscape is plain, upland and undulating. Soil
is of sandy black cotton type. Landscape is of Deccan Trap basalts, Vindhyan shale, sandstone and limestone.
Subsequently, this undulant and plain topography does offer this zone to much agrarian output (cgwb.gov.in). Until
now, not a single published research is available on heavy metal contamination and identification of its source of input
into the groundwater in Neemuch district (M.P.India) has not been done. Hence, an appropriate monitoring program is
essential to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities around the town to acquire reliable opinion of the quality of
reservoir water at study area. Therefore, for the first time, we aimed to assess the heavy metal pollution if any (Fe, Mn,
Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr and Zn) in the ground water samples of Neemuch town (M.P, India). Advanced environmetrics like
heavy metal pollution index (HPI) analysis were applied to obtain rapid, accurate and complete information.

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UGC Approved Journal No: 63495

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area: Neemuch is a town and district of Madhya Pradesh (India) (Coordinates at Latitude (N)
24º4763850N -25º02’ Longitude (E) 74.87 0E, Fig 1). The geology constitutes the extension of Vindhyan range
and Malwa plateau. Soil is of black cotton type. Weathered/vesicular basalt, flow contacts and fractured
sandstone form major water bearing structure.

Figure 1. Location of the study area within the state of Madhya Pradesh (India)

Sample collection and Heavy metal estimation: The water samples from bore wells were collected at three
different zones in daytime (CRPF Mandir, Barukheda and Meena mohalla) between 8am to 11am in a clean
and sterile screw-capped glass bottles in the month of December 2018. The sample bottles were sealed,
labelled, and transported and analysed for 7 heavy metals using standard protocols of the American Public
Health Association (APHA, 2012). Analytical grade of chemicals from Merck, India were used. De-ionized
water used in various water quality protocols. All the analyses were made in triplicate and the results were
conveyed as the mean concentration (Sehgal et al, 2014).

Statistical analysis: Statistical computations like arithmetic mean, standard deviation and standard error,
correlation and regression analysis were calculated by using XLSTAT 2010 Excel add-in Window software.
HPI index of surface water was determined by the procedure given by Mohan et al, (1996).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results of the heavy metal concentrations in three different groundwater samples of Neemuch town were displayed
in Table 1-3. All the studied heavy metals found well within the limits of BIS standards for drinking purpose. The
mean concentrations of heavy metals in groundwaters at CRPF Mandir area were found as 190, 14.5, 794.1, 2382.5,
408.3, 1.26 and 11.08 μg/l for Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd and Cr respectively. The Bore well water of Barukheda had
shown 171.6, 15.11, 782.5, 2035.3, 289.16, 2.74 and 11.83 μg/l for Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd and Cr respectively. While
the Meena mohalla (third location) exhibited 234.1, 14, 876.6, 2081, 233, 3.25 and 32.4 μg/l for Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd
and Cr respectively during December 2018. The lower levels of heavy metals during the study period might be due to
lower values of pH, temperature, DO and EC and dilution effects of reservoir water (Islam et al., 2015).

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UGC Approved Journal No: 63495

Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) was employed to define the collective influence of specific heavy metal on the
overall quality of water. To calculate the HPI of the surface waters, the mean concentration value of the all seven
metals have been taken into account (Prasad and Sangita 2018). The ground waters of Neemuch town during winter
months of 2018 contained low and only detectable amounts of all seven metals concentrations. Natural processes (rock
weathering and leaching of soils) and anthropogenic activities (discharge of municipal and industrial waste and the
excess use of synthetic fertilizers) are responsible for the occurrence of heavy metals in fresh water sources.

Table.1. Calculation of Heavy metal Pollution (HPI) Index at Bore well water at CRPF Mandir area of Neemuch
town during December 2018.
(BIS 105000 STANDARD FOR DRINKING WATER)
Parameter Monitored Standard Ideal value (Ii) Unit Quality WiQi
values (Mn) Values (Si) Weight (Wi) rating (Qi)

1 Mn (μg/l) 190 300 100 0.0033 45 0.1485

2 Pb (μg/l) 14.5 100 - 0.02 14.5 0.29
3 Cu (μg/l) 794.167 1500 50 0.00066 51.32 0.0338
4 Zn (μg/l) 2382.5 5000 - 0.000066 47.64 0.0031
5 Fe (μg/l) 408.33 1000 300 0.0381 15.4 0.5867
6 Cd (μg/l) 1.26 10 - 0.1 12.6 1.26
7 Cr (μg/l) 11.083 50 - 0.02 22.166 0.2433
0.182126
208.626 2.5654
Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) ∑ = = 14.085

The result HPI calculated is much lower in three different study locations of Neemuch town (14.08, 20.46 and 29.27)
than the critical index (100) limit. The ground water at CRPF Mandir area and Barukheda have fallen into ‘excellent
category while the ground waters of Meena mohalla has fallen into ‘good ‘ category for drinking purpose in terms of
HPI value. Lack of water flow, higher precipitation, least anthropogenic interference and good governance enhanced
the water quality in the study station. Our results are in consistent with the study of Jinwal et al, (2009) who reported
lower levels of heavy metal concentration in the water samples of Sehore and Bhopal district (India). Reza and Singh,
G (2010) found low heavy metal concentrations in samples of River Brahmani (Uttarakhand).

Table.2. Calculation of Heavy metal Pollution (HPI) Index of Bore well water Barukheda at Neemuch town
during December 2018.
(BIS 105000 STANDARD FOR DRINKING WATER)
Parameter Monitored Standard Ideal value Unit Quality WiQi
values (Mn) Values (Si) (Ii) Weight (Wi) rating (Qi)

1 Mn (μg/l) 171.66 300 100 0.0033 35.83 0.1182

2 Pb (μg/l) 15.11 100 - 0.02 15.11 0.3022
3 Cu (μg/l) 782.5 1500 50 0.00066 50.51 0.03333
4 Zn (μg/l) 2035.83 5000 - 0.000066 40.716 0.00026
5 Fe (μg/l) 289.16 1000 300 0.0381 1.548 0.0589
6 Cd (μg/l) 2.742 10 - 0.1 27.42 2.742
7 Cr (μg/l) 11.83 50 - 0.02 23.66 0.4732
0.182126
194.794 3.728
Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) ∑ = = 20.469

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UGC Approved Journal No: 63495

Table.3. Calculation of Heavy metal Pollution (HPI) Index of Bore well water at Meena mohalla of Neemuch
town during December 2018
(BIS 105000 STANDARD FOR DRINKING WATER)
Parameter Monitored Standard Ideal Unit Quality WiQi
values (Mn) Values (Si) value (Ii) Weight (Wi) rating (Qi)
2016)
1 Mn (μg/l) 234.16 300 100 0.0033 32.7 0.1079
2 Pb (μg/l) 14.0 100 - 0.02 14 0.28
3 Cu (μg/l) 876.66 1500 50 0.00066 42.98 0.0283
4 Zn (μg/l) 2081.66 5000 - 0.000066 58.36 0.00385
5 Fe (μg/l) 233 1000 300 0.0381 9.571 0.364
6 Cd (μg/l) 3.25 10 - 0.1 32.5 3.25
7 Cr (μg/l) 32.4 50 - 0.02 64.8 1.296
0.182126
254.911 5.3300
Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) ∑ = = 29.27

The recent investigation of Siddiqui and Pandey (2019) confirmed the heavy metal contamination in surface water and
sediment at nine study stations along with 2320 km stretch of the Ganga River. Natural, lithological and
anthropogenic activities in the water quality of reservoir may be responsible for the slight increase in the heavy metal
concentrations than ideal values.

Results revealed that the mean concentrations of all studied seven heavy metals and water quality parameters in the
ground waters at Neemuch town (India) did not exceed the BIS/WHO standards for drinking water. Based on the
present study, it is clear that overall distribution of the heavy metals in ground waters of Neemuch town (India) was
less contaminated and consequently fallen into ‘excellent’ to ‘good’ category. The low concentrations of heavy metals
in different locations during the study period might be due to absorption, sedimentation and flocculation of heavy
metals in the sediments. The heavy metals perhaps enriched in sediments by absorption, sedimentation and
flocculation, which resulted low concentrations during the study period at Rampura station (Pandey 2019; Javed et al.
2019) consequently low concentrations were detected in the study site. Lack of water currents and flow further
enhanced the sedimentation process during study period (winter) (Zhang et al., 2014). The existences of heavy metal
concentrations in the freshwater resources are reliant on many water quality parameters along with the biological and
geological factors. Among these, temperature, pH, EC and DO are shown have profound influence on heavy metals
(Huang et al., 2017).

The lower levels of heavy metal concentrations in the present study perhaps is related with the slower oxidative
precipitation rate and scavenging of the heavy metal ions hydroxide formed from Fe and Mn cations (Santana-Casiano
et al. 2004; Atkinson et al. 2017). Fe-Mn oxides, which are products of weathering, are known proficient scavengers
for Zn (Singh et al. 1984) that can transport Zn into river waters. At higher DO levels, oxygen diffusion is stronger and
Fe and Mn oxidative precipitation will be quicker. Therefore, the generated hydroxide formed from Fe and Mn cations
would adsorb more dissolved heavy metals consequently prevented the metals release (Adekunle et al. 2009; Ho et al.
2012). However, results of all the heavy metal releases in relation with DO in the ground water depends on the
presence of the higher organic matter contents in the sediments which enhances oxidation rate to release heavy metals
(Li et al., 2013). At high DO concentrations (>5) oxygen dispersion was stronger to produce more hydroxides or
oxides. The hydroxide or oxide adsorbs more dissolved heavy metals, which lead to reduced metals release (Huang et
al., 2017). Aerobic environs and presence of more nutrient levels stimulated the adsorption of heavy metals in
sediments, which consequently reduced the heavy metal concentrations in surface waters. Our results are consistent
with a number of other investigations (Kang et al., 2019).

The outcomes point out that there are least anthropogenic activities in the study points of the town. The low
concentration might also be endorsed to the metal holding capacity of sediments. Therefore, factors influencing
bioavailability of heavy metals in dregs have to be studied expansively to give a firm conclusion. The present study

Volume 8, Issue 2 (2019) ISSN: 2319–474X (p); 2319–4758 (e) © 2019 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 95
 www.sciencejournal.in
UGC Approved Journal No: 63495

delivers valuable information on the ecological risk of heavy metals in ground water by comparison with BIS
recommendations. These outcomes can offer as a measure in the investigation of approaches to take care of both
ecosystem and human health. In the present study, the low concentrations of heavy metals during the study period
(winter) maybe due to the low water flow that enabled metals to accumulate in sediment (Patel et al., 2018). The key
factors that influence the metals release should typically be the intrinsic properties of metals and other characteristics of
ground water and sediments (Huang et al., 2017).

CONCLUSION
Overall, the present study is a first approach and supplements to the establishment of environmental levels of heavy
metals in groundwater samples of Neemuch town. It sets the basis for the expansion of a reference point of data that
will be crucial for the sustainable management of water quality at this locality. The outcomes point out that in
comparison to the WHO/BIS regulatory standards for drinking purpose, the heavy metal concentrations were relatively
lower than standard values. It reveals excellent quality of ground water during the study period. The dilution effect due
to heavy rainfall may also results in the consequent reduction in the total concentration of the metals in the post-
monsoon season.

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