Analysis of Contaminants in Sewage and Groundwater: Future Impact on Human and Animal Health

Abstract

Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) is applied based on the linear combination of the five different groups of irrigation water quality parameters: (a) salinity hazard, (b) permeability and infiltration problems, (c) specific ion toxicity, (d) trace element toxicity; and (e) miscellaneous problems that have potential negative impacts on soil quality and crop yield. A single index value is developed, which is then interpreted to determine the suitability of the irrigation water. Furthermore, the values of various quality parameters of sewage were compared with the quality of groundwater of villages in the Gandhinagar district of Gujarat State selected for the study. The comparison revealed that no significant difference had been observed among the values of water quality parameters analyzed for groundwater and sewage. Further, the IWQI calculated for sewage and groundwater was found to be in the moderate and high class of suitability for irrigation purpose. IWQI also considers the levels of trace heavy metals, therefore it serves as an excellent tool for monitoring their levels and assess their impact on human and animal health in future. Moreover, it is recommended to carry out continuous monitoring of sewage, crops, and soil for perpetual applications of sewage for irrigation.

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Notes on contributors

Ankita Modi

Ankita Modi is a post graduate in Environmental Engineering. She has been serving in Gujarat Environment Management Institute as an Assistant Environmental Engineer. She has experience of 4 years. She has been working on studies in the field of water and wastewater and use of sewage for irrigation practices.

Nitasha Khatri

Nitasha Khatri has done her PhD degree in Environment Sciences. She has a work experience of 14 years in the field of environment. She has been serving in Gujarat Environment Management Institute (GEMI) as Senior Scientific Officer. She has been actively contributing to the studies in the field of rural environment studies, river monitoring, biomonitoring of rivers, sewage study, pollution indicators. She is an author of around 13 scientific papers in environmental research.

Sanjiv Tyagi

Sanjiv Tyagi is a Graduate in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi. He received his PhD in Air Pollution (Environment) from CEPT University. He also holds Postgraduate in Pollution Control and Bachelor in Law. He is a member of the Indian Forest Services of 1988 batch. He has been admitted as a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, London. He has served in various capacities in Gujarat Forest Department and as former Director of Gujarat Environment Management Institute (GEMI).

A. K. Jha

Ashutosh Kumar Jha is a Post graduate in Physics from Delhi University. He is a member of the Indian Forest Services of 1986 batch. He has served in various capacities in Gujarat Forest Department and presently as Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Director of Gujarat Environment Management Institute (GEMI).