case study on groundwater pollution in india

Groundwater governance in India – A case study by World Bank

case study on groundwater pollution in india

It examines the impediments to better governance of groundwater, and explores opportunities for using groundwater to help developing countries adapt to climate change. It attempts to understand the practical issues that arise in establishing robust national governance frameworks for groundwater and in implementing these frameworks at the aquifer level.

The case study focused on the national, state and local levels. At the national and state levels, it analyzed the policy, legal, and institutional arrangements to identify the demand and supply management and incentive structures that have been established for groundwater management. At the local level, it assessed the operations, successes, and constraints facing local institutions in the governance of a number of aquifers within peninsula India, on the coast and on the plain of the Ganges river valley.

The report is divided into eight chapters following which a list of references used in the paper is used is provided. The first chapter in the beginning provides a brief background to the study and defines “groundwater governance”. In this report it refers to “refers to those political, social, economic, and administrative systems that are explicitly aimed at developing and managing water resources and water services at different levels of society that rely solely or largely on groundwater resources”. Following this the methodology used to carry out the study is elaborated where emphasis on pragmatic approaches, which can bring is incremental improvements with the given institutional framework is highlighted. The study is based on:

the findings and recommendations of “Deep Wells and Prudence: Towards Pragmatic Action for Addressing Groundwater Overexploitation in India” ,which focused mainly on aquifer intensive abstraction groundwater issues (World Bank 2010).
number of Groundwater Management Advisory Team (GW-MATE) case profile and strategic overview series publications, which addressed in more detail the local level in seven rural and urban aquifers; and
reports on groundwater quality-related aspects prepared by two local consultants aimed at addressing the technical/managerial and legal/institutional dimensions of aquifer protection in the country.

Chapter 2 is on “Resource Setting: Overexploitation and Groundwater Pollution”. It begins by highlighting the need to understand both physical and socio-economic environment to determine the availability of groundwater and its sustainability issues. It then goes on to elaborate the remarkable use of ground water for various purposes that has led to over exploitation of the resource. The chapter provides statistical data state wise on various issues related to ground water. Further the chapter sheds light on the ground water pollution.

Chapter 3 is on “The Governance Framework”. With a brief over view of key aspects related to ground water and its lacunas in the national water policy of 1987 and 2002 the report points at ground water in the Indian legal system and policy framework. Following which the institutions that govern the development and management of ground water is elaborated. This section covers the following issues: quality protection and pollution of ground water, its monitoring and surveillance the institutional capacity of institutions and financial issues.

Chapter 4 is on “Case Study Aquifers/Pilot Projects”. To cover the diverse rural and urban environments with different socioeconomic features seven cases of aquifers had been selected for this study. The chapter discusses in detail about these cases.

Chapter 5 is on “Findings and Lessons Learned”. It states that technical, legal, and institutional provisions are in a more or less acceptable. As far as the implementation of actions proposed by GWMATE is also uncertain as the institutional capacity is weak. The chapter then lays down a list of lessons learned about intensive groundwater use in hardrock peninsular India and alluvial Indo Gangetic Plain. It also highlights on the issue of coping with groundwater pollution issues.

Chapter 6 is on “Groundwater Governance and Climate Change Adaptation”. It gives a brief description (conjunctive use and recharge enhancement) of the World Bank’s study on ground water and climate change in cases where GW-MATE has been involved.

Chapter 7 is on “Recommendations”. A summary of: recommended implementation actions for managing intensive groundwater abstraction and actions required for protecting ground water pollution is given in this chapter. Further it also highlights at the actions required to strengthen state groundwater development and management agencies.

Chapter 8 provides list annexes of the report.

Click below to download the report.

Science News by AGU

Widespread Contamination Found in Northwest India’s Groundwater

Pathways for Contamination

The team also used isotope geochemistry to separate geogenic contaminants that are naturally occurring in the aquifer rocks, such as uranium and fluoride, and those that stem from human-made pollution, such as the high nitrate concentrations that come from untreated sewage and fertilizers leaking into shallow groundwater systems.

“Establishing the pathways of contamination for the various compounds is important for water treatment strategies,” says Richard Wanty , a geochemist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Lakewood, Colo., who was not involved in the new study.

“Natural contamination can be treated at point of use, but it’s generally not possible to fix something like uranium contamination at the source—it’s too pervasive,” he says.

Anthropogenic pollution, on the other hand, can be treated at the source. One such example might be stopping a wastewater plume from getting into groundwater supplies.

More of these kinds of geochemical studies will be needed for India to make progress in providing adequate sanitation and safe drinking water for its growing population of 1.3 billion people, Wanty says.

The study’s methods for vetting groundwater can be applied anywhere in the world that people rely on groundwater, he says.

“This is a very detailed study of a specific geographic area, but one could easily take the geochemical protocols and apply them to other parts of the world, both developed and underdeveloped,” Wanty says. “I hope people don’t refrain from reading this study because it says Rajasthan, India, in the title. This approach can be used anywhere people are using groundwater for drinking water.”

—Mary Caperton Morton ( @theblondecoyote ), Science Writer

Morton, M. C. (2019), Widespread contamination found in northwest India’s groundwater, Eos, 100 , https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EO130161 . Published on 05 August 2019.

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Groundwater pp 123–133 Cite as

Causes and Sources of Groundwater Pollution: A Case Study of Nagpur City, India

Sahajpreet Kaur Garewal 5 &
Avinash D. Vasudeo 5
Conference paper
First Online: 16 January 2018

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Part of the book series: Water Science and Technology Library ((WSTL,volume 76))

Assessment of groundwater quality is equally important as its quantity. Dependency on groundwater increases with population, hence it is necessary to quantify the causes and sources of groundwater pollution. The possible contaminants in groundwater are practically unlimited; a wide range of contaminants are found in groundwater. The main sources and causes of groundwater pollution are municipal, industrial and agricultural. The objective of the present study is to enumerate on the sources and causes of groundwater pollution in relation with municipal usage within the Nagpur city. Finally, relation between Land use/Land cover and groundwater pollution has been established using geographical information system (GIS).

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Sahajpreet Kaur Garewal & Avinash D. Vasudeo

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Garewal, S.K., Vasudeo, A.D. (2018). Causes and Sources of Groundwater Pollution: A Case Study of Nagpur City, India. In: Singh, V., Yadav, S., Yadava, R. (eds) Groundwater. Water Science and Technology Library, vol 76. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5789-2_10

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Open access
Published: 17 April 2024

Identification of prevalent leachate percolation of municipal solid waste landfill: a case study in India

Pervez Alam 1 ,
Afzal Husain Khan 2 ,
Raisul Islam 3 ,
Ehab Sabi 2 ,
Nadeem A. Khan 4 &
Tasneem Imtiyaz Zargar 1

Scientific Reports volume 14 , Article number: 8910 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Environmental chemistry
Environmental impact
Environmental sciences
Environmental social sciences

Landfill leachate forms when waste-inherent water and percolated rainfall transfer are highly toxic, corrosive, acidic, and full of environmental pollutants. The release of leachate from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites poses a severe hazard to human health and aquatic life. This study examined the impact of leachate from Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill on the nearby groundwater quality. Analysis of leachate samples was done to determine various parameters such as total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, pH, BOD 5 , COD, nitrate, sulphate, chloride and iron, and presence of coliform bacteria. Significant dissolved elements (22,690–34,525 mg/L) were observed in the samples, indicated by the high conductivity value (1156–1405 mho/cm). However, a stable pH range (6.90–7.80) of leachate samples was observed due to high alkalinity concentrations between 2123 and 3256 mg/L. The inverse distance weighing (IDW) interpolation tool from QGIS 3.22.7 developed spatial interpolated models for each parameter across the Ghazipur area. The IDW interpolated graphs of various parameters over the whole study area confirmed these contaminations. In addition, leachate and groundwater samples were physio-chemically analyzed, and temporal fluctuation in landfill waste has also been studied. The temporal fluctuation results showed that when heat is produced, transmitted, and lost throughout the waste system, the maximum temperature position fluctuates over time. The findings of this study highlight the critical importance of landfill management in reducing groundwater contamination from MSW leachate.

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Michael Oluwatosin Adedinni, Augustine Babatunde Arogundade, … John Adekunle Oyedele Oyekunle

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Geoffrey K. Kinuthia, Veronica Ngure, … Luna Kamau

Sources of contamination in sediments of retention tanks and the influence of precipitation type on the size of pollution load

Karolina Matej-Łukowicz, Ewa Wojciechowska, … Aleksandra Winogradow

Introduction

Municipal solid waste (MSW) encompasses a wide range of waste materials that originate from homes, businesses, institutions, and industries in urban areas 1 . It includes papers, plastics, glasses, metals, food scraps, clothes, yard wastes, and other miscellaneous waste materials 2 . The volume, composition, and management needs of the MSW make it an environmental, economic, and social challenge 3 . Reduced environmental effects of MSW may be achieved by analyzing energy generation and recycling possibilities from waste, which also has the added benefit of supplying a nearby source of electricity 4 . By 2025, it is projected that the yearly production of MSW will have increased by 2.2 billion metric tons due to urbanization, economic expansion, population growth, and changing lifestyles 5 , 6 .

Since most MSW is disposed of in open areas, many developing countries typically observe or engage in this behaviour. It ultimately causes the toxic leachate generated from the waste to contaminate nearby water bodies or percolate to reach groundwater. Leachate primarily results from solid waste, which occurs mainly through the process of percolation or leaching 7 . When precipitation or any other liquid encounters solid waste in a landfill or disposal site, it seeps through the various layers of waste, dissolving both suspended and dissolved contaminants along the way 8 . With high concentrations of inorganic ions, organic molecules, and other harmful substances, including heavy metals and ammonia, landfill leachate is a highly contaminated liquid 9 . Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in leachate can potentially interfere with microbial activity and foul membranes, impairing the coagulation phase’s efficiency 10 . A variety of treatments have been developed to treat landfill leachate, including biological treatment (such as activated sludge and fluidized bed reactor operations), chemical treatment (such as Fenton process and chemical precipitation), and physico-chemical treatment (such as adsorption and membrane processes).

Every waste landfill must have efficient leakproofing and drainage systems to reduce the environmental risk associated with landfill leachate 11 . The sealing system ensures leachate is not confined in the landfill while preventing rain from penetrating the landfill and releasing leachate to the environment. Leachate is moved to the basin via open or enclosed canal systems, where it can then be used in various landfill technology processes or processed in a wastewater treatment facility before being discharged into the sewer 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 . There is a severe risk of greatly exaggerating the emissions and environmental damage caused by landfills due to a lack of understanding of the dynamic nature of landfill leachate throughout its life cycle 17 . Although landfills have gained popularity as a low-cost and technically feasible solution for treating MSW, they are likely to substantially damage groundwater through solute leaching 18 , 19 .

A study conducted in China reported that open disposal of solid waste can have several adverse effects on the surrounding environment, public health, and aesthetics 20 . Further, the decomposing of organic matter produces methane gas and leachate, contributing to climate change and groundwater contamination 21 . According to Mor et al., leachate released or transported from waste can contaminate soil and water bodies, leading to ecosystem degradation 22 . Leachate remains a significant risk to groundwater even if hazardous waste is not dumped in municipal landfills 23 , 24 . Further, if leachate is not adequately contained or managed, it can flow into nearby surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or streams, causing pollution and endangering aquatic ecosystems 25 . It also emits foul odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as it decomposes, contributing to air pollution in the surrounding area 26 .

Previous research has shown that the four major chemical groups comprising landfill leachate are DOM, inorganic compounds, heavy metals, and xenobiotic organic components 27 . Because acetogenic leachate contains more organic matter than methanogenic leachate, it has a higher BOD: COD ratio than the latter. The acetogenic leachate has higher concentrations of heavy metal contaminants due to its acidic composition, which increases metal solubility 28 . Due to changes in waste composition, water content, and seasonal variables like temperature and precipitation, landfill leachate properties show significant variability 29 . It has been observed from the literature survey that some researchers have carried out the effects of landfill leachate on groundwater 17 , 18 , 22 , 30 , 31 . However, our study navigates the intricate landscape of waste management, focusing on the pervasive issue of leachate percolation in Ghazipur landfill, India. With meticulous analysis and comprehensive data, we examine the environmental impact and implications of the prevalent leachate percolation in MSW landfills. Through this insightful case study, we unravel the environmental complexities, striving towards sustainable solutions for a cleaner, greener future. Thus, landfill leachate must be monitored to ensure human and environmental safety. Herein, this study investigated the leachate percolation through the soil into the underlying aquifers. The main objectives of this study are (a) to identify characteristics of leachate generated from landfill sites and (b) to identify the impacts on the groundwater quality using GIS-based interpolation techniques. To achieve these objectives, the inclusion of field measurements, GPS data, and physico-chemical parameters was assessed. Furthermore, an evaluation of the temporal evolution with depth and time was also made on the landfill’s site.

Methodology

The study area, sample collection and preparation, temporal variation, inverse distance weighting interpolation technique, and water quality index will be discussed in the subsequent sections of the methodology.

The current research was carried out at the Ghazipur landfill in New Delhi, which has been in operation since 1984 and overflowing since 2002. However, waste has still been put there despite the landfill’s capacity being surpassed for at least 10 years. The landfill had surpassed 65 m at the most recent count in 2019 (213 feet). The latitude and longitude of the Ghazipur landfill site are 28° 37′ 27.2064′′ N and 77° 19′ 37.8372″ E, respectively. Delhi City generates around 11,144 tons of MSW daily, deposited at open dumpsites at different landfill sites. Among all landfill sites, the major portion of MSW over the last two decades has been diverted to the Ghazipur landfill. Therefore, several fire and smouldering accidents were observed at the Ghazipur landfill, which affected those residing in the nearby housing societies, slums, and schools who complained of difficulty breathing, itching in the eyes, etc.

Further, the study area has also been selected due to its significance as one of the largest and most prominent waste disposal sites in the region. The environmental challenges it poses make it interesting for research. The landfill reflects the acute waste management issues facing the city and raises questions about the impacts of rapid urbanization, population growth, and unsustainable consumption patterns on the environment and public health.

Sample collection and preparation

Chemical composition of leachate.

The original MSW content, the level of compaction, the site’s hydrology, the climate, and lastly, landfill age all affect the chemical components of leachate. For these reasons, there is significant variation in the leachate characteristics produced from landfills. Ghazipur landfill site is an open dumping site with no liners, leachate collection system, or arrangement for gas collection. Hence, leachate production rate and characteristics are more complex than sanitary landfills. The monthly collection of six leachate samples was done between May 2021 and October 2021 from the landfill of Ghazipur. A comprehensive total of 36 samples were systematically collected across the study area. This sampling protocol was determined based on an initial assessment, which concluded that six strategically positioned samples adequately represented the entire landfill area. These selected sampling locations were confirmed to encompass all classes of waste present in the landfill. The sampling was meticulously done to ensure that the leachate collected was produced from all types of waste in the landfill, thereby maintaining homogeneity throughout the sampling process.

Leachate sampling was done as follows and outlined by Cerne and Junestedt 32 . Leachate sampling was done using grab sampling in 1000 mL bottles made from plastic cleaned thoroughly, and the samples were then stored at 4 °C. The laboratory analyzed various samples using standardized methods outlined in the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater 33 . The parameters examined included pH, electrical conductivity, BOD 5 , COD, hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solid (TDS), chloride, sulphate, nitrate, and iron. In addition to the above, the samples have been tested for the presence of coliform bacteria because the coliform group of bacteria is the principal indicator of the suitability of water. Further, the following precautions have been taken during the collection of samples 34 .

Thoroughly clean containers with laboratory detergent rinse and deionized water were used to collect samples.

The samples are properly handled to avoid contamination. The sample was stored in dark, cold conditions, adjusted to 4 °C within 6 h, and promptly delivered to the laboratory.

Care has been taken to avoid touching container openings to prevent contamination.

Collected samples has been directly transferred into clean bottles to prevent contamination.

Analysis of groundwater samples in the proximity of Ghazipur landfill

In order to better understand how landfill leachate affects groundwater, samples from hand pumps already in place at the Ghazipur landfill site are being taken. From May 2021 to October 2021, six groundwater samples from each area were taken monthly. Clean plastic bottles were used for a 1000 mL grab sampling, and samples were subsequently held at 4 °C in the environmental laboratory. The laboratory analyzed samples for various parameters following the American Public Health Association (APHA), Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (1998). The parameters examined included iron, pH, electrical conductivity, BOD 5 , COD, hardness, alkalinity, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, and total dissolved solids (TDS). In addition to the aforementioned, the samples have been examined for coliform bacteria. The cornerstone for bacteriological water quality standards has been the density of coliform group bacteria, which measures the level of contamination. Although it would be ideal if all samples were free of coliform bacteria, the reality is that no water sample should include more than 10 coliform bacteria per 100 mL. Table 1 lists the locations of groundwater test points, depth and their separation from the landfill site, and Fig. 1 illustrates the same information visually.

Location of study area on the Map of India and various ground water sampling points.

Temporal variation

Thermocouples, for example, have been used to detect the temperature in landfills with a wide range of other sensors 35 , 36 and thermistors, e.g. 37 . According to the researchers, type K thermocouples are excellent for landfill applications because of their exceptional resilience to chemical conditions 38 .

Temperatures were recorded at several points in the landfills, such as the waste mass, cover, and peripheral control areas. Type K thermocouples were placed in specially made-arrays to measure temperatures 39 . Due to the rugged temperature measuring device usage, Type-K thermocouple was preferred over any other type of device. In addition to that, due to its broad temperature range, longer lifespan, prompt reaction, affordability, reliability and compact nature, this temperature measuring device was preferred.

For horizontal installations buried in trenches underneath liners, coverings, and wastes, the arrays spanned from 150 to 250 m in length. Vertical installations between 1 and 50 m high were built in boreholes through waste and coverings and at control sites. Following waste placement, vertical installations were created that made it possible to measure temperature changes with depth and waste age at a specific spot. During waste placement or liner/cover construction, horizontal installations were installed that made it possible to determine temperatures at a spot with a single waste age and a particular depth. All measurements were taken on a weekly basis.

Inverse distance weighting interpolation technique

Inverse distance weighting (IDW) is a commonly used technique in spatial interpolation, which is a method used to estimate values at unsampled locations within a defined area based on measured values at sampled locations. We have selected this approach because our study involves spatially distributed data points with a relatively high density. Further, it is suitable for interpolating values from nearby data points, making it well-suited for datasets with dense spatial coverage. In addition, unlike other interpolation techniques, such as kriging, IDW does not require assumptions about the underlying distribution of the data. This flexibility is advantageous when dealing with environmental datasets where the data distribution may be complex or unknown. Given these considerations, IDW is the preferred interpolation technique for our study. While other interpolation methods may offer advantages in specific scenarios, IDW aligns well with the characteristics of our data and the objectives of our analysis, making it the most suitable choice for estimating values across the study area.

Methodology for water quality index

The methodology employed for calculating the water quality index (WQI) in this research encompasses a systematic approach involving several essential steps and mathematical formulas. The observed values were compared with established standard values as per guidelines provided by BIS 10500. Weighted Normalized Scores (W n ) for each parameter were computed utilizing the formula:

where k represents the reciprocal of the standard value of each parameter, and S denotes the standard values. Subsequently, Q n for each parameter were derived by the formulae:

where O represents the observed value, I represent the ideal value (7 for pH, 0 otherwise), and S representing the standard value of the parameter. The weighted sum (W n Log Q n ) was then calculated and finally summed up. Finally, the WQI was computed by:

Results and discussion

The obtained results of leachate characteristics, effect on groundwater, temporal variation in landfill and water quality index has been discussed in the subsequent sections of result and discussion.

Leachate characteristics

The pH values of the leachate samples ranged from 6.9 to 7.8 due to high alkalinity concentrations between 2123 and 3256 mg/L. The pH of leachate collected from an emerging and young landfill is usually less than 7, due to the production of carboxylic acids. However, as time passes, the pH of leachate usually turns from acidic to alkaline due to the formation of alkaline compounds, which indicates anaerobic biodegradation and a methanogenic stage of decomposition 40 . The pH values obtained from the leachate indicate the dominance of alkaline compounds and hence point out the maturity of the landfill.

The high conductivity value (1156–1405 mho/cm) represents the presence of salts in the samples (22,690–34,525 mg/L). The dissolved material concentration and conductivity are high for active landfills, whereas the conductivity values for abandoned landfills are often lower 41 . Leachate sample hardness ranged from 4312 to 5925 mg/L. The hardness was found to be high during the wet period of the year (July and August).

The chloride concentration was highest in October (2300 mg/L) and lowest in August (1760 mg/L). Because it is neither physically nor physiologically reactive, it is abundant and largely not preserved by soil systems. It spreads swiftly and frequently, indicating the progress of a plume of tainted water. Such large deviation in the chloride content could be linked to the precipitation, which may cause significant leaching of pollutants. The range of chloride content of active landfill leachate was reported by 41 as 853 mg/L to 2670 mg/L. BOD 5 and COD values were found high, of the order 2216 mg/L and 7998 mg/L, respectively, indicates severe contamination and may lead to direct groundwater pollution.

Furthermore, it is worth pointing out that the values of BOD 5 and COD almost remained stable throughout the analysis. This may be attributed to the stabilized chemical reactions in the landfill; on the contrary 42 obtained fluctuations in the COD values of leachate collected from active and un-stabilized landfills. The BOD 5 / COD value calculated for maximum values of BOD 5 and COD was 0.27, which lies in the biodegradable zone 43 . Figure 2 A,B illustrate the changes in hardness, alkalinity, chloride, BOD 5 , and COD. The nitrate concentration was highest (140 mg/L) in July and lowest (80 mg/L) in October. Sulphate values ranged from 210 to 309 mg/L, and iron values were very high (54–81 mg/L). It suggested that steel and iron are also being disposed of in landfills, where they might cause groundwater to become reddish-brown.

Variation of leachate characteristics in Ghazipur landfill ( A ) hardness, alkalinity, and chloride, ( B ) BOD 5 and COD, and ( C ) nitrate, sulphate and iron.

Micronutrients that are necessary for the growth of plants include metals like Fe and Ni. As a result, at some concentrations, they are required and can promote growth, but once they reach specific levels, they become poisonous to them. Metals in excessive amounts can interrupt germination and impede the growth of roots or shoots 44 , 45 . The concentrations of sulphate, nitrate and iron are shown in Fig. 2 C. A comparison is drawn between the concentration of contaminants in leachate and municipal wastewater samples, as shown in Table 2 . It could be seen that the Ghazipur landfill leachate concentration is very high on comparing various contaminant concentrations of typical wastewater and indicates heavy pollution of surface water and groundwater. Due to the high biodegradable content of MSW in Delhi, it is evident that it will produce leachate with more organics. Some hazardous, industrial, and hospital wastes are disposed of at the MSW disposal site. As a result, the leachate has substantially greater levels of pollution.

The pollution index devised by Kumar and Alappat 46 , serves as a practical tool for evaluating the potential contamination posed by leachate discharged from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. Leachate from landfills can contaminate nearby soil and water sources, necessitating a method to quantify this risk. The index fulfills this need, aiding in identifying landfill sites requiring immediate attention. The leachate pollution index (LPI) can be calculated using the equation:

where LPI—the weighted additive leachate pollution index, w i —the weight for the ith pollutant variable, p i —the sub index value of the ith leachate pollutant variable, n—number of leachate pollutant variables used in calculating LPI and \(\sum {w}_{i}=1\) 47 .

The overall weights and subindex values considered in this study were taken in accordance with previous studies 47 , 48 . Now, overall LPI,

In this study, LPI value of 23.7 is found using the above calculated values, which is in line with the previous studies.

Effect of leachate on groundwater

The results of the present investigation are summarized in Table 3 , which provides a comprehensive picture of the characteristics of groundwater in and around the Ghazipur landfill site. The mean value of all the parameters was interpolated over the whole Ghazipur village and intensity models were prepared using Inverse Distance Weighing (IDW). Such models were trained using QGIS 3.22.7, as shown in Fig. 3 A–L. In this investigation, parameter values were predicted using the geo-statistical modelling tool (QGIS 3.22.7) by averaging the parameters of sample data points near each known data point. The sample point map and the data at each sample point were imported into the QGIS software, and the IDW technique was used to interpolate the digitized values at unmeasured places. The average deviation between the neighbouring data and the un-sampled regions was measured experimentally using the IDW approach.

IDW Interpolated graphs of various parameters over the whole study area ( A ) alkalinity, ( B ) BOD 5 , ( C ) chloride, ( D ) COD, ( E ) electric conductivity, ( F ) hardness, ( G ) iron, ( H ) MPN, ( I ) nitrate, ( J ) pH, ( K ) sulphate, ( L ) TDS.

The core concept of IDW (Inverse Distance Weighting) interpolation involves utilizing a collection of sample points in a weighted linear combination. This method relies on statistical and mathematical techniques to construct surfaces and predict locations where measurements are unavailable 30 .

The impact of leachate on groundwater quality parameters with respect to the distance from the landfill site is shown in Fig. 4 A–D. Using the interpolated spatial models, the regions of groundwater affected by the landfill leachate can be easily determined. As seen in the spatial models, the parameters had greater values inside and at the boundaries of the landfill site, which seemed to decrease as the distance from the landfill site increased. The concerned authorities can use these interpolated models to monitor and improve the groundwater at critical points, whose location can be easily determined by the interpolated spatial models.

Variations of physico-chemical parameters with respect to distance from the landfill ( A ) pH value, ( B ) BOD 5 and COD value, ( C ) TDS, chloride, alkalinity and hardness value, and ( D ) iron concentration.

The pH value in the wells near the landfill (GW4) is more than that far from the landfill (GW8), which indicates that the water is more alkaline near the landfill, as shown in Fig. 4 A. Groundwater samples showed a wide conductivity range from 799 to 3568 mho/cm. As shown in Table 4 , the conductivity of groundwater is low and within the desired value in the South-West of the landfill (GW1) and in the west (GW2), whereas high conductivity of water at the North of the landfill and in the points near the landfill (GW4 and GW5). Such typical pH and Electrical Conductivity values indicate leaching leachate into the groundwater. The alkaline nature of water and high conductivity values near the landfill suggest a severe risk of groundwater pollution 31 . The BOD 5 and COD values for all wells are more than the desirable limit, indicating severe groundwater contamination around the landfill, especially in the points near the landfill (GW4, GW5 and GW6), as shown in Fig. 4 B. The hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and chloride were high and more than the desirable limit in all groundwater wells except for GW1, located in the South-West of the landfill. These values were very high in the wells near the landfill (GW4 and GW5), which is more than that far from the landfill (GW8), as shown in Fig. 4 C. Sulphate values are within the desirable limit in the South-West landfill (GW1) and the west landfill (GW2).

In contrast, it is high in the other wells. Nitrate value and the number of coliform bacteria are low for all wells, indicating no bacteriological contamination in groundwater. Iron value was high in all wells, especially in the wells near the landfill (GW4, GW5 and GW6), except for the wells GW2, and GW7, as shown in Fig. 4 D. It could be seen from the physio-chemical characteristics of groundwater (Table 2 ) that the groundwater quality around the Ghazipur landfill site surpassed the desired criteria, and it does not meet the drinking water level. The groundwater contamination is generally worse in landfills in the North and North-Western regions. The areas close to the dump have higher pollution levels. It steadily decreases as it gets farther away towards the north and west, indicating that the landfill leachate is having a negative impact on the groundwater in the landfill and that the groundwater is flowing in a North-Western direction. Further, as one moves away from the dump towards the North and West, pollution levels gradually decrease, suggesting a downstream flow direction of groundwater.

Temporal variation in landfill

The biological decomposition of waste in landfills releases gases, heat, and leachate as a by-product. Various up-to-date technologies are available to collect methane gas released from landfills, but it’s very problematic to utilize a large amount of heat generated from landfills due to the exothermic reaction inside the landfills. Because the right temperature is crucial for the continuous biological decomposition processes and methane generation, it is imperative to prevent undercooling. A temperature of 35 to 40 °C and 50 to 60 °C were the ideal temperature range for developing mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria engaged in garbage decomposition. The ideal temperature range for gas generation at a landfill was determined to be between 40 and 45 °C. The thermal regime of MSW landfills was thoroughly examined in this work, including the variations in temperature with depth and waste age.

The temperature data were gathered from the Ghazipur landfill to explore the typical temperature profile with respect to depth. Temperature versus depth comparisons between years were done at this location. Low temperatures were recorded over and under this intermediate zone of a landfill, while maximum temperatures were recorded close to its mid-depths. The position of the highest temperature changes over time as heat is produced, distributed, and dissipated across the landfill system. The average temperature variation for this landfill with depth is presented in Fig. 5 , where waste was dumped from 1989 to 2019. The depiction in Fig. 5 shows that waste temperature increases as time passes, and the heat zone continuously changes with depth. The landfill subsoil could be broadly categorized into three zones based on the magnitude of temperature. Zone-1 can be established upto the depth of 30 m from the surface and has a temperature range of 30–50 °C. Zone-2 is identified to start at a depth of 30 m and end at 50 m from the surface. The temperature of this zone is the maximum of all and lies between 60 and 70 °C. Zone-3 extends beyond Zone-2 up to a depth of 60 m. This zone is the coolest, and the temperature is below 30 °C. Similar observations were made by 49 , i.e., the highest temperatures were recorded at central spots in the middle third of the waste mass depth.

Temperature versus depth profile at different waste age.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills operate at 20–65 °C, usually below 55 °C 49 . MSW landfills have had temperatures above 80 to 100 °C during the previous 10 years 50 , 51 . Such landfills that exhibit higher temperatures than usual are called elevated temperature landfills (ETLs). The Ghazipur landfill can be accepted as an ETL based on the temperature data obtained. The gases produced in such landfills may be devoid of methane and may lead to the release of more odorous compounds. Furthermore, the liquid pressure may increase due to high temperatures and lead to unexpected leachate outbreaks 50 , 52 .

The biological, chemical, and geomechanical reactions in waste liners and coverings are influenced by temperature and heat transport 49 . Laboratory and field investigations have indicated that the ideal temperature ranges for gas generation from waste degradation are between 34 and 45 °C. At temperatures between about 20 and 75 °C, much lower gas production rates are anticipated. Temperature has an impact on the engineering characteristics of wastes; for instance, in laboratory studies, waste compressibility rises by almost double as the temperature increases from 20 to 35 °C. Elevated temperatures can have detrimental effects on lining systems, leading to various negative outcomes. Geosynthetic materials used for lining landfills or containment structures experience a reduced lifespan under high temperatures. The increased heat can cause accelerated degradation, compromising their integrity and performance over time 53 . However, using thermal and biochemical transformations to produce energy-rich substrates and gases for heat and electricity production are also reported 33 , 54 , 55 .

Water quality index

The detailed calculation of the water quality index using BIS standards is shown in Table 5 . It has been observed from the calculation that the WQI is found to be 537.3, indicating very poor quality, as reported by Chidiac et al. 11 and not fit for drinking. This comprehensive index furnishes a singular numerical representation signifying the overall water quality status, thereby facilitating effective communication of research findings to pertinent stakeholders and decision-makers for water resource management strategies 34 , 38 , 39 .

Control of leachate generation-related groundwater contamination

Controlling leachate to control groundwater pollution requires a holistic approach that combines monitoring and preventive measures. Implementing leachate collection devices, maintaining landfills properly, and enforcing strict rules on waste disposal practices are all part of prevention. In order to identify contamination early on, monitoring is comprised of routinely evaluating groundwater quality by sample and analysis. Groundwater quality and pollution can be improved by the employment of remediation solutions such as permeable reactive barriers, natural attenuation techniques, and pump-and-treat systems. Furthermore, it is critical to utilize community involvement and public awareness initiatives to promote sustainable waste management procedures and an environmental protection policy in order to maintain groundwater resources for future generations.

Future prospects

The Ghazipur landfill is surrounded by the Hindon-Yamuna canal on two sides, ultimately falling into the Yamuna River. Due to the Ghazipur landfill, the subsurface water pollution will ultimately pollute or may be currently polluting one of the major rivers of India. Thus, the scope of this work may be further widened by developing a method to reduce subsurface pollution by incorporating various geosynthetic, clay or composite liner systems.

Furthermore, the water quality of the major surface water bodies surrounding the Ghazipur landfill site may be studied, and the effect of the subsurface water pollution, as reported in this study, can also be found. In addition, the concerned authorities must take note of the deteriorating underground water quality, and efficient water treatment plans must be designed to ensure a safe livelihood. The temporal variations of the landfill are another factor to be considered in compliance. The zone of maximum temperature continuously changes its dimensions (increasing), which is not suitable for the life of a landfill. The composition of the input waste must be carefully decided so that the temperature fluctuations are normalized. Another aspect to be taken care of is the increasing height of the landfill. However, utilizing existing processes to maintain the landfill height by integrating geo-reinforcements is necessary to assure stability and safety.

Leachate and groundwater samples were collected near the MSW Ghazipur landfill in Delhi and selected based on predetermined sampling points and distance from the site. Laboratory tests were conducted to assess their physico-chemical properties and parameters, following guidelines from the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. Leachate samples exhibited pH values ranging from 6.9 to 7.8, with significant alkalinity concentrations (2123–3256 mg/L) and high conductivity (1156–1405 mho/cm), indicative of dissolved particle presence. Leachate hardness ranged from 4312 to 5925 mg/L, while chloride concentrations varied from 176 to 2300 mg/L. Groundwater pH levels were higher closer to the landfill, with conductivity ranging from 799 to 3568 mho/cm. Most groundwater wells exceeded the desired limits for total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, hardness, and alkalinity, particularly in northern and north-western areas. Leachate from the landfill significantly influenced groundwater flow, decreasing steadily with distance north and westward, as demonstrated by spatial interpolation models. Temporal analysis revealed the landfill’s classification as an elevated temperature landfill (ETL), with the highest temperature zone widening over time and moving towards the surface, raising concerns. However, no significant changes were observed in the width of zone 3. Apart from these conclusions, the study has some limitations, including overlooking long-term ecosystem and human health impacts, socioeconomic implications for nearby communities, and alternative waste management strategies. Addressing these gaps requires interdisciplinary research to ensure effective landfill management and pollution prevention.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from [Pervez Alam]. Still, restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. However, data are available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of [Pervez Alam].

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research and innovation, Ministry of education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the Project Number ISP23-144.

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Pervez Alam & Tasneem Imtiyaz Zargar

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Raisul Islam

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Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Supervision: Pervez Alam, Afzal Husain Khan, Raisul Islam, Ehab Sabi, Data curation, Writing—Original draft: Pervez Alam, Afzal Husain Khan, Raisul Islam, Ehab Sabi, Tasneem Imtiyaz Zargar Visualization, Investigation: Pervez Alam, Afzal Husain Khan, Raisul Islam, Ehab Sabi, Tasneem Imtiyaz Zargar, Writing, review & editing: Pervez Alam, Afzal Husain Khan, Raisul Islam, Ehab Sabi, Tasneem Imtiyaz Zargar, Nadeem A Khan.

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Alam, P., Khan, A.H., Islam, R. et al. Identification of prevalent leachate percolation of municipal solid waste landfill: a case study in India. Sci Rep 14 , 8910 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58693-5

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58693-5

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The study has been carried out to assess the groundwater quality of Kali river Sub-basin of Aligarh City U.P. India. About 100 water samples were collected during pre monsoon and post monsoon period for the year 2015 and analyzed for Heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb,) to understand their behavior in subtropical fluvial system. The study have shown that there is a considerable variation in the concentration of heavy metal from one sampling station to other which may be due to the variation in the quality of industrial and sewage waste being added to the river at different places. The result are compared with the specification prescribed by the Bureau of Indian standard (BIS) 1993 and World Health organization (WHO) 2004. It is revealed that the concentration of Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, Fe and Mn is higher than the permissible limit prescribed by the Bureau of Indian standard (BIS) 1993 and World Health organization (WHO) 2004. The Heavy industrialization and the increasing urbanization are responsible for the rapidly increasing stress on the ground water of the area. The enormous quantity of waste water generated from domestic, commercial, industrial and other source has led to the problem of ground water in and around Aligarh City, and as in surface water of Kali River. It gives a sign of water quality deterioration, so it is necessary to take rational steps to manage water quality in this region before it becomes a crisis, as this will affect the economy and will also lead to various water-borne diseases.

Abdul Qadir

Groundwater is an important source for drinking and irrigation purposes. Due to anthropogenic activities, heavy metals have been leaching due to industrial waste and agricultural activities to the groundwater causing pollution. The assessment of groundwater quality is necessary to reduce the pollution to acceptable levels. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate heavy metal concentrations in the groundwater of the villages of Garautha Tehsil, Jhansi where the anthropogenic activities are active. The groundwater samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the results were compared to the 2012 Bureau of Indian Standard limits. Three multivariate statistical methods were used to analyze the groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking purposes and to investigate the geological and hydrogeological processes. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) identified four factors responsible for the data structure by illuminating the total variance of 77.83% of the dataset. The majority of groundwater samples contained Al, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Fe within the acceptable limits except at few locations. However, the Al, Fe, and Mn concentration were high at a few sites due to rock–water interactions, whereas the concentration of As, Cd, and Zn were lower than their respective permissible limits in all groundwater samples. Furthermore, the groundwater quality for the use of irrigation is found to be acceptable at 19 locations, with only one high result.

Warta Geologi

For human use, groundwater is a critical resource. Because of natural and anthropogenic activities, groundwater pollution is reducing water quality across the Jhansi district, Bundelkhand area. The Bundelkhand Gneissic Complex (BGC) and granite terrain in the southern part of Achaean to recent era, and alluvial plains or highly eroding composite plains in the northern part of the district of the Quaternary period, make up this area. As a result, the aim of this study was to use a multivariate statistical technique like factor analysis (FA), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), and cluster analysis to investigate heavy metal concentrations using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP- MS) and to analyse water quality and contamination source in groundwater using multivariate statistical techniques like factor analysis (FA), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), and cluster analysis (CA). The results of the ICP-MS were compared to WHO (2017) and BIS (2017) criteria (2012). The concentration of Al was within reasonable limits, and the range of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were lower than acceptable limits, while the concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Ni in the rest of the groundwater samples were higher than allowable limits. Furthermore, the PCA findings revealed three factors that were responsible for the data structure, accounting for 77.416 percent of the overall variance of the dataset, which was specified by three variables: 37.954 percent, 23.331 percent, and 16.132 percent. Whereas the results of factors 1, 2, and 3 indicated that (Cu, Pb, Zn), (Al, Mn), and (As, Ni) showed strong positive loading, indicating that the sources of these metals were naturally occurring and over-application of pesticides and fertilisers in agriculture, respectively. Furthermore, the obtained results of (r) revealed a strong positive correlation of Cu with Pb (r = 0.921), a moderate relationship of Mn with Al (r = 0.619), As with Ni (r = 0.496), Cr with Co (r = 0.556), Cu with Zn (r = 0.700), Fe with Pb (r = 0.541), and Pb with Zn (r = 0.709), as well as a negative correlation of Cd with Zn (r = -0.502), Cr with Cu (r = -0.528), Zn (r = -0.522) and (r = -.0923). The finding of (r) revealed that the positive correlation was a common source and the negative association was a separate source of groundwater, as well as that this relationship between heavy metals means that one variable increase while the other decreases and inversely. Furthermore, CA results revealed three clusters: A, B, and C, each of which suggested low to high emissions due to weathering and anthropogenic activities. Overall, 50% of groundwater samples were suitable for drinking and irrigation, while 50% of samples were not suitable for people use. In addition, this study suggests that groundwater be treated before it is used for human use.

Balasubramanian M

Trace element analyses were carried out in South Chennai coastal area, and its concentration (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co) in groundwater were quantified. Totally, fifty groundwater samples were collected during pre and post-monsoon of the year 2014-2015 and analyzed in Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The analytical results were compared with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS, 2012). The Cu concentrations were above permissible limit in Pudhupakkam, Sathankuppam, Vanuvampettai, Chromepet, Vengadamangalam, Sirucheri, Palavakkakuppam and Chinnadikuppam during both seasons. In Thiruvanmiyur, Guindy, Sathankuppam and Pallavaram locations Cr value was observed to be above permissible limit. The Fe concentrations were observed to be above permissible limit in Palavakkam, Sathankuppam, Vanuvampettai and B.V. Nagar locations. In Kumenan Nagar, and Besant Nagar locations Mn concentration were above the permissible limit. Health hazards that are related to Cu, Cr, Fe and Mn are given. The other trace elements concentrations in groundwater of the study area were within the permissible limit.

Study of Groundwater Stress in Northwest India using Geospatial tools

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From Maggi to Cerelac: A look at Nestle controversies over the years

Nestle india claimed to have cut down on sugars by up to 30%, highlighting its commitment to prioritising high-quality ingredients and nutritional standards..

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Nestle faces scrutiny for elevated sugar levels in baby food sold in India
Nestle India claims sugar reduction in products by up to 30%
Company has faced backlash over its unhealthy food portfolio in 2021

Nestle, the world's largest consumer goods company, finds itself in the middle of a controversy yet again, this time over the sugar content in its baby food products sold in India.

A study conducted by Swiss investigative organisation Public Eye claimed that Nestle's Cerelac and Nido baby products in India contain nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving .

Nestle India said that it has made an effort to reduce sugars in baby food products over the past five years.

The company claimed to have cut down on sugars by up to 30%, asserting its commitment to prioritising high-quality ingredients and nutritional standards.

"We believe in the nutritional quality of our products for early childhood and prioritise using high-quality ingredients. Over the past 5 years, Nestle India has reduced added sugars by up to 30%, depending on the variant in our infant cereals' portfolio (milk cereal-based complementary food). We regularly review our portfolio and continue to innovate and reformulate our products to further reduce levels of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety, and taste," said a Nestle India spokesperson.

High sugar content in baby food

Reports from Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) shed light on the differences in sugar content among Nestle's baby food products sold in various regions. While sugar was found in Cerelac products sold in developing countries, the European market offered sugar-free options for infant nutrition.

Unhealthy food portfolio

In 2021, Nestle faced backlash following the revelation of an internal presentation indicating that a considerable portion of its mainstream food and beverage range did not meet recognised health standards . The company acknowledged that 60% of its food and drinks portfolio, excluding pet food, baby formula, and coffee, failed to meet health criteria.

Maggi noodles ban

One of Nestle India's most infamous controversies arose from the ban on its popular Maggi noodles in 2015. Following the discovery of excess lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG), approximately 38,000 tonnes of Maggi noodles were withdrawn and destroyed, severely impacting Nestle India's market share and revenue.

Nestle's past allegations of discouraging breastfeeding

Allegation of child labour, environmental concerns around nestle's practices.

Nestle's packaging practices contributed to plastic pollution concerns, with critics raising questions about the company's approach to plastic waste management, reported Utopia.org. Despite its pledge to design over 95% of its plastic packaging for recycling by 2025, allegations surfaced regarding the incineration of plastic waste, leading to environmental pollution.

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(PDF) Groundwater pollution and contamination in India ...
Groundwater pollution and contamination in India: the emerging challenge. January 2006. Authors: Dinesh Kumar M. Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy. Tushaar Natwarlal Shah. Institute of ...
Groundwater governance in India
This case study by the World Bank aims to understand and address the paradox at the heart of the groundwater governance challenge in India in order to elevate the need for investing in and promoting proactive reforms toward its management. Albert Tuinhof, Buba Sengupta, Héctor Garduño, Richard Davis, Saleem Romani, WSP (World Bank) 9 Jul 2011
A review of groundwater-surface water interaction studies in India
A detailed investigation of GW-SW interaction is, therefore, crucial in the context of a vast country like India that is facing a rapid decline in per capita availability of water ( Mohanty et al., 2012, Rao et al., 2020) ( Table 1 ). Table 1. Per capita water availability in India ( CWC, 2019 ). Year.
Assessing groundwater quality, health risks, and policy implications: A
This study focuses on the groundwater quality and associated human health risks in the West Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. The region, situated between the Kangsabati and Subarnarekha rivers, faces challenges from anthropogenic activities such as agricultural practices and industrial pollution.
Water pollution in India
Water extensive agriculture in the case of crops like paddy and sugarcane has led to a depletion of groundwaters especially in the northern regions of India as confirmed by a satellite image-based study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [42]. Furthermore, the states possessing substantial levels of groundwater are polluted ...
PDF Groundwater Pollution and Contamination in India:
Pollution of groundwater due to industrial effluents and municipal waste in water bodies is another major concern in many cities and industrial clusters in India. A 1995 survey undertaken by Central Pollution Control Board identified 22 sites in 16 states of India as critical for groundwater pollution, the primary cause being industrial effluents.
Groundwater Pollution in India and the Law
The most pervasive pollution of groundwater in India is that of higher fluoride levels. ... Footnote 28 Attakkoya Thangal case is a landmark precedent that dealt with the right to sweet under groundwater as part of Article 21. This case was filed to protect the limited groundwater resources present on the coral islands of Lakshadweep ...
PDF Groundwater Management in India: Some Recent Breakthroughs
dealing with groundwater development and management have been carrying out case studies across the country over the last several decades in search of viable solutions of raging or Fig.1. Map of India depicting (a) Post-monsoon depth to water level (DTW) below ground level, and (b) Decadal rise and fall of post-monsoon
Researchers Trace Threats to Groundwater in India
All three studies add valuable science input into the groundwater and aquifer depletion problems in India, said Himanshu Kulkarni, who leads India's Advanced Centre for Water resources ...
Urban Ground Water Pollution: A Case Study in Cuttack City, India
The concentration of F-may be lower in raw waste water than naturally occurs in the ground water. Therefore, a decrease in the concentration of F-near the drain may be attributed to dilution by contributions of waste water to the ground water. The rest of the parameters were found to be directly related to the distance of collection points to ...
Widespread Contamination Found in Northwest India's Groundwater
In some settings, groundwater is safe for human consumption without treatment, but a new study indicates that's not the case in some areas of India. Previous studies have focused on individual ...
India's groundwater crisis threatens food security for hundreds of
Hundreds of millions of people in India face a serious threat to their livelihoods and food security due to overexploitation of vital water supplies, according to the authors of a new study.
Source identification and potential health risks from elevated ...
Khan, A. F. et al. Human health risk assessment for fluoride and nitrate contamination in the groundwater: A case study from the east coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India. Environ. Earth Sci ...
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Five countries—India, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and Tanzania—were selected as case studies to understand the practical issues that arise in establishing robust national governance frameworks for groundwater and in implementing these frameworks at the aquifer level. This report describes the Indian groundwater governance case study.
Causes and Sources of Groundwater Pollution: A Case Study of Nagpur
A study was taken up to evaluate the contaminants concentration in groundwater from pollution in Nagpur city area of Maharashtra, India. For finding the causes and sources of contaminations in Nagpur city, land use/land cover map has been used and to justify the extent of pollution in city, parameter such as topography is used.
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study to understand the groundwater quality in. Chennai. Model domain was generated with the specified. grid size of 50 × 50. Water level contours were. drawn for 2006, 2008 and 2010 to ...
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Groundwater quality and pollution can be improved by the employment of remediation solutions such as permeable reactive barriers, natural attenuation techniques, and pump-and-treat systems.
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Heavy metal pollution in groundwater resources has drawn worldwide attention, recently. To cope up the ever increasing needs of huge population, rapid industrialisation has taken place everywher... Assessment of heavy metal pollution in groundwater of an industrial area: a case study from Ramgarh, Jharkhand, India: International Journal of ...
Problem of groundwater pollution: a case study from Madras City, India
Groundwater pollution: a case study from Madras city, India 155 map both during summer and monsoon suggesting that the groundwater of the Madras basin is contaminated. In contrast to most metals, Mn and Zn concentrations at most of the locations are higher during monsoon than in summer, probably due to the leaching of these metals from the ...
Concentration of fluoride in groundwater of India: A systematic review
The objective of this study was to evaluate health risk assessment due to F − pollution of groundwater by performing meta-analysis and meta-regression approaches in context of India. Thus, we conducted meta-analysis of data to understand the problem deeply and evaluated non-carcinogenic health risk assessment due to ingestion of F − ...
PDF The problem of groundwater pollution: a case study from Madras city, India
Groundwater pollution: a case study from Madras city, India 149 such as Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb. The primary source of water supply for Madras city consists of three interlinked, rain-fed reservoirs (Red Hills, Poondi and Cholavaram), located to the northwest. This source is supplemented with groundwater from aquifers on the
The problem of groundwater pollution: a case study from Madras city, India
A study in Chennai, India, reported that high concentrations of toxic elements in the groundwater were found in areas where surface water was heavily contaminated with toxic elements [31]. Bear ...
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This study investigated the groundwater status in northwestern India (NWI) for the period 2002-2022. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) total water storage and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) products - soil moisture and plant canopy surface water were used to estimate groundwater storage. In situ well data were collected for the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi ...
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The annual extractable groundwater resource has been assessed as 398.08 bcm, with actual extraction of 239.16 bcm. The average stage of groundwater extraction for the country as a whole works out to be about 60.08%. Anything above 70% is considered critical. There are regions in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan with groundwater blocks with ...
From Maggi to Cerelac: A look at Nestle controversies ...
Nestle, the world's largest consumer goods company, finds itself in the middle of a controversy yet again, this time over the sugar content in its baby food products sold in India. A study conducted by Swiss investigative organisation Public Eye claimed that Nestle's Cerelac and Nido baby products in India contain nearly 3 grams of sugar per ...

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Widespread Contamination Found in Northwest India’s Groundwater

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Identification of prevalent leachate percolation of municipal solid waste landfill: a case study in India

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Analysis of groundwater samples in the proximity of Ghazipur landfill

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Effect of leachate on groundwater

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Water quality index

Control of leachate generation-related groundwater contamination

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From Maggi to Cerelac: A look at Nestle controversies over the years

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