Fluoride and Nitrate Contamination in the Groundwater of Kalwakurthy Area, Mahabubnagar District, Telangana State, India

P. Ravikanth; R. Sundaraiah; P. Sateesh

Volume : V, Issue : I, January - 2015

Fluoride and Nitrate Contamination in the Groundwater of Kalwakurthy Area, Mahabubnagar District, Telangana State, India

P. Ravikanth, R. Sundaraiah, P. Sateesh

Abstract :

This study was carried out to assess the fluoride and Nitrate concentration in groundwater of Kalwakurthy area, Mahabubnagar District, where groundwater is the main source of drinking water. Water samples collected from bore wells were analyzed for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Nitrate (NO3–) and Fluoride (F–) content. Fluoride concentration of groundwater ranges from 0.16 to 3.4 mg/l. As per the desirable and maximum permissible limit for fluoride in drinking water (1.5 mg/l) prescribed by WHO (2004) and Bureau of Indian Standards (2009), 46% groundwater sources in the study area is unfit for drinking purposes. Due to the higher fluoride levels in drinking water several cases of dental and skeletal fluorosis have appeared at alarming rate in the investigated area. The study revealed that 43% of the samples were found to be unsuitable for drinking purposes due to excess nitrate (>45 mg/l) content in the groundwater. High Nitrate concentration may cause blue baby syndrome or methemoglobinemia.