Groundwater Quality Monitoring and Assessment in Socio-economically Distinct Aizawl District, Mizoram, Northeast India

IJEP 43(9): 850-857 : Vol. 43 Issue. 9 (September 2023)

Zonunthari, Lalawmpuii and Prabhat Kumar Rai*

Mizoram University, Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resources Management, Aizawl – 796 004, Mizoram, India

Abstract

Freshwater resources are extremely scarce, being less than 1% of total existing global distribution. Moreover, during recent decades, contamination of groundwater emerged as serious issue of environmental, socio-economic and public health concerns. Present study analysed potable water-use pattern and groundwater quality of the socio-economically distinct Aizawl district of Mizoram, India, to assess its extent of contamination and hence suitability for human use. In this context, several physico-chemical and biological parameters were analysed from groundwater samples using standard prescribed methods. Water samples have been collected from handpumps, tubewells and springs (tuikhur) from different localities (a total of 14 sampling sites) of Aizawl city falling under five major zonations, that is central, north, south, east and west parts of Aizawl city. Results revealed that majority of water quality parameters fall within the prescribed limits in water samples at few selected sites. In relation to microbial contamination, variations were noted in most probable number (MPN). However, no faecal coliforms were recorded in recorded water samples. This study recommends sustained monitoring of groundwater quality and proper management of spring sheds to offer environmentally feasible and socially acceptable sustainable strategies.

Keywords

Groundwater contamination, Faecal coliform, Water analysis, Physico-chemical parameters

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