Ground water pollution prevention & control

Paper Presentation On
Subject

GROUP I
SUBMITTED TO :

“nirMITee-08”
At;
MAHARASHTRA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ,
PUNE

FROM :

WALCHAND COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,

SANGLI.
PRESENTED BY :
Miss Shete (B.E. Civil) Ph.

Deepali R. 9270626205

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 Ground water pollution prevention & control

Miss Patil Kavita (B.E. Civil) Ph.

B. 9423267368

shete_deepali20@yahoo.c patil_kavitab16@yahoo.c
o.in o.in
shetedeepali@rediffmail.c kavitabpatil@gmail.com
om
ABSTRACT

The presences of water has made the mother Earth an

unique planet not only in the solar system but perhaps in the
entire Universe. Water is an essential source for the
existence of life on Earth. Water is present as surface water
as well as ground water. It is estimated that more than
95% of the earth's available fresh water supply is
underground; in the United States approximately 50% of
the drinking water comes from wells, according to the
1984 US Geological Survey. Ground water has become
major source of water in the country to meet the
agricultural, animal, industry and domestic (including
drinking) needs. However, the quality of the ground water
available is a concern for its sustainable and effective use.
During the last few decades, disposal of effluents from
industries and municipal sewage and their percolation to
ground water, adversely affected the quality of the ground
water. In Maharashtra, the effluents from sugar factories
and associated paper mill and distilleries are poured into
lagoons or diverted to nallas from which it seeps through
the soil and pollutes ground water. However, the farmers of
the area are bound to apply the polluted well water that
deteriorates the soil properties.

Since the world's water supplies are widely extracted from

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aquifers, it is most important that these sources of supply

be protected. It is recommended that the effluents / sewage
must be treated before its disposal to surface waters or
allowing it to percolate down by spilling on the soil surface.
Some techniques such as Ion exchange, Reverse osmosis
Electrodyalysis, Biochemical denitrification should be used
to treat effluent. Also Extraction-Treatment-Reinjection,

Recirculating Well Technology & Natural Attenuation are

some techniques of aquifer treatment. Some preventive
measures must also be considered to overcome the ground
water pollution problem.

INTRODUCTION
Water
Life on Earth began in water. It is an essential source for its
existence. The presences of water has made the mother
Earth an unique planet not only in the solar system but
perhaps in the entire Universe. A most precious natural
resource of our water covers almost three fourth of Earth’s
surface. Its abundance as well as its scarcity has been
greatly important in shaping the life style & culture of the
people inhabiting a particular region.
Water exists in two forms :-
1. Sub-surface water (Ground water)
2. Surface water
Ground water
Ground water is a hidden resource. Ground water is found
in natural rock formations, called aquifers & are a vital
natural resource with many uses. Ninety-five percent of all

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fresh water on earth is ground water. Nationally, fifty-three

percent of the population relies on ground water as a source
of drinking water. More than 50% of the total area under
irrigation is fed by ground water. The ground water
potential mainly depends on HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
of the rain.

However, the quality of the ground water available is a

concern for its sustainable
and effective use. During the last few decades, disposal of
effluents from industries
and municipal sewage and their percolation to ground water,
adversely affected
the quality of the ground water .
Ground water pollution
The process of induction to ground water of objectionable
matter or property, arising from human activity or naturally
and thereby so changing its physical, chemical or other
property as to render it unfit or less fit for drinking,
agricultural or other use, is called ground water pollution.
What are the reasons for groundwater
pollution?

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The primary reasons are industrial pollution and

extensive farming leading to agrochemical pollution of the
groundwater. In case of industries, it is due to lack of
treatment of effluents that are pumped into rivers and
streams leading to groundwater pollution. Similarly
extensive farming has caused agrochemical pollution of the
groundwater. Nitrates and DDT are two major hazardous
chemicals that farming adds to groundwater. Besides this,
there is natural pollution, like fluoride and arsenic
contamination due to overexploitation of groundwater.

EFFCTES OF GROUND
WATER POLLUTION
HARMFUL EFFECTS ON MAN :-
1) Polluted ground water is the major cause typhoid,
jaundice, dysentery, diarrhea, tuberculosis &
hepatitis.
2) Water contaminated by fibers i.e. asbestos causes
fatal diseases like asbestosis & lung cancer.
3) Ground water in excessive rainfall areas contains
iron in toxic amounts as 20 ppm. In deep tube wells,
iron exists as ferrous ion which on taking out rapidly
change to light yellow orange color due to oxidation
& precipitation as ferric hydroxide. Such waters are
extremely harmful for drinking purpose as
permissible limits of iron is only 0.3 ppm.
4) In Punjab-Ludhiana, Amritsar, Haryana-Sonepat,
Ambala the woolen industries contribute large
amounts of toxic metals such as Hg, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe

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& Cyanides to ground water causing skin & stomach

disease in human.
5) High fluoride content more than 0.5-1.5 ppm leads
to mottling of teeth, deformation of bones & joint
pain incapacitating people for almost all productive
activities.
6) Rising nitrate levels in groundwater has adverse
effects on humans & animals.
“Methaemoglobinaemia” or “Blue baby diseaes” is
caused by the reaction of nitrate with haemoglobin,
the oxygen carriers in the blood, producing
methaemoglobin which strangles the oxygen
carrying capacity of the issue.

HARMFUL EFFECTS ON SOIL :-

1) The use of polluted ground water for irrigating
agricultural fields severely damages crops &
decreases grain production.
2) Polluted water acutely affects soil fertility by killing
bacteria & soil micro-organisms.
3) Contaminated ground water increases alkanity in the
soils.
4) Ground water pollution affects plant metabolism
severely & disturbs the whole ecosystem.

CONTAMINATION SOURCES
Natural: groundwater contains some impurities, even if it is
unaffected by human activities. The types and
concentrations of natural impurities depend on the nature of
the geological material through which the groundwater
moves and the quality of the recharge water. Groundwater
moving through sedimentary rocks and soils may pick up a

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wide range of compounds such as magnesium, calcium, and

chlorides. Some aquifers have high natural concentration of
dissolved constituents such as arsenic, boron, and selenium.
The effect of these natural sources of contamination on
groundwater quality depends on the type of contaminant
and its concentrations.
Agricultural: Pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and animal
waste are agricultural sources of groundwater
contamination. The agricultural contamination sources are
varied and numerous: spillage of fertilizers and pesticides
during handling, runoff from the loading and washing of
pesticide sprayers or other application equipment, using
chemicals uphill from or within a few hundred feet of a
well.
Storage of agricultural chemicals near conduits to
groundwater, such as open and abandoned wells, sink holes,
or surface depressions where pounded water is likely to
accumulate. Contamination may also occur when chemicals
are stored in uncovered areas, unprotected from wind and
rain, or are stored in locations where the groundwater flows
from the direction of the chemical storage to the well.
Industrial: Manufacturing and service industries have high
demands for cooling water, processing water and water for
cleaning purposes. Groundwater pollution occurs when used
water is returned to the hydrological cycle.Some
businesses, usually without access to sewer systems, rely on
shallow underground disposal. They use cesspools or dry
holes, or send the wastewater into septic tanks. Any of these
forms of disposal can lead to contamination of underground
sources of drinking water. Septic systems cannot treat
industrial wastes. Wastewater disposal practices of certain

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types of businesses, such as automobile service stations, dry

cleaners etc. are of particular concern because the waste
they generate is likely to contain toxic chemicals. Other
industrial sources of contamination include cleaning off
holding tanks or spraying equipment on the open ground,
disposing of waste in septic systems or dry wells, and
storing hazardous materials in uncovered areas .
Underground storage tanks holding petroleum products,
acids, solvents and chemicals can develop leaks from
corrosion, defects, improper installation, or mechanical
failure of the pipes and fittings.
Residential: Residential wastewater systems can be a
source of many categories of contaminants, including
bacteria, viruses, nitrates from human waste, and organic
compounds. Injection wells used for domestic wastewater
disposal (septic systems, cesspools, drainage wells for storm
water runoff, groundwater recharge wells) are of particular
concern to groundwater quality if located close to drinking
water wells. Improperly storing or disposing of household
chemicals such as paints, synthetic detergents, solvents, oils,
medicines, disinfectants, pool chemicals, pesticides,
batteries, gasoline and diesel fuel can lead to
groundwater contamination. When stored in garages or
basements with floor drains, spills and flooding may
introduce such contaminants into the groundwater. When
thrown in the household trash, the products will eventually
be carried into the groundwater because community
landfills are not equipped to handle hazardous materials.
Similarly, wastes dumped or buried in the ground can
contaminate the soil and leach into the groundwater.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES OF

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GROUND WATER
POLLUTION
Prevention of ground water contamination to the maximum
possible extent must be
done, before the problem becomes menace. In order to
reduce the contamination the following preventive measures
may be taken up.
Scheduling Fertilizing and Manure Applications: Nitrate
losses from fertilizer use can be reduced by matching
fertilizer application with nitrogen needs of a crop, using
split-applications and foliar feeding. Ridge or band
application of fertilizer is better.
Irrigation management: Never over-irrigate and irrigation
should follow application
of relatively small dose (split) of fertilizers after a
reasonable period to allow percolation to take place.
Fustigation with drip irrigation is useful in minimizing
leaching losses.
Household Chemicals : Be aware that many chemicals
commonly used around the home are toxic. Select less toxic
alternatives. Use non-toxic substitutes wherever possible.
Use low-phosphate or phosphate-free detergents.
Landscaping and gardening : When landscaping your
yard, select plants that have low requirements for water,
fertilizers, and pesticides. Use landscaping techniques such
as grass swales (low areas in the lawn) or porous walkways
to increase infiltration and decrease runoff.
Septic Systems : Improperly maintained septic systems
can contaminate ground water and surface water with

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nutrients and pathogens. By following the recommendations

below, you can help ensure that your system continues to
function properly.

 Inspect your septic system annually.

 Pump out your septic system regularly.

(Pumping out every three to five years is
recommended for a three-bedroom house with a
1,000-gallon tank; smaller tanks should be
pumped more often.)

 Do not use septic system additives. There is no

scientific evidence that biological and chemical
additives aid or accelerate decomposition in
septic tanks; some additives may in fact be
detrimental to the septic system or contaminate
ground water.

CONTROL MEASURES
OF GROUND WATER
POLLUTION
Some groundwater treatment technologies under
consideration at the Massachusetts Military Reservation
(MMR).

1. Extraction, Treatment, and Reinjection

Description of the Technology

The most common method of treating groundwater is to

extract the water, treat it at the surface, and return the
treated water to the aquifer. This process also is known as
"pump and treat" technology. There are a variety of

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methods to return treated water to an aquifer, one of which

is reinjection wells. Systems using reinjection wells are
known as extraction, treatment, and reinjection (ETR)
systems. A typical ETR system has three basic components:

1. Contaminated groundwater is pumped out of the

aquifer through a series of extraction wells. This
requires locating extraction wells in different
locations and at different depths in order to capture
the plume.

2. The extracted water is then treated at the surface. In

the case of the MMR, the treatment system that
would be used is activated carbon. Carbon has the
ability to adsorb, or grab onto, passing organic
molecules and hold them in pores within the carbon
granule. When contaminated groundwater is
pumped through a filter of carbon granules, most of
the organic contaminants become trapped on the
surface of the carbon. Eventually the carbon fills up
and the carbon must be replaced. Used carbon is
sent off-Cape to be recycled.
The activated carbon system is housed in a
treatment plant & is used to treat groundwater from
several extraction wells. The groundwater is
pumped to the treatment plant groundwater from
several extraction wells. The groundwater is
pumped to the treatment plant from the extraction
well. Safety precautions, such as leak detection
monitoring systems, ensure that any leaks are
detected immediately.
Activated carbon is one way to treat the
groundwater after it has been extracted.
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3. After being tested, the treated water is pumped back

into the aquifer through a series of reinjection
wells. Reinjection wells are used to reduce the
impact of the extraction wells on the groundwater
hydrology, to help control plume migration,
and to return treated water to the aquifer .

Use at Other Locations

ETR is the most commonly used treatment

technology for contaminated aquifers. It has been proven
effective over a wide range of site conditions and
contaminants for hydraulic control of groundwater plumes.

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2.Recirculating Well Technology

Description of the Technology

Recirculating Well Technology (RWT) is a recently-
developed method of treating
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwater. The
primary difference between

RWT and ETR technology is that recirculating wells return

treated water to the same well, thus

minimizing impacts on the water table.

1. In the recirculating well systems being pilot-tested at

the MMR, groundwater is drawn into the well near
the bottom or from a selected specific zone in the

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groundwater. It comes into contact with air which is

injected into the well, causing the VOCs to transfer
from the water to the air.

2. The cleaned water then is pumped back out of the

well into another zone of groundwater. The
combination of contaminated groundwater entering
the well from one zone of the aquifer and clean
groundwater leaving the well in another zone creates
a zone of recirculation in the groundwater near the
well. Contaminated water moving through the zone
of recirculation is captured and treated within the
well.

3. The air containing the VOCs is carried up the well to

the surface, where it may be piped to an activated
carbon treatment system. Activated carbon treatment
removes contaminants from air just as it does from
water, as described in the ETR section above.
Depending on the design of the system, the treated
air is either released to the surrounding environment
or directed back into the well for additional removal
of contaminants. The air stream is monitored before
and after carbon treatment to ensure effective
removal of VOCs.

Use at Other Locations

RWT is a recently developed groundwater treatment

technology. It has been used at over 200 sites in Europe and
over 80 sites in the U.S

3.Natural Attenuation
Description of the Technology
Natural attenuation refers to the strategy of allowing natural

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processes to reduce contaminant concentrations to

acceptable levels. Natural attenuation involves physical,
chemical and biological processes which act to reduce the
mass, toxicity, and mobility of subsurface contamination
These processes are always occurring and in many cases
may reduce risk to human health and the environment to
acceptable levels.

There are several different physical, chemical, and

biological processes that comprise natural attenuation.
These include:

 biodegradation—breakdown of contaminants
by microorganisms in the environment, often
forming non-harmful byproducts like carbon
dioxide and water

 chemical stabilization—reduction in
contaminant mobility caused by chemical
processes

 dispersion—the process of mixing that occurs

when fluid flows through a porous medium

 sorption—attachment of compounds to geologic

materials by physical or chemical attraction

 volatilization—transfer of a chemical from

liquid to vapor; evaporation

Natural attenuation, by definition, occurs naturally.

However, use of natural attenuation as a specific treatment
method is not a "do nothing" approach. It involves modeling
and evaluating contaminant reduction rates to determine
whether it is a feasible method for plume treatment. The
evaluation of whether or not the treatment method is

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feasible must also consider existing and future potential risk

to human health and the environment.

Use at Other Locations

Natural attenuation has been used at hazardous wastes sites

across the country. Although it is a component of
remediation activities at many sites, only in the last few
years has it been analyzed specifically as a treatment
strategy to be considered along with other engineered
solutions.

Nitrate Pollution (Agricultural Pollutant)

Control and Treatment

Although, there are many harmful contaminants are added

to ground water, but nitrate
pollution has drawn lot of attention due to its severity for
health hazards. It has been established that indigestion of
water containing higher nitrate concentrations causes
methemoglobinemia (i.e. infant cyanosis or blue-baby
syndrome). It also affects the blood in such a way as to
reduce its oxygen carrying capacity . However, it also has
the risk of gastric and intestinal cancer. The functioning of
central nervous system and cardiovascular system may also
be affected adversely by nitrate rich water . In dealing with
the nitrate problem in subsurface waters, there are two
options for achieving safe nitrate levels.
1. Treatment Method
In this option, the treatment processes a portion of nitrates
are removed (with varying
efficiencies depending upon other substances present in the
water) using the concepts
of ion exchange, reverse osmosis, biological denitrification

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and chemical reduction.

However, none of these methods is completely effective in
removing all the nitrogen
from the water.
Ion exchange: The process uses the concept that the
water solution must be
electronically neutral, and therefore, by inserting a negative
ion, another negative ion
can be removed from water. Special resins are used to
substitute chloride ( Cl-) for the
nitrate radical. There are four steps involved in the
decontamination process: resin
recharging to its maximum capacity, anion exchange in the
water solution, resin
become exhausted, and resin regeneration.
Biochemical denitrification: This process takes advantage
of naturally occurring
micro-organism that reduce nitrate to nitrogen under
anaerobic conditions, provided
that a suitable source of carbon is added . Ethanol /
methanol are the inexpensive source of carbon for the
water treatment. Sometimes it is necessary to convert the
nitrogen from the ammonium ion into nitrite with the use of
nitrosomas (specialized bacteria) to facilitate the removal of
all nitrogen from the solution. The nitrite
compound is then oxidized to nitrate and eliminated.
Besides bacteria, photosynthetic
algae can also remove nitrates from water. The greatest
benefit of the bio-chemical
denitrification is the fact that the nitrogen is completely
removed in its gaseous

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elemental form.
Reverse osmosis: Reverse osmosis uses semi-permeable
membranes and high
pressures to force pure water through the membrane. The
membrane rejects in organic
material and allows the passage of water. The efficiency of
the process depends upon
the quality of the membrane and the salt rejection is
anywhere from 50% to 90%.
They are expensive to run, due to high pressure required
(100-250 psi).
Electrodyalysis: It is a combination of reverse osmosis
and ion exchange techniques.
The driving force across the membrane is provided by
electric current. The ions are
removed from the water and pass through the membrane,
attracted by the opposite
electric charge on the other side of the membrane. The
advantages of the system are
that the residence time controls the amount of dissolved
solids removed, and that the
system can be run continuously with no regeneration
required. However, in the
process, water must carry an electric current, and as the
water is cleaner it offers more
resistance to the current, that increases the cost of operation.
The process may also be applied in the soil while the
movement of water solution through profile before it
reaches to ground water. For a given electrical input, the
effect was reduced as the hydraulic flow rate increased.
In addition to the above there are other methods for removal

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of dissolved salts from

the water such as distillation, freeze desalinization,
liquid/liquid extraction, etc.

2. Non-treatment methods
The non-treatment processes attempt to bring the nitrate
concentration down to a safer
level (<10 mg/L), through blending with cleaner waters.
There are some alternatives:
 Raw water source substitution: An entirely new
source of drinking water is
used to replace the heavily polluted water.
 Connection to an existing regional system: This
involves using a system that is
already set up to service the area, instead of drawing
water from the
contaminated well.
 Blending with low nitrate waters.

Industrial effluent and sewage treatment

It is recommended that the effluents / sewage must be
treated before its disposal to surface waters or allowing it to
percolate down by spilling on the soil surface. There are
various mechanical, chemical or biological methods
reported to treat the poor quality of water. Mostly the
industrial effluents and municipal sewage is treated in three
stages.
Primary treatment is a mechanical process, which simply
removes solids through filtration or settling. It is able to
remove organic material responsible for 25-30% of the
BOD.
Secondary treatment is essentially a biological process of

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decomposing organic matter by mixing bacteria and air

oxygen in the wastewater. Water leaving the treatment stage
is normally down to a BOD of 10% or less of the initial
value; 95% of the organic bacteria is removed, along with
10% of phosphates and perhaps as much as 50% of total
nitrogen. Tertiary treatment is able to remove virtually all
the remaining contaminations. It includes many advanced
techniques i.e. chemical coagulation and filtration, carbon
adsorption, chemical oxidation, ion exchange, electro
dialysis, reverse osmosis, air stripping, some advanced
biological systems, etc. which may be used as per the
characteristics of the contaminant or the requirement of end
product quality. Air stripping is employed to remove
volatile compounds from the effluents.

CONCLUSION
• It can be emphasized that the concern about
pollution to ground water must be
attended in time before it takes the shape of
devastating menace.
• The pollution from industrial effluents/sewage has
already gripped many industrially developed cities
that needs special attention. However, at present the
level of ground water pollution due to fertilizer use
is well within the permissible limits in the country
(except few patches having pollution level crossing
the limits), but, ever-increasing trend of increase in
fertilizer consumption in different parts of the
country, certainly gives a signal for the situation that
we are going to face in future.
• To prevent ground-water pollution, permits issued to

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regulate the discharge, disposal and possibly the

storage of waste should specifically take into
account the vulnerability of the aquifer concerned
and the provisions necessary for its protection.

• Monitoring programmes for ground-water protection

should be set up and applied. These programmes
should include monitoring at the source of potential
pollution which could pose a serious or chronic
threat to an aquifer.
• Proper aquifer treatment & effluent treatment
techniques must be used at right time.

REFERANCES

 GROUND WATER BY H. M. RAGHUNATH

 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BY R. K.

KHITOLIYA

 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BY SHIVAJI

UNIVERSUTY KOLHAPUR

 CONCISE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BY

R. K. PUBLICATIONS

 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENT

PROTECTION March 2000

 www.googal.com

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