Contamination, Sources, and Environmental Hazards of Groundwater in Bemetara District, Chhattisgarh, Central India

The groundwater of the the Bemetara district of Chhattisgarh in central India over a large area is hard in nature due to its high mineral content. An elevated concentration of ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{2+}$, ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$, and ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}$ in the groundwater has been observed, falling within the ranges ($n=16$) 30–437, 43–341, 169–660, and $254–\mathrm{2,330}\mathrm{mg}{\mathrm{L}}^{-1}$ with a mean value of $107\pm 93$, $117\pm 69$, $387\pm 171$, and $\mathrm{1,059}\pm 595\mathrm{mg}{\mathrm{L}}^{-1}$, respectively. The temporal and spatial variations in the groundwater concentration of species, i.e., ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}$, ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}$, ${\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}$, ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{2+}$, ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$, Al, and Fe, during the period 2010–2016 are described. The sources of the contaminants and quality of the groundwater are discussed. The environmental hazards of the contaminated water, i.e., land degradation, rusting of buildings and pipes, physiological drought, and ill health of aquatics, birds, and animals, in the Bemetara area are discussed.