Draft I Fluoride Contamination Awareness Series 2015-16

Fluoride Contamination in Ground Water

Characterization of a Micro Watershed and Scope of Mitigation Using Watershed Approach in the State of Jharkhand

An Experience- driven Commentary By:

Kallol Saha Research Scholar School of Water Resource Engineering, Jadavpur University Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management Institute of Rural Management Anand, Gujarat, India Master of Science, Applied Geology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India

A. Objective of the Paper: My proposed Research Study intends to understand Genesis and areal distribution of Fluoride

in Certain Hydro Geological Units of Jharkhand State and wish to suggest a set of appropriate

Geo technical measures following Watershed Management principles to reduce Fluoride

concentration in Drinking Water Sources. Fluoride effected villages of Kauriya Gram

Panchayet in Palamu District has been selected as model study area for all practical purposes

for the project.

This paper presents a Set of information to characterize the study area in terms of select

aspects of Hydrogeology and Geophysics. Geographic Information System has been used to

generate different Scenario Maps and a hypothetical solution model has been proposed

following principles of Watershed Management.

The paper advocates an idea that Ground Water Quality Management shall be made an

integral part of Watershed Programs For the State of Jharkhand and suggest a Range of Geo

technical interventions that may bring down concentration of Chemical contaminants like

Fluoride within permissible limit.

B. Background Information 1. Location: Gram Panchayet Kauriya is located in Medinnagar Block of Palamu District in

Jharkhand at a distance of 12 KM (approx) on NH-75. The area belongs to survey area Map sheet Number 73 A/1 and Watershed No. 2A6B1. Drainage of the area is mainly controlled by the river North Koel and its tributaries viz. the Auranga and Amanat. The Koel, Auranga and Amanat have the upper reaches characterized by high bank and rocky beds while the lower reaches by sandy beds. Area of the Major Village settlement and Habitations spread around 16Sq.KM area in and around Latitude 23098’92.6” and Longitude 84012’30.38”

2. Topography: The topography is characterized by highly rugged landscape with green

forest all over the area. The elevation of the hill ranges in this part of the district varies from 250-450 m above MSL. The master slope of the area in general tends towards north and east. In terms of the physoigraphy the district shows the following broad Flat topped hills in the study area merging with narrow valley following the River bed. The Alluvium cover of considerable thickness occurs in the northern part of North Koel Rivers. Ground water occurs and locally under semi-confined and confined condition

3. Hydrogeology: Ground Water Potential Map of the Study area developed by National

Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad under Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Program showing location of North Koel River in the left corner and Kauriya Gram Panchyet in the right hand side. Except the rivers and thin layer of aquifer surrounding it, Ground water potential of thee area is generally low ranging around 3000 Litre Per Hour.

Location Map of Study Area

Figure: GIS Map of Kauria Gram Panchyaet with Study Villages of Kauria, Chukru, Jorkat , Bakhari, Chianki, Ganke, Sua and Hisra.

Characterization of Micro Water shed

1. Geology: The geological formation of Palamu district comprise mainly rocks of

Archaean, vindhyan and Gondwana ages, the younger intrusion of dyke of Deccan trap

age. The characteristic geological formation of the area dealt with is gneiss, of which all

the more important hill ranges are composed. It is varied in constitution and includes

granite horblendic and calcareous gneisses associated with lime stone of vindhyan age.

Schists are uncommon. The Gondwana formation is represented by the Talchir,

Mahadeva and Barakar groups composed of sandstones and shales.

2. Ground Water Availability: During February 2014, the depth of water levels in HNS

wells tapping shallow aquifer is found to be ranged between 8 and 10 m Below Ground

Level (BGL). The intake well constructed at Koel River near Chukru village. In Ponds of

study area Maximum water level was found to be about 6 m and the minimum water level

is recorded about 1.0-1.25 m during extreme summer.

3. Ground Water quality: The available chemical analysis data reveals that groundwater

of the area is mainly alkaline in character (pH – 7.3); Presence of chemical constituents in

more than permissible limit is EC, Iron and Fluoride. A comparative profile of Ground

Water Contamination in Medininagar Block of Palalmu District is given below. From this

it may be seen that around 80% of the tested Sources in Kauriya Gram Panchayet are

affected by Chemical contamination. Details information about the Nature of

contamination is given in Annexure.

S.No. Panchayat Schemes/ Delivery points and Other Sources

No. Of Sources Tested

No. of Sources with Contaminants Above Permissible Limit Chemical Bacteriological

1 Baratola (South) 83 64 30 1 2 Chiyanki 173 111 63 0 3 Jamune 112 64 31 0 4 Jhabar 194 139 110 0 5 Jonr 69 27 8 0 6 KAURIYA 155 93 76 1 7 Lahlahe 97 54 42 0 8 Pokhraha Khurd 132 94 52 0 9 Polpolkala 115 57 28 0 10 Rajwadih 73 48 28 0 11 Rerma (North) 67 20 4 0 12 Sarja 119 56 30 0 13 Singra Khurd 57 46 35 0 14 Sua 116 84 54 0

15 Sundna 71 46 11 0 Total 1633 1003 602 2

4. Ground Water Geophysics:

Groundwater is a very important natural resource. It is only the viable safe source of water in

many remote areas where development of surface water is not economically viable. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) is a geophysical method for investigation of a geological

medium. The method is based on the estimation of the electrical conductivity or resistivity of

the medium. The estimation is performed based on the measurement of voltage of electrical

field induced by the distant grounded electrodes (current electrodes). Electrical methods are

intensively used by geophysicists for evaluation of deep subsurface.

Resistivity Survey was conducted in and around Chukroo area by a team of Researchers from

Jadavpur University during Financial Year 2013-14 for Drinking Water and Sanitation

Department, Government of Jharkhand to understand Lithology and Ground Water condition

at Twp Select locations of Chukroo Village (Shown in Internet Map below). Results from the

Geophysical Survey shows that Lateritic Soil is available up to a depth of 10.3 m at point P1

and 9.91 m at point P2. Subsequently, layer consists of sand with medium sized gravels

varying in thickness from 7.68 m to 15.3 m is found. Benath a layer of thickness 97 m at

point P2 and 41.9 m at point P1 of sand with large boulders is found. The layer underneath

this appears to be consisted mainly of limestone as per the true resistivity is concerned.

Above Figure shows Location of Vertical Electrical Sounding Points at Chukru Village of

Kauriya Gram Panchyaet (Courtesy: Study undertaken by School of Water Resource

Engineering, Jadavpur University For Drinking Water and Sanitation Department

,Government of Jharkhand )

5. Geo Chemistry: The association of high Fluoride ground Waters with Granites and

acidic volcanic rocks occurs because of the relative abundance in these rock of high

Fluoride minerals as Biotite , amphibole, apatite and Fluorite. While alkaline ground

waters generally tend to solublize fluoride Minerals [Courtesy: British Geological

Survey]. Fluoride rich ground waters generally have more Mg than Ca. Possible methods

includes Disintegration-dissociation and dissolution.

Prospects of Fluoride Mitigation Using Principle of Watershed Management

A watershed is defined as an area in which all Water Flowing into it goes to a common outlet.

People and livestock are the integral part of watershed and their activities a/ect the productive

status of watersheds and vice versa. Hydrologically, watershed is an area from which the

runoff flows to a common point on the drainage system. Every stream, tributary, or river has

an associated watershed, and small watersheds aggregate together to become larger

watersheds.

From Management point of view, Watershed is not simply the hydrological unit but also

socio-political-ecological entity which plays crucial role in determining food, social, and

economical security and provides life support services to rural people. Accordingly,

watershed management program intends to take up Conservation, up-gradation and utilization

of natural endowments promoting low-cost, simple, user friendly and replicable technology

to Reduce inequalities between irrigated and rain-fed areas following ridge to valley

approach.

To fulfil these objectives systematically Government of India is promoting an Integrated

Watershed Management Project (IWMP) 1 that divides the Country and State into defined

Catchment and Watershed units. Village wise population Scenario in Kauria Gram Panchayet

and adjoin villages of the Watershed is given below. S.N. Village Population Decade wise

1991 2001 2011 1 Chukru 468 600 765 2 Jorkat 413 709 782 3 Kaudia 2263 3374 4168 4 Sua 4499 5568 6761 5 Bakhari 670 897 1105 6 Chianki 4872 7055 8714 7 Ganke 243 400 593 8 Hisra 921 1313 1637 TOTAL 14349 19916 24525

Integrated Watershed Management Project offers an apt opportunity to take up both Software

and Hardware activities to address Growing concern of Water Quality issues. A Water

1 Watershed Management Concept and Principles, Suhas P Wani and Kaushal K Garg, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India

Security Plan For these villages ensuring Fluoride Free Water within the reach of these

populations shall be prepared adopting Watershed principles mentioned above. Specific

Information, Education and communication activities may be taken up to improve people’s

awareness and participation in Fluoride Mitigation. This shall include identification of

Fluoride affected Wells, Fluorosis awareness campaigns involving school children,

Awareness camps and exposure visit of SHG and WUA Members, Volunteers training in

alternate system of medicine , Training to SHG members on holistic health and Monitoring of

fluoride content periodically in select Water Harvesting structures created by the program

across the State of Jharkhand.

Geotechnical Measures for Fluoride Mitigation under Watershed Program

There have been previous reports of taking up Rain Water Harvesting activities in select hard

rock terrains of India and abroad to reduce average contamination level. One specific similar

recent experience is from Sanchetana plus Project in Karnataka (Report by Arghyam,

Karnataka, 2009) that contemplated construction of Water Harvesting Structures for:

A. Roof top rainwater harvesting (for domestic consumption)

B. Artificial rainwater harvesting (to increase recharge to dilute groundwater)

C. Recharge of bore wells (to dilute groundwater)

D. Direct aquifer recharge (to dilute groundwater)

E. Farm ponds (to increase recharge to dilute groundwater)

Drawing from these experience present research study intent to suggest a ground plan to

create some of these or other Rain Water Harvesting structure at specific places to bring

down Fluoride level in Bore Wells as encountered presently, based upon Geo data base

generated during the Field Studies. In the hard rock areas, pin pointing suitable sites for

Water harvesting Structure is always a challenge. Considering the anisotropy in distribution

of fractures at deeper level, proper selection of sites can be arrived at making use of remote

sensing techniques in association with geophysical and hydrogeological investigations. For

hand pumps and shallow tube wells the casing provided against the weathered zone should be

slotted at the bottom so that the well can extract shallow ground water also.

Based upon the topographical and hydro-geological survey aided by GPS, the suitable areas

along the stream shall be earmarked for construction of recharge wells with shafts,

percolation tanks with recharge shafts, series of check dams, sub-surface dams/dyke,

collector well (sanitary type) fitted with hand pump. Since the habitations are located

beneath the upland and river Structures that slows down the movement of available run off

and enhances penetration of water into the subsoil would be of specific interest. Barring Roof

Top Rain Water Harvesting (There is dedicated support available in Sustainability component

of National Rural Drinking Water Program) Few Specific possibilities are discussed below:

A. Boulder Masonary Check Dam with Recharge Shaft/Pit Boulder Masonary Check Dam along with recharge shaft/pit is to be done to restrict the

quantum of rain water flows mainly in boulders in the area and the people involvement of its

collection is considered important for reduction of construction cost. The longevity and

effectively of such type of check is also more than the loose boulder check dam. This is

recharge cum conservation structure recommended in all type of slope.

B. Recharge wells with shaft This is a recharge structure recommended in areas with higher slope to recharge the deeper

horizons i.e groundwater table below the soil profile. The catchment area as per the

recommendation would be so prepared trimming the slope that the entire rainwater would

move into the well which will be boulder packed and small shafts (pit) would be constructed

at the base of the well to further recharge the subsurface. The side of the well as also shafts

would be boulder packed to protect the caving as also easier infiltration through the soil as

also the weathered rock profile. In the water shed the main rock type is phyllite with local

variation into quartzite or Quartzose Phyllite. Depth of weathering is varying from 10-15 m

in the valleys and 3-5 m in the higher topographic locales. The recharged water would move

along the slope and it will increase the base flow in the streams what may be conserved

through the subsurface dams.

C. Percolation Tank with Recharge shaft: Percolation tanks with recharge shafts are the recharge structures most suitable in high and

medium land to conserve more and more rain water as also its recharge to the deeper horizon

especially to the water table .The shaft would facilitate recharge to much deeper locales. The

side of shaft may be boulder packed to collapse of side walls during rainy season. The motto

of this deeper recharge is to allow flowing the water to lower area including increase in

stream base flow. Simultaneously continuous recharge through good numbers such pond and

hydraulic closures of subsurface flow trough subsurface flow trough subsurface dam/dyke

would result in rise in water table in the watershed.

D. Multipurpose Collector well with Infiltration gallery: After the construction of subsurface Dyke/Dam a lot of sub Surface water will be conserve

along the stream base which is required to tapped by collector well designed within

infiltration gallery .This infiltration gallery is constructed trough perforated Hume pipe

placed in tier in gravel packed section which will make a hydraulic connection with the

aquifer bellow a river and collector well.

E. Dug Wells & Farm Ponds:

For deriving optimal benefit from aquifers in areas under fissured formation the dugwells

should be so designed that it penetrates the weathered zone as well as top part (1-2 m) of the

underlying bed rock so as to derive the benefit of the shallow aquifer.

Towards A Model Watershed Intervention for Fluoride Mitigation

A model is an abstraction or simplification of reality (Odum 1975; Jeffers 1978; Duerr et al.

1979). When models are applied to the environment, it is anticipated that insights about the

physical, biological or socio-economic system may be derived. Models may also allow

prediction and simulation of future conditions, both in space and in time. The reason to build

models is to understand, and ultimately manage, a sustainable system.

Environmental Modelling using Geographic Information System shall be utilised to map the

Micro Water shed in the study area in terms of Water table location in pre and post monsoon

scenario, Fluoride Concentration pattern over the Water shed, General Topography and

Resource Mapping. This would help researcher to identify Source of Fluoride, based upon

which Water harvesting and artificial recharge may play important role to mitigate Fluoride

menace in the Study area. Location and design of the structures should be guided by hydro

geophysical surveys. Sites for artificial recharge should be taken up if fractures are available

and the depth of the recharge well should be governed by the depth of occurrence of

fractures. The initiative shall strive to demarcate Desaturated or partially de-saturated

fractures / aquifers for this purpose.

From the publicly available data base Fluoride has been identified in no less than six districts

in concentrations above the permissible limits in the State of Jharkhand. While Drinking

Water and Sanitation Department and Department of Health, Medical Education and Family

Welfare have already initiatives in this concern, Rural Development Department and

Integrated Watershed Management Program can play important role to mitigate this menace

in a planned manner. Chukru and Surrounding Revenue villages in Kauriya Gram Panchayet

of Sadar Block in Palamu District may be developed as a model watershed in this respect on

priority basis by developing a suitable project in above line of practices.

Annexure -1

Ground Water Contamination Profile of Kauriya Gram Panchayet S.No. S. No.

in Data Series

Block Panchayat

Village Habitation Parameter Name

Actual Level

Year of Data Collection

1 2 5 6 7 8 9 11 12

2 92 MEDININAGAR KAURIYA BAKHARI BAKHARI Fluoride 2.8 2013-14

3 93 MEDININAGAR KAURIYA CHUKRU CHUKARU Fluoride 7.2 2013-14

4 94 MEDININAGAR KAURIYA JORKAT JORKAT Fluoride 4.2 2013-14

5 95 MEDININAGAR KAURIYA KAURIA HARIJAN TOLA

Fluoride 3.9 2013-14

6 96 MEDININAGAR KAURIYA KAURIA KAURIYA Fluoride 4.4 2013-14

7 74 MEDININAGAR KAURIYA KAURIA KAURIYA Fluoride 7.8 2014-15

Source of Information: Format E-29 of Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Program under NRDWP Component from Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation website, Government of India accessed on 15-01-16. Permissible Limit is 1.5

Annexure-2

Survey of India Topo Sheet Numbers for the State of Jharkhand

Figure: Soil Profile of Kauriya Gram Panchayat and surrounding areas under the Watershed [Map Courtesy: Watershed Management Information System By Jharkhand Space Application Centre]

Figure: Micro Watershed Boundaries of Kauriya Gram Panchayet and surrounding areas [Map Courtesy: Watershed Management Information System By Jharkhand Space Application Centre]

Figure: Natural Resources Map of Kauriya Gram Panchayet and Surrounding Areas [Map Courtesy: Watershed Management Information System By Jharkhand Space Application Centre]

Figure: Map of Jharkhand State showing Location of Palamu District and distribution of Watershed across the State. Watershed No. 2A6B1 is considered for the purpose of present study. http://jsac.jharkhand.gov.in:8081/WaterShed1/index.html

Location of Sub watershed boundary across the State; Study area belongs to Green Shaded area under Palamu District. (Source: tttp://jsac.jharkhand.gov.in:8081/WaterShed1/index.html)

Reference:

1. Watershed Management Concept and Principles, Suhas P Wani and Kaushal K Garg, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India

2. Preparation of Manual for Rainwater Harvesting and Reuse of Water for Jharkhand State Study undertaken by School of Water Resources Engineering Jadavpur University Kolkata-32 Sponsored by Drinking Water & Sanitation Department, Govt. of Jharkhand July, 2014

3. Sachetana Plus: Fluoride Mitigation Project ,Report by Arghyam , 2009

Acknowledgement: 1. Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India 2. Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government of Jharkhand 3. School of Water Resource Engineering, Jadavpur University ,Kolkata , India