POLLUTION OF GROUND WATERS IN ANDHRA PRADESH- REVIEW

Availability of clean potable water is rare in all the places. Same is the case in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The state is rich of hard rock's formations ranging in age from Archaean to Recent. These rocks are enriched with harmful elements of fluorine, lead, tungsten etc, The occurrence and movement of ground water is controlled by thickness of weathering and structural features and solution cavities. Groundwater contamination with F is high in Kurnool, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, West Godavari, Prakasam, Nellore, Guntur etc, so, the published reports were studied for the quality of Ground water and a possible remedial measures were suggested/ discussed. Since, the ground water is trapped in between the fractures of Khondalites, charnockite, migmatites, granite gneisses, carbonatites apart from the sedimentary rocks of sandstone, limestone, the toxic trace elements are associated The fluoride ion (F) is a harmful anion and a major pollutant in Groundwater. As per the data the concentrations are varying from 170-280 ppm which is higher than the permissible limits. Similarly, Arsenic, Nitrate, Iron concentrations in few samples is above the permissible limits.. Also, the TDS and TSS are high. Also, in few places of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Krishna, Kurnool, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, West Godavari it is high. The Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium carbonate (RSC) factors used to find the suitability of water for irrigation purpose is also high. The PH values are high which indicates the alkali contents are more. So, this can be explained hitherto that the natural processes and anthropogenic activities contribute the contamination of Fluorine. However, the seasonal monitoring data indicated that the toxic elements including Fluorine in the waters is from the pesticides which are being used in large scale in the nearby agricultural fields is causing. The Fluoride contamination in drinking water is harmful to the human beings and animals and not easily removable, so proper remedial measures need to be adopted by management/authorities.