Hydrochemical framework of the aquifer in and around East Kolkata Wetlands,West Bengal,India |
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| Authors: | Paulami Sahu P K Sikdar |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Environment Management, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata, 700 073, India;(2) Department of Environment Management, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Management House, College Square (West), Kolkata, 700 073, India |
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| Abstract: | The area lies between Hugli river in the northwest and Bidyadhari river in the east and includes the East Kolkata Wetlands.
The East Kolkata Wetlands is included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (“Ramsar List”), as per the Convention
on Wetlands signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. This wetland has been declared as a Ramsar site on the 19th August 2002 (Ramsar
site no. 1208) and therefore has acquired an international status. The area is a part of the lower deltaic plain of the Bhagirathi–Ganga
river system and is generally flat in nature. The sub-surface geology of the area is completely blanketed by the Quaternary
fluviatile sediments comprising a succession of clay, silty clay, sand and sand mixed with occasional gravel. The Quaternary
aquifer is sandwiched between two clay sequences. The confined aquifer is made up of moderately well sorted sand and reflects
fluviatile environment of deposition. The regional groundwater flow direction is from east to west. Detailed geochemical investigations
of 40 groundwater samples along with statistical analysis (for example, correlation and principal component analysis) on these
chemical data reveal: (i) four types of groundwater quality, for example, good, poor, very poor and water unsuitable for drinking
purpose, (ii) four hydrochemical facies which may be assigned to three broad types such as “fresh”, “blended”, and “brackish”
waters, (iii) the evolution of the “blended” water is possibly due to hydraulic mixing of “fresh” and “brackish” waters within
the aquifer matrix and/or in well mixing, and (iv) absence of Na–Cl facies indicates continuous flushing of the aquifer. |
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| Keywords: | East Kolkata Wetlands Piezometeric surface Water quality index Hydrochemical facies Principal component analysis |
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