WQI directed assessment of potable water quality with special reference to fluoride at Barkagaon Block of Hazaribag District, Jharkhand, India

Rajendra Kumar^a*, K. K. Gupta^a & Bipin Kumar^b
aUniversity Department of Zoology, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag, Jharkhand, India
^bUniversity Department of Geology, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag, Jharkhand, India
Received : 6th May, 2022 ; Revised : 9th June, 2022

Abstract– The present study was considered to evaluate the quality of groundwater by using the water quality index (WQI) at Barkagaon Block of Hazaribag district, Jharkhand. WQI is the most effective tool for the measurement of the quality of water. 108 groundwater samples were collected from the hand pump and well for the analysis of physico-chemical parameters such as pH, TDS, Alkalinity, Fluoride, Chloride, Total hardness, Magnesium and Calcium. WQI rating was carried out to evaluate over all ground water quality status of the studied area. The maximum WQI value was 230 while 46.09 was the minimum. The computed WQI values were compared and were categorized as very good water-0.93%, good water-44.44%, poor water- 53.70%, very poor water-0.93% and unfit for drinking purpose-0%. The Value of WQI was higher in fluoride-containing sample water than in other samples. The high value of WQI in the studied areas was probably due to the increased value of pH, TDS, alkalinity, Fluoride, Chloride, Total hardness, Magnesium and Calcium in the groundwater.

Key words: WQI, Fluoride, groundwater, Barkagaon block.

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