A REVIEW OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY ISSUES IN INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS OF UTTAR PRADESH AND THEIR REMEDIAL MEASURES

Abstract

Various contaminants had already been reported polluting the groundwater resources of Uttar Pradesh.
Consumption of unfit drinking water may lead to various health hazards. These hazards may be due to presence of
pollutants like fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, salinity, TDS, heavy metals, etc. This paper highlights the various types of
contaminates in groundwater of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. It also highlights the mechanism of groundwater
contaminations which could be due to natural and/or anthropogenic activities. Various remedial measures are also
discussed that could be used to provide safe drinking water. It was realized that there are few drawbacks in the old
established technologies for these remedial measures, like the operating and purchasing of few techniques are
expensive and need electricity, few techniques have disposal problem of adsorbent, few of them need skilled persons
for operation and maintenance, etc. Thus, there is an alarming need to develop a new kind of filter for consumption
of safe drinking water specially for the rural population living in the area. The paper also highlights the various types
of bio-adsorbent materials that could be for making a cost-effective filters that would be easy to operate and
maintained by rural people.