Spatial Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Arsenic in Groundwater of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Authors

  • S.M. Shrestha Central Department of Environmental Science, T.U. Kirtipur, Kathmandul
  • K. Rijal Central Department of Environmental Science, T.U. Kirtipur, Kathmandu
  • M.R. Pokhrel Central Department of Chemistry, T.U. Kirtipur, Kathmandu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v19i2.13845

Keywords:

Arsenic, groundwater, seasonal variation, spatial distribution

Abstract

A study was conducted in forty-one deep groundwater and twenty shallow groundwater wells of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal to assess arsenic contamination (shallow and deep groundwater) and spatial and seasonal variation in deep groundwater. The depths of the wells were ranged from 9 to 304 m. Groundwater samples were collected during pre monsoon and post monsoon in 2012. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was used to measure the concentration of arsenic. In pre monsoon and post monsoon, 36.59 % and 31.70 % of deep groundwater wells, respectively exceeded permissible values of World Health Organization guideline value of 0.01 mg/L for drinking water. The arsenic varied spatially with high concentration towards central groundwater district. Negative correlation between arsenic and ORP showed reductive arsenic mobilization mechanisms in deep groundwater. There was very weak negative correlation between arsenic concentration and depth of deep groundwater wells. The t-test revealed that there is significant difference in concentration of arsenic in between shallow and deep ground water with higher values of arsenic in deep groundwater.

Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 2014, 19(2): 7-13

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Published

2015-11-09

How to Cite

Shrestha, S., Rijal, K., & Pokhrel, M. (2015). Spatial Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Arsenic in Groundwater of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 19(2), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v19i2.13845

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 2 (2014)

Section

Research Articles

License

The views and interpretations in this journal are those of the author(s). They are not attributable to the Institute of Science and Technology, T.U. and do not imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers of boundaries.

The copyright of the articles is held by the Institute of Science and Technology, T.U.