Assessment of Heavy Metals in Deep Groundwater Resources of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

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DOI: 10.4236/jep.2016.74047    2,647 Downloads   4,863 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out to address distribution of some heavy metals in deep groundwater resources of the Kathmandu Valley. Groundwater samples were analyzed for pH, ORP, EC, iron, manganese, zinc, and arsenic in 41 deep groundwater wells during pre monsoon and post monsoon seasons for two consecutive years. The study showed elevated concentrations of iron and manganese in the groundwater of the valley. The occurrence of elevated concentrations of arsenic was also exhibited and observed up to 0.160 mg/L. The spatial distribution patterns demonstrated elevated levels of EC, iron, manganese, zinc, and arsenic in central groundwater district (CGWD) of the valley. The monitored parameters except ORP are not significantly correlated with studied time series, inferring similar distribution of the metals. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed to find out relationships among examined parameters and metals. The ORP has strong negative correlations with iron, manganese, and arsenic, suggesting reductive mobilization mechanism of the metals in the groundwater. PCA results showed that iron and manganese with high positive loading factors were due to common natural source of origin of these metals in the groundwater, while negative loading factors of pH and ORP indicated that iron and manganese mobilization was favorable in low pH and reducing environment. Cluster analysis (CA) evidenced high mineralization in most of the wells in the CGWD.

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Shrestha, S. , Rijal, K. and Pokhrel, M. (2016) Assessment of Heavy Metals in Deep Groundwater Resources of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Journal of Environmental Protection, 7, 516-531. doi: 10.4236/jep.2016.74047.

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