Spatial distribution of uranium and associated water quality parameters in drinking water in six districts (Durg, Rajnandgaon, Balod, Bemetara, Kabirdham, Kanker) of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh state is rich in natural resources; wide range of forest and a large population of tribal and rural people are dependent on natural resources. It is the need for sustainable development for people to use the natural recourses for industrial development. In our approved project water quality parameters have been analyzed with reference to radioactive metal uranium. The baseline data under this National Uranium Project will provide sustainable development towards our state as well as mankind. In this project we are analyzing six districts (Durg, Baled, Bemetara, Kabirdham, Kanker and Rajnandgaon). Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh is one of the important districts in this project due to uranium occurrence reported in 1969. Fluorimeter technique has been used for uranium estimation in drinking water samples collected from some areas of Durg, Balod, Bemetara, Kabirdham, Kanker and Rajnandgaon District Chhattisgarh, India. The uranium concentration in water samples is found to vary from 0.1-79 ppb and 0.1-130 ppb in Balod District, 0.1-46 ppb and 0.1-35 ppb in Durg District, 0.1-99 ppb and 0.1-42 ppb in Rajnandgaon District, 0.1-89 ppb and 0.1-90 ppb in Kabirdham District. 0.1-88 ppb and 0.1-70 ppb in Kanker District. 0.1-83 ppb and 0.1-96 ppb in Bemetara District during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon respectively. Some of the physico-chemical properties such as pH, DO, ORP, conductance, hardness, salinity, and the content of total hardness, calcium, magnesium, total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity (Total carbonate, bicarbonate), chloride, Fluoride, sulphate, phosphate and nitrate have also been determined in water samples. (author)