Abstract
Evidence of extensive fluoride contamination in ground water and instances of fluorosis reported from several localities of Guwahati, a city in northeast India, has become a matter of grave concern. As the endemic area is spreading day by day, a scientific intervention towards a suitable and practicable solution to the problem has become imperative. This study focused on delineating the possible source of the contamination hazard in the affected areas by studying the correlation of fluoride concentrations with selected hydrogeochemical parameters. Groundwater quality in a part of Guwahati city was studied with reference to the fluoride contamination and, based on a GIS developed, potentially vulnerable localities were demarcated for appropriate water supply planning. The most affected aquifer zones were identified and, through GIS applications, potential zones where high fluoride concentration is likely to be encountered were predicted. Through the GIS based evaluation of the data, the narrow valley fill areas adjoining granitic and gneissic bedrocks were found to be the most threatened. Steps for addressing the problem are recommended.
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