Hydrochemistry of the Narmada and Tapti Rivers, India

Abstract

The chemistry of major ions and elements in Narmada and Tapti river water was studied based on the monitoring of the drainage basins for monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in 2004. The results show the influence of rock weathering on the concentration of major ions in the surface water. There is a significant contribution from the catchment geologies in the major constituents of water. The total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations are reflecting the signature of weathering of rocks in the catchment areas. In the Narmada River, HCO 3 , Ca 2C and Mg 2C are dominant ions, whereas in the Tapti River the ions dominating major compositions are HCO 3 , Na C and Mg 2C . The high concentration of Cl and SO 2 4 is a signature of anthropogenic inputs in addition to the contribution of discharge from springs and/or groundwater. The high concentration of NO 3 can exclusively be attributed to the anthropogenic activities. The average concentration of dissolved silica being higher than the Indian and world average is reflecting the contribution of silicate weathering. The present study gives the silicate and carbonate weathering rates and the corresponding CO 2 consumption rates considering the contribution of carbonate rocks present in the selected river basins of the Deccan basaltic province. The mean silicate weathering rates during the investigation period for the Narmada and Tapti Rivers show lower values, but the corresponding mean CO 2 consumption rates give higher values compared with earlier estimated rates by Dessert et al. (2001. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 188: 459). For the study period, the mean carbonate weathering rates and the associated CO 2 consumption rates for the Narmada and Tapti Rivers are ¾12Ð67 t km 2 year 1 and ¾7Ð32 t km 2 year 1 and ¾0Ð36 ð 10 6 mol km 2 year 1 and ¾0Ð22 ð 10 6 mol km 2 year 1 respectively.

Major ion chemistry of the Son River, India: Weathering processes, dissolved fluxes and water quality assessment

“…The increase in HCO − 3 concentration can be attributed to seasonal variability in chemical weathering of carbonate and silicate minerals (Tipper et al 2006) or redissolution of precipitated salt in the post-monsoon season induced by rain water and water level rise (Rengarajan et al 2009). However, increase in NO − 3 concentration may be attributed to degradation of organic matter and/or anthropogenic sources including runoff from surrounding agricultural fields and untreated sewage (Sharma and Subramanian 2008). There is no significant variation in the concentration of Mg 2+ , K + and SO 2− 4 , reflecting their conservative behaviour in the basin.…”

“…These studies also explain the exogenic cycling of elements in the continent-river-ocean Kump 1994;Zhang et al 1995;Galy and FranceLanord 1999;Hren et al 2007;Li et al 2009). Indian rivers have also been studied to understand (i) hydrological and environmental characteristics of river basins, (ii) influence of basin geology, tectonics, climate and anthropogenic activities on riverine chemistry and (iii) elemental fluxes from rivers to oceans (Subramanian 1979(Subramanian , 1983Biksham and Subramanian 1988;Sarin et al 1989;Chakrapani and Subramanian 1990;Ramanathan et al 1994;Krishnaswami and Singh 1998;Ahmad et al 1998;Singh and Hasnain 1999;Dalai et al 2002;Singh et al 2005;Sharma and Subramanian 2008;Jha et al 2009;Rengarajan et al 2009;Gupta et al 2011).…”

Source and distribution of trace metals and nutrients in Narmada and Tapti river basins, India

“…This is due to the fact that the rate of carbonate weathering dominates that of silicate weathering in a river basin (Gaillardet et al 1999). This has been reported by Sharma and Subramanian (2008) which conclude that the chemical composition of Narmada river is more controlled by the carbonate lithology of the basin, which is present as intrusive complexes and dykes, along the minor rift zones in the Deccan Volcanic Province with neighbouring carbonate-alkaline complexes.…”

“…The nature and flux of organic C and P in Indian rivers has been studied by few authors (Gupta et al 1997;Ramesh et al 1995). Study of major ions in the waters of Narmada and Tapti rivers has already been reported (Sharma and Subramanian 2008), and limited data exist on trace metal pollution in sediments of the Narmada river basin (Jain et al 2008). The objective of this study, therefore, was to establish the nature of distribution of dissolved trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn, and As) and nutrients such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (NO 3 -), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (PO 4 3-), and dissolved silica (H 4 SiO 4 ) highlighting the potential risk of their elevated concentrations on the aquatic organism and human beings.…”

Chemical Characteristics of Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater in Parts of Middle-Gangetic Plain (MGP) in Bihar, India

“…The trend indicates that groundwater is in disequilibrium with the atmosphere. The groundwater pCO 2 in the study area are higher than those reported in case of surface waters (Sharma and Subramanian 2008 ). This increase in pCO 2 would typically be counterbalanced by mineral weathering reactions in the aquifer.…”