The Hydrogeological and Geochemical Characteristics of Groundwater of Sri Lanka

Dissanayake, C.B.; Chandrajith, Rohana

doi:10.1007/978-981-10-3889-1_25

Cited by 21 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The availability of surface water sources are limited, as most of the CKDu affected areas are located in the dry zone (Figure S1a) of the country; therefore, people rely heavily on groundwater sources for their daily needs. Groundwater occurred mainly in two aquifer forms; shallow regoliths and fissures and fractures in hard rocks, and they are extensively used for groundwater extraction [13]. Owing to the underlying high density metamorphic rocks, these aquifers remain as pockets that are isolated with each other and they are recharged by rain water through fissures and crack of the rocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in CKDu Affected Areas of Sri Lanka: Implications for Drinking Water Treatment

Cooray

Wei

Zhong

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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This study investigated the water quality of the groundwater that was collected from the chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) prevailing areas in the dry zone of Sri Lanka to assess its suitability for drinking purposes, and for the first time a Water Quality Index (WQI) with emphasis on proposing appropriate drinking water treatment method was developed. A total of 88 groundwater samples were collected in dry (December 2016) and wet (May 2017) seasons; high concentrations of water hardness, fluoride, salinity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the general alkaline nature of water were the main issues that were observed for disease incidence. The chemical weathering of the underlying bedrock, followed by ion exchange and precipitation processes, primarily controlled groundwater geochemistry. During the 1985–2017 period, the variations of the annual rainfall and temperature were minimal, which suggests no evidence for major climatic changes within the study areas. Almost all of the samples from the CKDu regions show a low alkali hazard and most of the samples show a medium to high salinity hazard. The DOC of the studied samples was mainly composed of the organic fractions in the following order, as fulvic acids > humic acids > aromatic protein II > soluble microbial by-products, and the molecular weights (MW) of these fractions ranged from 100–3000 Da. Based on the water quality index (WQI) calculations, it was found that only 3.8% in the wet season and 2.6% in the dry season of total water samples were categorized as the “excellent” type, and all other water sources require a further treatment before consumption. As there is an urgent need for establishing proper long-term drinking water treatment technology for the CKDu affected area, these findings can be used as benchmark of raw water quality in the design processes of treatment plants.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in CKDu Affected Areas of Sri Lanka: Implications for Drinking Water Treatment

Cooray

Wei

Zhong

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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“…Highly distinct rainfall regimes, seasonality and water stress have contributed to the evolution of diverse agricultural land use and cropping patterns of the VTCS landscape. [30,34,35]. Substratum features of the VTCSs zones favourably contribute to surface drainage patterns and groundwater availability of the area.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Vtcss In Sri Lankamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Major soil groups (Reddish Brown Earths (60%), Low Humic Gley (30%) and alluvial (10%)) found in the VTCS with distinctly different drainage conditions create the optimum environmental conditions for farmers to adopt a three-fold farming system (lowland paddy, rainfed upland and homestead) in the VTCS. A highly impervious shallow regolith aquifer found in the VTCS area is recharged by seasonal precipitation and seepage from tanks, rivers, and streams continuously throughout the year [30,34,35]. Thus, the above geomorphological.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Vtcss In Sri Lankamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…farmers to adopt a three-fold farming system (lowland paddy, rainfed upland and homestead) in the VTCS. A highly impervious shallow regolith aquifer found in the VTCS area is recharged by seasonal precipitation and seepage from tanks, rivers, and streams continuously throughout the year [30,34,35]. Thus, the above geomorphological.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Vtcss In Sri Lankamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainability of Village Tank Cascade Systems of Sri Lanka: Exploring Cascade Anatomy and Socio-Ecological Nexus for Ecological Restoration Planning

Ratnayake

Kumar²,

Dharmasena

et al. 2021

Challenges

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Village Tank Cascade Systems (VTCSs) in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka have evolved as sustainable ecosystems through human interventions to ensure water availability and other services for people and their environs during the last few millennia. However, VTCSs are vulnerable to global environmental changes resulting in continual deterioration of ecological health and hydro-socio-ecological status, crucial for the food and livelihood security of rural farming communities in the dry zone. This paper seeks to explore resource systems of the Mahakanumulla VTCS located in Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka to (i) identify the spatial metrics linked to the sustainability and socio-ecological resilience of the VTCS, and (ii) determine interactions among system elements and their impacts on productivity and restoration challenges. The spatial analysis was conducted using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), recent digital topographic map layers and Google Earth images to understand the spatial distribution and ensemble of tank environs. Participatory field assessment data were also used to determine socio-ecological nexus and factors that contribute to the reduction of ecological productivity of VTCS. The study revealed that the ensemble of tank environs is significant for providing regulatory and supporting ecosystem services (ES) and synergistic relationships with provisional ES of the VTCS. Results also revealed that the complex land-water-biodiversity-climate and food nexus that determines the productivity of the VTCS could be adopted in VTCS ecological restoration planning. The study presents a comprehensive framework to analyse causal factors and processes leading to reduction of overall productivity linked with variables of socio-ecological properties, vulnerability and resilience of the VTCS landscape.

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“…Earlier studies show that the villagers in CKDu-affected areas use groundwater from aquifers in high-grade metamorphic regolith, mainly unbound weathered or partly weathered loose rocks or soils [12]. More than 87% of the people in the CKDu prevalent areas of Sri Lanka consume groundwater that bringing out a form from shallow wells about 10 m-60 m depth [52,53]. erefore, earlier studies revealed that people who drink well water are more vulnerable to those who use water from natural springs, rainwater, and surface waters from rivers and reservoirs [12,54].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Groundwater Geochemistry and the Human Health Risk Assessment of Drinking Water in an Area with a High Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu), Sri Lanka

Botheju

Liyanage

Kannangara

2021

Journal of Chemistry

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Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has become an alarming health issue in Sri Lanka. The disease is more notable among farming communities and people who consume groundwater as their main source of drinking water. To assess the possible links between drinking water chemistry and expansion of CKDu, the study was compared with hydrogeochemical data of drinking water sources in a CKDu prevalent area (Girandurukotte GND, Badulla District) and a reference area (Dambethalawa GND, Ampara District) in Sri Lanka. Based on the results, nephrotoxic heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Pb, and As) concentrations were significantly higher in the CKDu prevalent site than the reference area, compromised the harmful consequences to the people in the CKDu hotspot. Results of the inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation tool indicated the nephrotoxic heavy metals contents including Cd, Pb, As, and Cr in CKDu hotspot were changed in the ranges of 9.78–187.25 μg/L, 0.08–0.66 μg/L, 20.76–103.30 μg/L, and 0.03–0.34 μg/L. The random distribution patterns were shown by the result in Moran’s index values. Noteworthy, the results have emphasized a strong association between fluoride and water hardness. The frequency of occurrence above the threshold limit of fluoride was 28% in non-CKDu water samples, while 81% in CKDu prevalent sites. The hardness values in the CKDu prevalent site indicated “moderately hard water,” while the non-CKDu area indicated the “soft water.” Furthermore, this paper quantified overall water quality and heavy metal contamination and assessed the human health risks associated with drinking water. According to the results of the water quality index, 90% of the samples in the CKDu prevalent area were classified as “poor water” and “very poor water” for drinking purposes, while 73.33% of the samples in the non-CKDu area were “good” and “excellent” for drinking usage. Calculated chronic daily intake (CDIoral) and hazard quotient (HQoral) of nephrotoxicants were higher in CKDu hotspot than the non-CKDu site. Besides, the hazard index (HI) values obtained for the CKDu prevalent area exceeding the acceptable limit (HI = 1) indicated potential health risks to the people in those areas. This study suggests that long-term exposure to nephrotoxic heavy metals, water hardness, and fluoride present in drinking water may threaten human health and affect kidney functions. Therefore, regular monitoring and better management of water supplies in CKDu prevalent areas are essential to determine the contamination load and reduce the health impacts due to excessive and long-term exposure to the nephrotoxicants.

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The Hydrogeological and Geochemical Characteristics of Groundwater of Sri Lanka

Cited by 21 publications

References 27 publications

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in CKDu Affected Areas of Sri Lanka: Implications for Drinking Water Treatment

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in CKDu Affected Areas of Sri Lanka: Implications for Drinking Water Treatment

Sustainability of Village Tank Cascade Systems of Sri Lanka: Exploring Cascade Anatomy and Socio-Ecological Nexus for Ecological Restoration Planning

The Groundwater Geochemistry and the Human Health Risk Assessment of Drinking Water in an Area with a High Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu), Sri Lanka

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