Welcome to Eprints@IARI

Abstract

Over the last two decades, intense urbanization in Delhi area created several cut slopes of the rugged topography. Iso-contours and multi-component mixing models of pollutants and isotopic composition of groundwater provided a unique understanding of the pollutants dynamics in groundwater. Over 60% of the wells have become vulnerable to increased chloride and nitrate contamination based. The major sources of chloride and nitrate are anthropogenic wastes, landfills, sewage irrigation and sewage treatment plants, turf grass fertilizer and surface water runoff. 18O isotope and major elements that accompany in the groundwater may distinguish sources of nitrate with less ambiguity, under different land use conditions. Cl, Na, Mg, Ca, SO4 and NO3 show promising results as nitrate tracers on ternary diagram and through element vs. element plots. Additional Ca2+ may be released to groundwater by corrosion of subsurface concrete materials. Guidance has been provided on the overall approach for protection of groundwater resource.