Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol. 28, oct Suppl. Issue 2022; Page No.(S226-S232)

NITRATE CONTAMINATION IN GURUGRAM DISTRICT, HARYANA

Vijay Laxmi, Jakir Hussain, Supriya Singh, Ikbal Husain, Sudesh Kumar and V.K. Vadiya

Abstract

Groundwater has witnessed a significant increase in utilisation in recent decades due to its widespreadavailability and typically acceptable quality. Contamination of groundwater with nitrates and the associatedhealth hazards is one of the most prevalent challenges affecting groundwater quality around the world.Nitrate (NO3–) is a particularly important groundwater pollutant because of its widespread presence inaquifers and its health and environmental consequences. Nitrate is present in nature as a by-product ofagricultural and animal manure, as well as in anthropogenic waste. The purpose of this study was todetermine the nitrate content in groundwater in various villages in Gurugram, Sohna, Farukh Nagar, andPataudi block of Gurugram district, Haryana, where groundwater is the primary source of drinking water.Samples of groundwater from 156 wells were collected and analyzed the nitrate concentration. The minimumnitrate concentration of 1.23 mg/l as NO3 was observed in Sherpur village of Pataudi Block of GurugramDistrict. The maximum concentration (102 mg/l as NO3) was measured for Kankrola of Gurugram block ofGurugram district. Seventy eight percent of the samples had values under 45 mg/l, 22.43 % had valuesbetween 0-10 mg/l, 26.92% had values between 11-20 mg/l, 15.38 % had values between 21-30 mg/l, 11.53% had values between 31-40 mg/l and 22 % had values beyond 45 mg/l. All of the Sohna block samplesmeet the BIS 10500:2012 permissible limit. Data reveals that 34 villages exceeded out of 156 villages havingthe nitrate concentration (45 mg/l) above the limit.