US EPA

4598584 

Journal Article 

Phosphate pollution in the groundwater of lower Vamsadhara river basin, India 

Rao, NS; Prasad, PR 

1997 

Yes 

Environmental Geology
ISSN: 0943-0105
EISSN: 1432-0495 

31 

1-2 

117-122 

10.1007/s002540050170 

WOS:A1997XD23700013 

The lower Vamsadhara river basin, spreading over an area of 817 sq.km in northern Andhra Pradesh, represents a typical rural setting. The occurrence of phosphorus-bearing minerals reported in literature, and the increasing application of phosphatic fertilizers in the area have prompted these studies. Water samples from 113 wells were analysed for Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4, HCO3, F, NO3 and PO4. The results indicate the presence of phosphate in the groundwater ranged from 0.72 to 7.07 mg/l, which is beyond the limits recommended for domestic and water treatment purposes. Samples of soils and weathered rocks were analyzed for their water-soluble phosphate and other chemical parameters. The water-soluble phosphate in the widely used fertilizers of the area was determined. The spatial variation of phosphate in the aquifer and the soil leachate characteristics supplemented by the chemical equilibrium calculations clearly indicate the dominance of geological sources over the fertilizer sources in contributing PO4 to the groundwaters. 

phosphate; leachate; Vamsadhara river basin; apatite