Geochemical Studies and Environmental Impact of Heavy Metal Concentration on Ground - and Drinking Waters in Mahalan Vibhag, Uran Taluka, Raigad District, Maharashtra (India)

An assessment of water quality in developing countries has become a critical issue in recent years; especially due to concerns that freshwater will be a scarce resource in the future. An essential component of analysing temporal variations in water pollution from natural or man-made sources, is assessing the seasonal changes in water quality. The major environmental challenges currently encountered are pollution,non-renewable sources and degradation of renewable sources. Fresh water is the single most precious element for life on Earth. Although 70 % of the world’s surface is covered by water, only a fraction of that ~ 2.5% is fresh water, of which 70 % is frozen in ice caps. This leaves less than one percent of the world’s fresh water resources accessible for human use. The present geographical location of Mahalan Vibhag in Uran Taluka, situated in Raigad District at latitude 18.8832318° and Longitude of 72.9541716° in Maharashtra State was selected as a case study Uran region hosts a substantial chemical industrial zone that releases significant volumes of wastewater into the neighbouring communities.

Seasonal variations of heavy metals in water quality and its environmental impact effects were observed.For analysis of heavy metals in water samples, a wet digestion method was applied. In the month May2021, the water samples collected showed pH ranging from slightly acidic (6.3) to slightly basic (8.8). In the month of Nov.2021 it ranged from slightly acidic (6.3) to slightly basic (8.2). In order to comprehend the geological phenomenon of seasonal changes, we did analysis using both conventional methods and advanced instrumentsas shown in graphical abstract.

Some of the representative results of the analysisby ICP-AES are (ppm) of water samples for May 2021 and November 2021are Cr- 0.017-0.633; Cu-0.05-1.03: Fe-2.436-15.046; Ni-0.039-6.211; Pb-0.01-8.433; Zn- 0.104- 44.23; S-l.411-2836.86. Arsenic, antimony and cadmium show less concentration. The conducted investigations demonstrate the significant presence of heavy and hazardous metals and their impact on the environment surrounding Mahalan Vibhag the in Uran Taluka of Raigad District, Maharashtra.