GROUNDWATER ARSENIC IN THE FLUVIAL BENGAL PLAINS: GEOCHEMISTRY AND MITIGATION

The water quality and chemistry of the groundwater of the fluvial Bengal plains have been investigated. It has been found that shallow aquifers (< 50 m bgl) are contaminated in a few pockets, surrounded by areas with low arsenic (As)/As-free groundwater, while the deeper aquifer (> 100 m bgl) is generally free from As (< 10 μg/L). It also reveals that multiple As mobilization processes are occurring simultaneously, rather than any single geochemical process. An attempt has been made to demonstrate the degree of As heterogeneity with groundwater quality, and this has been followed by a few local conditions. The study further suggests that the As distribution (spatio-vertical) helps to identify safe shallow aquifers, and several signatures (colour of the sediments /land use pattern/ geomorphological features /local recharge events) are apparent that can be useful for formulating long-term mitigation options.