Groundwater nitrate contamination and use of Cl/Br ratio for source appointment

Source appointment for groundwater nitrate contamination is critical in prioritizing effective strategy for its mitigation. Here, we assessed the use of Cl/Br ratio and statistical correlation of hydro-chemical parameters to identify the nitrate source to the groundwater. A total of 228 samples from 19 domestic wells distributed throughout the study area were collected during June 2011-May 2012 and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters. Study area was divided into three spatial zones based on demographic features, viz., northern, southern, and central part. Nitrate concentration in 57 % of samples exceeded the prescribed safe limit for drinking stipulated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian standards (BIS). The central part of the study area showed elevated nitrate concentration ranging from below detection limit (BDL) to 263.5 mg/l as NO3 (-) and demonstrated high attenuation within the immediate vicinity thereby restricting diffusion of the nitrate to the adjacent parts. Resolution of correlation matrix as statistical indicator for nitrate contamination was poor. Seventy-seven percent of samples with high nitrate concentration (>45 mg/l as NO3 (-)) showed strong association with high Cl/Br mass ratio (350-900), indicating mixing of sewage and septic tank effluents with groundwater as a primary source for the nitrate in the studied area. Nitrate level during monsoon (BDL, 229.9 mg/l as NO3 (-)), post-monsoon (BDL, 263.5 mg/l as NO3 (-)), and pre-monsoon (0.5-223.1 mg/l as NO3 (-)) indicated additional contribution of surface leaching to groundwater.