Study Report on the Impact of Industrial Estates on Surface and Ground Water Quality – with special reference to Vijayawada city, A.P., India

Abstract

Urbanization and industrialization leads to increasing density of human population due to which natural resources are under tremendous pressure. Hence conservation of our water resources which is vital for our survival is a critical challenge faced by the humankind in the society. Both the quantity and quality of our water resources are two very important factors that determine its suitability for drinking, domestic, agriculture and industrial purposes. To meet the rising demand for the safe and clean water it is crucial to identify the fresh water resources and also discover the remedial methods for enhancement in water quality. The industrial hubs in and around Vijayawada city are responsible for the worsening of the quality of water resources (surface and ground). As there is lack of proper water quality monitoring data till date in this fast growing capital city of new Andhra Pradesh.The present study could pave a way for the better understanding the necessity for such water quality monitoring studies that could save a precious natural resource from contamination. A comparison between ground water and surface water at the selected sampling stations near industries was also done to know the more susceptible source of water to pollution due to the industrial activities.The heavy metal concentrations ranged in order of magnitude as Zn > Fe > Cd > Cu. Lead and Nickel were found to be absent in the samples collected from the samples in the study area.