ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY NEAR VICINITY OF LIGNITE MINE REGION, GUJARAT, INDIA: A CASE STUDY

Abstract: Coal is one of the most important sources of energy and economy of many developing and developed countries are based on coal production. Lignite is a low grade coal but play very important role in the development of industrial activity and economy in many states of India including Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The lignite mine has a few harmful impact on the water resources and soil quality by its pollutants leachate along with many benefits. Water is very precious and useful resource for peoples of arid region of Kachchh and they always striving for drinking water. Protection and conservation of water in such area is of a major concern. Hence, a study was carried out to assess the quality of water in and around the lignite mine to know the impacts of lignite mining on surface and ground water quality within 5 km of the surrounding mining area. Parameters like temperature, pH, TDS, EC, salinity, Total iron have been studied. Collection of different samples of water is done from nearby villages around 5 km radium of the particular mining area. Laboratory analysis was performed for water quality assessment based on the standard methods of American Public Health Association. The observations show that pH value of mine sump water is fluctuating from 2.23 to 4.89 with an average of 2.87 and the important metal like Iron content was also present in significant amount, it is ranging from 16.16 to 26.8 mg/L with an average of 22.47 mg/L. The concentration of TDS is also fluctuating from 8200 to 9366 mg/L with an average value of 8569 mg/L. The electrical conductivity has also been observed to fluctuate from 16390 to 18730 µS/cm with an average of 16948 µS/cm, and salinity fluctuate from 9.52 to 11.1 mg/L with an average of 9.97 mg/L. This is highly acidic in nature and might be due to leachate from mining area.

Keywords: Lignite; Water quality, acid mine drainage, Groundwater.