Geographical Assessment and Comparison of Some Physicochemical Parameter of Groundwater in Some Designated Tea Plantations of Lakhimpur District, Assam, India

Water quality monitoring is indeed becoming increasingly crucial on a global scale due to intensifying water use. Contamination of groundwater has raised its ugly head recently in Assam. Results reported by various agencies have been alarming. The present research conducted in Lakhimpur district, Assam, focusing on studying some physico-chemical water quality parameters in and around some selected tea gardens. The primary objectives are to establish consistent records of water contamination, which may serve as indicators for short-term environmental changes. Twenty ground water samples were chemically analyzed by adopting standard procedures. The experimental values of physicochemical parameters were compared with the World Health Organization and ISI water quality standards. The observed variations in quality of water samples inside and outside tea gardens may be due to the high permeability of tea garden soils combined with the relatively short distance to the water table making these areas particularly sensitive to contamination. It was found that people use water for drinking purposes mostly from tubewells, borewells and supply water sources, which need purification before drinking. The present study, however, fulfilled the limited purpose of strengthening database which may help in implementing effective remedial policies and strategies to manage and mitigate water pollution.