Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of hydrogeochemical process and evaluation of water quality of seven geothermal springs, Bakreswar, India

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was conducted in seven geothermal springs located in Bakreswar, District Birbhum, West Bengal, India, in order to assess numerous geochemical processes which were responsible for chemical composition of thermal and mineralized water. The study area lies over the Sone, Narmada, and Tapti lineament of Precambrian Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex. Water chemistry has been carried out based on reaction stoichiometry and geo-statistical tools to identify geochemical process. Piper and Gibbs diagram suggest that the spring water belongs to Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3− + CO32− water type and are controlled by rock dominance. Dissolution and precipitation of calcite, dolomite, gypsum, and fluorite minerals were identified as principle source of major ions in seven geothermal spring water. Principle component analyses revealed that major ions of spring water are derived from geogenic processes such as weathering, dissolution, and precipitation of various minerals. Overall results suggest that major ions of the spring’s water are derived from natural origin because no evidence of anthropogenic sources was observed during the study period. This study has also revealed that water quality of spring’s water is not suitable for drinking purposes and quite suitable for irrigation because of high abundance of Na+, K+, Cl−, and HCO3− ions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • APHA (2005) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association WWA, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbieri M, Nigro A, Petitta M (2017) Groundwater mixing in the discharge area of San Vittorino Plain (Central Italy): geochemical characterization and implication for drinking uses. Environ Earth Sci 76:393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6719-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhardwaj V, Singh DS, Singh AK (2010) Water quality of the Chhoti Gandak River using principal component analysis, Ganga Plain, India. J Earth Syst Sci 199(1):117–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bisht SS, Das NN, Tripathy NK (2011) Indian hot-water springs: a bird’s eye view. J Energy Environ Carbon Credit 1:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugger J, Long N, McPhail DC, Plimer I (2005) An active amagmatic hydrothermal system: the Paralana hot springs, Northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Chem Geol 222(1–2):35–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) (1991) Indian standard specification for drinking water. IS:10500. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi

  • Chandrajith R, Barth JAC, Subasinghe ND, Merten D, Dissanayake CB (2013) Geochemical and isotope characterization of geothermal spring waters in Sri Lanka: evidence for steeper than expected geothermal gradients. J Hydrol 476:360–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydrol.2012.11.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalai TK, Krishnaswami S, Sarin MM (2002) Major ion chemistry in the headwaters of the Yamuna river system: chemical weathering, its temperature dependence and CO2 consumption in the Himalaya. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 66:3397–3416. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(02)00937-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das S, Nag SK (2017) Geochemical appraisal of fluoride-laden groundwater in Suri I and II blocks, Birbhum district, West Bengal. Appl Water Sci 7(5):2559–2570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson MH, Fanelli M (2004) What is geothermal energy. International Geothermal Association, Pisa

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinka MO, Loiskandl W, Ndambuki JM (2015) Hydrochemical characterization of various surface water and groundwater resources available in Matahara areas, Fantalle Woreda of Oromiya region. J Hydrol Reg Stud 3:444–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.02.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garrels RM, Mackenzie FT (1967) Origin of the chemical composition of some springs and lakes. Equilibrium concepts in natural water systems. American Chemical Society. Adv Chem Ser 67:222–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh D, Chowdhury DP, Sinha B (2002) Large-scale helium escape from earth surface around Bakreswar-Tantloi geothermal area in Birbhum district, West Bengal, and Dumka district, Jharkhand, India. Curr Sci 82(8):993–996

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanism controlling world water chemistry. Science 170:1088–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalakrishnan SB, Viswanathan G, Ilango SS (2012) Prevalence of fluorosis and identification of fluoride endemic areas in Manur block of Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, South India. Appl Water Sci 2:235–243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-012-0043-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krohn MD, Kendall C, Evans JR, Fries TL (1993) Relations of ammonium minerals at several hydrothermal systems in the western US. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 56(4):401–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Das NK, Mallick C, Bhandari RK (2011) Stable isotopes study on geothermal waters in eastern India. Curr Sci 9:1205–1209

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar B, Singh UK, Mukherjee (2017) Hydrogeological influence on the transport and fate of contaminants in the groundwater. JSM Biol 2:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Loyd JW, Heathcode JA (1985) Nature inorganic hydrochemistry in relation to groundwater. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar N, Mukherjee AL, Majumdar RK (2009) Mixing hydrology and chemical equilibria in Bakreswar geothermal area, eastern India. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 183(3–4):201–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mir RA, Jeelani G, Dar FA (2016) Spatio-temporal patterns and factors controlling the hydrogeochemistry of the river Jhelum basin, Kashmir Himalaya. Environ Monit Assess 188:438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5429-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moeck IS (2014) Catalog of geothermal play types based on geologic controls. Renew Sust Energ Rev 37:867–882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee AL (1964) Mineragraphic studies of desseminated bodies of magnetite in granite-pegmatite at Nawadiha in Hazaribagh district, Bihar. Proc Indian Acad Sci Sect B 60(5):341–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukhopadhyay DK (1996) Geothermal parameters and thermal energy potential of Bakreswar, Tantloie group of hot springs in Birbhum district, West Bengal and Dumka district, Bihar. In: Pitale UL, Padhi RN (eds), Geothermal energy in India. Geol Surv Ind Pub 45:87–98

  • Nandimandalam JR (2012) Evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes in the Pleistocene aquifers of Middle Ganga Plain, Uttar Pradesh, India. Environ Earth Sci 65:1291–1308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1377-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK (2011) Hydrogeochemical processes governing the origin, transport and fate of major and trace elements from mine wastes and mineralized rock to surface waters. Appl Geochem 26(11):1777–1791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordstrom DK, Ball JW, McClesky RB (2005) Ground water to surface water: chemistry of thermal outflows in Yellowstone National Park. Geotherm Biol Geochemistry Yellowstone Natl Park 73–94

  • Okiongbo KS, Douglas RK (2014) Evaluation of major factors influencing the geochemistry of groundwater using graphical and multivariate statistical methods in Yenagoa city, southern Nigeria. Appl Water Sci 5:27–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-014-0166-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pasvanoglu S (2013) Hydrogeochemistry of thermal and mineralized waters in the Diyadin (Agri) area, eastern Turkey. Appl Geochem 38:70–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2013.08.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1994) A geographic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis. Trans Am Geophys Union 25:914–923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pörtner HO (2010) Oxygen-and capacity-limitation of thermal tolerance: a matrix for integrating climate-related stressor effects in marine ecosystems. J Exp Biol 213(6):881–893

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajmohan N, Elango L (2005) Distribution of iron, manganese, zinc and atrazine in groundwater in parts of Palar and Cheyyar river basins, South India. Environ Monit Assess 107:115–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-5307-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao PVN, Appa Rao S, Subba Rao N (2015) Geochemical evolution of groundwater in the Western Delta region of river Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India. Appl Water Sci 7:813–822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-015-0294-y

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy S, Bhattacharya S, Debnath M, Ray S (2015) Diversity of cyanobacterial flora of Bakreswar geothermal spring, West Bengal, India-II. Algol Stud 147:29–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sappa G, Ergul S, Ferranti F (2014) Geochemical modeling and multivariate statistical evaluation of trace elements in arsenic contaminated groundwater systems of Viterbo area, (Central Italy). Springerplus 3:237. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh UK, Kumar B (2017) Pathways of heavy metals contamination and associated human health risk in Ajay River basin, India. Chemosphere 174:183–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.01.103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh CK, Rina K, Singh RP, Shashtri S, Kamal V, Mukherjee S (2011) Geochemical modeling of high fluoride concentration in groundwater of Pokhran area of Rajasthan, India. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 86:152–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0192-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh HK, Chandrasekharam D, Vaselli O, Trupti G, Singh B, Lashin A, Arifi AN (2015) Physico-chemical characteristics of Jharkhand and West Bengal thermal springs along SONATA mega lineament, India Physico-chemical characteristics of Jharkhand and West Bengal thermal springs along SONATA mega lineament, India. J Earth Syst Sci 2:419–430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-015-0550-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh CK, Kumar A, Shashtri S, Kumar A, Kumar P, Mallick J (2017) Multivariate statistical analysis and geochemical modeling for geochemical assessment of groundwater of Delhi, India. J Geochem Explor 175:59–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.01.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singharajwarapan FS, Wood SH, Fuangswasdi A, Pirarai K (2015) Anomalous fluoride and warm water wells may indicate blind geothermal Systems in Cenozoic Basins of northwestern Thailand. Proc World Geotherm Congr 19–25

  • Srinivasamoorthy K, Gopinath M, Chidambaram S, Vasanthavigar M, Sarma VS (2014) Hydrochemical characterization and quality appraisal of groundwater from Pungar sub basin, Tamilnadu, India. J King Saud Univ Sci 26:37–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2013.08.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subramani T, Rajmohan N, Elango L (2010) Groundwater geochemistry and identification of hydrogeochemical processes in a hard rock region, southern India. Environ Monit Assess 162:123–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0781-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatawat RK, Chandel CPS (2008) A hydrochemical profile for assessing the groundwater quality of Jaipur City. Environ Monit Assess 143:337–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9936-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas J, Joseph S, Thrivikramji KP, Manjusree TM, Arunkumar KS (2013) Seasonal variation in major ion chemistry of a tropical mountain river, the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Environ Earth Sci 71:2333–2351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2634-2

  • USSL (United States Salinity Laboratory) (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. Agricultural handbook, vol. 60. USDA, pp. 160

  • Yidana SM, Ophori D, Banoeng-Yakubo B (2008) A multivariate statistical analysis of surface water chemistry data—the Ankobra Basin, Ghana. J Environ Manag 86:80–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.11.023

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors are indebted to the Department of Botany and Integrated Science Education and Research Centre (ISERC), Visva-Bharati, for providing necessary research support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal, 731235, India

    Subhajit Roy & Samit Ray

  2. Integrated Science Education and Research Centre (ISERC), Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal, 731235, India

    Balwant Kumar & Umesh Kumar Singh

  3. Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal, 731235, India

    Abbhijit Chowdhury

Authors
  1. Subhajit Roy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Balwant Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abbhijit Chowdhury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Umesh Kumar Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Samit Ray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Subhajit Roy.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 17 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Roy, S., Kumar, B., Chowdhury, A. et al. Characterization of hydrogeochemical process and evaluation of water quality of seven geothermal springs, Bakreswar, India. Arab J Geosci 11, 314 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3662-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3662-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation