The main sources of groundwater contamination are industrial, municipal and agricultural wastes (both solid and liquid), rocks, sludge and slimes, refuse, pesticides, herbicides, effluents from livestock and poultry farms. Many pollutants are even able to penetrate into groundwater aquifers. In the lower Siwalik area, where this study was carried out, various types of industries like fruit processing, small scale electroplating, pharmaceuticals, distilleries, paper and electronics are located and discharging wastewaters. In last two decades, this area has seen the tremendous growth in industrial and agricultural sectors.

The paper describes the heavy metals characteristics of groundwater along the Ghaggar River in lower Siwaliks region. Groundwater sampling was done from different sources such as tube wells, hand pumps, bore wells and open wells. For the study, groundwater samples were collected from different locations spreading over Haryana and Punjab region in the lower Siwaliks. The study results found that groundwater properties were adversely affected and the deterioration in water quality was reflected in increased concentrations of cadmium, iron and lead. Groundwater was found unsuitable even for irrigation purposes as far as cadmium concentration was concerned. The causes of groundwater pollution were attributed to discharge from municipal and industrial effluents along with wide ranging agricultural wastes.

A copy of the paper can be accessed at this link