Physical and chemical analysis of drinking water of Singheswar block of Madhepura District, Bihar (India)

Groundwater samples were collected from selected locations of Singheswar tehsil of Madhepura district during pre monsoon, post monsoon , spring and winter seasons from 2019 - 2021. Physicochemical parameters like TDS, pH, specific conductivity, hardness, total alkalinity, magnesium, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, sodium, potassium, chloride and fluoride were determined. Evaluation of the parameters were done using standard methods in order to judge the suitability of groundwater for irrigation and drinking purposes. It was found that conductivity, hardness and alkalinity parameters have higher values during post monsoon season than in spring season. The lower and upper limits of different parameters were found as follows: pH ( 7.2 - 8.3 ), EC (910-1315 micro S/cm ), TDS ( 658 - 912 mg/ l , TA (207-405 mg/l ), TH (122-310 mg/l ), Ca (78-186mg/l), Mg(42-124mg/l), Na (110-182 mg/l ), K (6 -10 mg/l ), Cl (55-108 mg/l ), sulfate (63-126 mg/l), nitrate (18-40 mg/l) and phosphates (0.3-0.57 mg/l). The results were compared with the WHO standards. Both the lower and upper limits values in the present case were found to be higher than the WHO limits in most of the cases. It was found that the premonsoon water are better than the postmonsoon one.