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There is a continuous growing stress on ground water system
in the areas where rapid urbanisation is taking place. Since
the ground water resource is easily accessible with less investment,
quest to tap the ground water resource at an individual level
has increased by many fold during the last three decades.
As a result, there is a continuous decline in the ground water
levels and deterioration in the quality of ground water
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| The city is located
on the banks of the Krishna river in Krishna district. It is
the nerve centre for railway network connecting Southern, Northern
and Eastern parts of India. Vijayawada is the hub for marketing
and trade for agricultural and industrial products in the Coastal
area. The urban area has a population of (2001 Census).
The area is marked by network of canals and has an open
sewerage system. The urban agglomeration is underlain by thick
layer of black cotton soils, deltaic Alluvium and Khondalite
rocks (in the northern part). Out of total supply of 34 million
gallons per day (MGD), ground water accounts for 13 MGD. Extraction
of ground water is mainly through dug wells and filter points
ranging in depth from . Depth to water in the shallow aquifer
in major part of the area is less than 4 metres below ground
level.
Electrical conductivity of ground water ranges from 510
to 5200 micro Siemens / cm at 25°C, with the general range
being 750 to 3000. Nitrate concentration of the range of 0
- 312 milligrams / litre (mg/l) is observed in the area which
is comparatively lesser in concentration, unlike in similar
urban environments with open sewerage system. Phosphate and
sulphate concentration is seen in certain parts of the area
indicating anthropogenic pollution. High incidence of manganese
is observed in certain parts of the urban centre. Microbiological
analysis of water samples has shown bacteriological pollution
in certain pockets of the area. Urban waste, improper sanitation
management are mainly responsible for bacteriological pollution.
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