Geomorphology, Quaternary Morpho-Stratigraphy and Spatial Distribution of Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater, a Case Study of Katwa-II, Burdwan, West Bengal

Abstract

Arsenic contamination in groundwater is a serious environmental problem in Bengal Basin. In case of Burdwan District it is characterized by contamination in shallow groundwater arsenic is mainly located in the eastern part of this district along the Bhagirathi River, although some other places of Damodar fan delta (south-eastern part of Burdwan District) is affected by arsenic contamination. Various studied relating to the Arsenic contamination conducted by several Geologist, Geomorphologist, Environmentalist etc., most of their worked is mainly emphasized on the geologic controls on arsenic contamination in ground water as a result importance’s of fluvial geomorphology in a greater way ignored or less investigated by them. Late Quaternary stratigraphy, geomorphology and sedimentation in the Bengal Delta and the Damodar fan-delta have partly controlled groundwater arsenic contamination (Acharayya S. K. & Shah, B. A., 2012). Contamination is extensive in the low-lying areas of Bhagirathi–Ganga delta, located mainly to the east of the Bhagirathi River. A few isolated As-contaminated areas occur west of the Bhagirathi River and over the lower parts of the Damodar river fan-delta (Acharayya S. K. & Shah, B. A., 2007). The present study is mainly focused in the role of geomorphology and Quaternary morpho-stratigraphy in controlling arsenic contamination over Katwa-II of Burdwan District along the western part of Bhagirathi- Hooghly River.

Keywords: Arsenic contamination in groundwater, Bengal Basin, Damodar fan delta, geologic controls on arsenic contamination, Late Quaternary stratigraphy.