Journal of Environmental Science, Computer Science and Engineering & Technology

JECET; March 2020- May 2020; Sec. A; Vol.9. No.2, 327-341. E-ISSN: 2278–179X [DOI: 10.24214/jecet.A.9.2.32741] Journal of Environmental Science, Computer Science and Engineering & Technology An International Peer Review E-3 Journal of Sciences and Technology Available online at www.jecet.org Section A: Environmental Science Research Article Physicochemical characterization and evaluation of river water quality for its potability, Champhai District, Mizoram, NE India Watitemsu Imchen1*, Pritam Panja2, Chonbenthung Yanthan3, Athili Elow1 1Geological Survey of India, NER, Dimapur, India 2Geological Survey of India, ER, Kolkata, India 3Geological Survey of India, NER, Agartala, India Received: 11 April 2020; Revised: 23 April 2020; Accepted: 05 May 2020 Abstract: River water is the main source for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes in the mountainous region of Mizoram, NE India. Rainwater harvesting is a common practice and effectively utilized during the monsoon period; however, rivers or streams are the only sources of water during the lean period. Thus it is imperative to assess the water quality for public health and water resource management. Physicochemical parameters and quality of Changel Tui, Tuichang R. (Khawzawl), Chawngtlai and Chungte water sources, Champhai district have been analyzed using factor analysis (FA) and cluster analysis (CA) to assess the water quality and potential pollution sources. Water quality was monitored for six months during the lean period from October 2017 to March 2018 using 13 parameters such as pH, temperature (T), turbidity (Tb), total hardness (TH), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), total alkalinity (Alk), electrical conductivity (EC), chloride - - - (Cl ), fluoride (F ), total phosphorus (P), nitrate (NO3 ), and iron (Fe) were analyzed. The results indicate that all water quality parameters are well within the permissible limit with minor temporal variation barring turbidity in comparison to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Multivariate analysis indicates that the water quality has been largely affected by dissolved mineral salts leached from the underlying sandstone- siltstone-shale beds, and soil erosion and leaching due to agricultural activities have 327 JECET; JECET; March 2020- May 2020; Sec. A; Vol.9. No.2, 327-341. DOI:10.24214/jecet.A.9.2.32741. Physicochemical… Imchen et al. influenced the water sources. However, water quality index (WQI) computed from physicochemical parameters qualify the water sources of Khawzawl, Chawngtlai, and Chungte as good quality suitable for use as potable water. Keywords: Physicochemical properties; Water quality; Multivariate analysis; Mizoram. INTRODUCTION The river is one of the major sources of water used for human consumption, irrigation, and industrial purposes and is one of the most susceptible water bodies to pollutants by both natural processes as well as anthropogenic factors [1, 2]. The efficient management of drinking water resources requires information about its quality and variability. Water quality is indispensable for the health of all living beings [3, 4]. Physicochemical and biological contaminants of surface waters by anthropogenic activities is of paramount environmental concern. Mizoram, the landlocked state of Indian Union bordering Myanmar is characterized by parallel to sub-parallel N-S trending hill ranges and valleys. Myriads of northerly and southerly flowing rivers separate the steep hill ranges with the development of numerous gorges. The perennial, as well as few ephemeral rivers, are the main sources of water for domestic, small scale industrial and agricultural/irrigation purposes to the common populace of Mizoram. The present study falls in Khawzawl Sub-Division, Champhai, Mizoram. Khawzawl notified town is inhabited by about 2,306 households with more than 11 thousand population. Changel Tui, Tumkhuai, Tuichang, etc are the main water sources for drinking and other domestic purposes for Khawzawl notified town. Rapid urbanization, population explosion, and ever-increasing demand in domestic and agricultural sectors require good quality of water supply. In Mizoram State, rainwater is mostly harnessed and utilized during the monsoon period; however, during the lean period, spring or river waters are the only sources of water for domestic and other purposes. Therefore, it is felt imperative to gather reliable information on the characteristics of water quality for public health and water resource management. With this objective in mind, the physicochemical parameters of Changel Tui and Tuichang (water sources of Khawzawl town), Chawngtlai and Chungte drinking water sources have been monitored for six months from October 2017 to March 2018 and are analyzed using FA and CA to determine their quality, variability and latent pollutants. GEOLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY The study area forms a part of Neogene-Paleogene Accretionary Belt in the eastern fringe of Mizoram State lying within the latitudes of 23°22′06′′N−23°38′18′′N and longitudes of 93°04′27′′ E−93°20′6.6′ ′E in parts of Survey of India toposheet 84E/2,3, 6 and 7. The Laisong, Jenam, and Renji formations of the Barail Group forms the older units overlain by the Middle and Upper unit of the Bhuban Formation (Surma Group) (Fig. 1). Laisong Formation constitutes an interbedded sequence of sandstone and shale with occasional siltstone and conglomerate horizons (arenite/argillite ratio= 60:40). The overlying Jenam Formation is predominantly greenish-grey shale in the lower part and interbedded shale siltstone and fine-grained sandstone in the uppermost part (arenite/argillite ratio= 15:85) while the younger Renji Formation is characterized by medium to thickly bedded grey sandstone with subordinate mudstone (arenite/argillite ratio= 80:20 ratio); they form the higher reaches (synclinal hills) reflecting second-order topography. The contact between these formations is conformable and gradational. The overlying Bhuban Formation constitute predominantly of shale with subordinate siltstone and sandstone on the lower horizon while the rocks on the upper horizon vary from brown hard and compact, bedded, fine-grained sandstone with minor grey laminated shale 328 JECET; JECET; March 2020- May 2020; Sec. A; Vol.9. No.2, 327-341 . DOI:10.24214/jecet.A.9.2.32741. Physicochemical… Imchen et al. as lower unit and yellowish-brown, friable, well-bedded to massive, fine to medium-grained sandstone with minor greyish brown shale with ubiquitous ferruginisation in sandstones. Figure 1: Geological map vis-à-vis sampling stations of the study area The physiography of the Champhai district can be broadly divided into hills, valleys, and flatlands. The soils of different physiographic units are homogenous in terms of genetic aspects as they are the product of chemical weathering of sandstones, shales, and siltstones. In the hills, the soil is light- colored, highly leached, poor in bases, rich in iron, and has a low pH value (highly acidic) due to excessive leaching. They are well-drained, moderately rich in organic carbon, deficient in phosphate, potassium, phosphorous, nitrogen, and even in humus content [5]. The soils on the top of barren ridges, however, are mostly shallow or underlaid by weathered rock and only thin veneer of soil is developed. The valley's flatlands exhibit heavy texture, poorly permeable, or poorly drained soils with high groundwater table. They are alluvial and colluvial, most fertile and productive soils. The soil thickness is more in the valley due to constant erosion from high altitudes. The soil developed along the narrow valley is young, light-color, coarse-texture, well-drained, and well-aerated. The soil cover of the dissected low hills/hillocks is comparable to the soil that is developed along the ridges and hill slopes at the higher reaches. The terrain is extremely rugged and undulating baring Champhai town with low lying valleys. Champhai district is occupied by semi-consolidated formations of denudo-structural hills of Barail and Surma rocks. Low linear ridges have low permeability and infiltration capacity and act as a runoff zone. The moderate linear ridges, which occupy the major portion of the district, comprised of 329 JECET; JECET; March 2020- May 2020; Sec. A; Vol.9. No.2, 327-341 . DOI:10.24214/jecet.A.9.2.32741. Physicochemical… Imchen et al. predominantly hard and compact sandstone-shale-siltstones intercalations of the Barail group of rocks with relatively low groundwater potential [5]. The occurrence of groundwater in such terrain is predominantly confined along weak zones such as fracture, lineament, weathered zones, and Quaternary deposits. These tectonic elements facilitate conduit for water seepages in the form of spring. North-South trending valleys between the adjoining linear ridges have at places developed small pond like structures with shallow water level (2.0 m bgl). Broadly, groundwater potential is relatively higher in the Champhai valley fill area although with limited areal extent however, the groundwater potential decreases along higher reaches [5]. Surface water is the main source of potable water for the adjoining areas, tapped through the gravity method. The discharge of water increases with a decrease in altitude downslope. Water discharge of the spring varies between 3,000 to 20,000 ltr/day from January to March [5]. MATERIALS AND METHOD To evaluate the physicochemical parameters of river waters of the Khawzawl notified town, Chawngtlai and Chungte hamlets, Champhai district, Mizoram, their

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