ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY ISSUES CAUSED BY THE GRANITE QUARRYING AND STONE PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN RAMANAGARA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA
Creators: name: NAGARAJA V
name: RAKESH C. J
name: SINDHU H. N
name: SUDHA. S
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Quarrying, Water Pollution, Water Quality, Granite Industry.

description: Abstract

The granite quarrying and stone processing businesses will be significantly impacted by the geology, soil, and water environment of the research region. Numerous factors affecting society, the environment, and people's health and quality of life are brought about by the granite industry. This investigation's foundation was created by the primary and secondary sources that were used. The persons who are most vulnerable to air, dust, water, and noise pollution—including vibrations from rock blasting—are those who live nearby and work in quarries. Evaluating potential environmental implications of water quality from various granite quarries and stone processing companies in the Ramanagara district was the aim of the study. For analysis, water samples were gathered from industrial regions, residential neighborhoods close to communities, and quarry sites. We have taken eight (08) groundwater samples and twelve (12) surface water samples from diverse locations in order to evaluate the water quality. Water samples from the surface and groundwater were collected using two-liter plastic containers. Samples from surface and groundwater were divided, and samples were placed in polyethylene carbons for chemical analysis. Water samples were acidified with one milliliter of HNO3 in order to look for metals. In the research region, specific physical, chemical, and heavy metal elements have been analyzed to evaluate the quality of surface and groundwater. In order to compute the Water Quality Index (WQI), twenty four significant factors pertaining to the physicochemical characteristics of surface water and twenty significant factors for groundwater were taken into consideration (Parameters for water quality: Colour, Odour, Turbidity, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Total  Hardness as CaCO3, Total Alkalinity as CaCO3, Cl, SO4, F, NO3, NH3, PO4, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Total Suspended Solids, Dissolved Oxygen as O2, Chemical Oxygen Demand as O2, Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand at 27°C for 3 days, Total Coliforms).  The results demonstrated that the mean concentrations of suspended and physicochemical parameters are within the criteria set by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the World Health Organization (WHO). According to Indian Standards and Specifications for Drinking Water, IS 10500, 2012, and IS 2296, 1982, all surface water and groundwater characteristics are within permissible limits. Most of the heavy metal concentrations in the research area samples are well within the detection limits. Surface and groundwater quality baselines are established for the region. Furthermore, the results indicated that the degree of pollution caused by quarrying activities is correlated with the distance from the source. To lessen the detrimental effects of quarrying activities, compliance monitoring visits to quarry sites should be conducted on a monthly or quarterly basis. This research has demonstrated the necessity of providing quarry workers with training and information regarding the environmental effects of their activity. Owners of quarries, locals, and the government should all work together to routinely check the operations of the quarries to guarantee complete adherence to accepted norms. Academic researchers, educational institutions, government and business agencies, and society at large will find value in this research data.