Trace Elements Spatial Distribution in the Groundwater near the Subarnarekha River Basin - Jamshedpur, India

The present study assessed the spatial distribution of trace elements in the groundwater near the Subarnarekha River Basin - Jamshedpur, India. Half of this city's water need (48.11%) relies on groundwater resources. GIS-based maps were constructed using ArcGIS 10.3 software to describe the spatial distribution of Arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se), and Strontium (Sr). The concentration of trace elements was investigated in the groundwater sample of 30 wells by the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Many samples contained levels of Sr (100 µg/L), Cu (50 µg/L), Co (10 µg/L), and Mn (300 µg/L) that vastly exceeded the limits of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) limit, which may directly affect the human health. The northern region of the study area exhibits higher concentrations of heavy metals. The groundwater table was monitored using a sensor-based water level recorder during pre and post-monsoon seasons. A significant fluctuation of 4.9 meters below ground level (mbgl) was observed, indicating potential water scarcity in the summer. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into various sources of contamination affecting groundwater in river basins within industrial regions.