Groundwater Quality assessment: A Study on Effect of Treated Effluent in and around Shivanagara STP, Davanagere Taluk

This study examines the impact of treated effluent on groundwater quality near the Shivanagara STP in Davangere, highlighting the role of inadequate municipal sewage treatment practices and human activities in degrading topsoil and groundwater. Water samples from 17 locations were analyzed for physico-chemical properties and compared to the permissible limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The findings indicate that percolation of treated effluent is contaminating the groundwater. According to the Water Quality Index (WQI) analysis, 99% of the samples are classified as good, while 1% are deemed poor. These results suggest that the STP's treatment processes are insufficient and improvements are necessary to prevent further groundwater contamination. To protect groundwater quality, wastewater treatment plants must enhance treatment before discharging effluent into canals or storage tanks.