Groundwater Quality of Khetri Block of Jhunjhunu District, Rajasthan, Northwest India

Abstract

Groundwater quality is affected in the semi-arid region of northeastern part of Rajasthan. Hydro-chemical analysis is carried out with an aim to identify fresh and contaminated groundwater zones. Mining is a definitive factor in a country’s economy. Mining is an economically beneficial activity, generating jobs and opportunities in the local area. Mining activities occur in less than 0.01% of the continental area and directly contribute~5-7% of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Here we take an example of the Khetri copper mining complex, located in Khetri copper belt, consisting a smelter complex, multiple occurrences and various deposits over time and studied basic water quality parameters viz. Cl-, F-, pH, TDS of the Khetri tehsil, Jhunjhunu District, Rajasthan a proxy for identifying potential groundwater site influenced by the complex. It is important that the effect of mining activities on groundwater is regularly monitored, so that any conditions caused be remedied.

Introduction

The north-western part of India’s Khetri block, located in a semi-arid zone, relies heavily on groundwater, which is the primary water source for its flora, fauna, population, and industry. This region hosts significant copper deposits, with over 50% of India’s copper reserves, making Rajasthan the second-largest copper producer after Madhya Pradesh. The area receives about 560 mm of annual rainfall and faces groundwater overexploitation, with demand exceeding availability for agriculture, domestic, and industrial uses.

Geology and Hydrogeology:

The geology is dominated by rocks of the Delhi Supergroup and various intrusives (granite, amphibolite, rhyolite), which have contributed to base-metal mineralization, including copper deposits in several locations. The hydrogeology includes three main aquifers: younger alluvium, older alluvium, and fractured quartzite formations. Groundwater occurs in confined and semi-confined conditions but is depleting due to overuse. The alluvial deposits vary in composition and thickness, and soil characteristics show moderate nutrient status and water retention.

Groundwater Quality:

Groundwater quality monitoring (346 samples) indicates pH levels ranging from acidic (4.8) to alkaline (8.5), with most samples being alkaline and suitable for drinking according to WHO and Indian standards. Acidic samples (pH < 7) are linked to mining activity and metal dissolution. Total dissolved solids (TDS) range between 280 and 2000 mg/L, mostly within acceptable limits, with electrical conductivity showing moderate to good water quality. Chloride concentrations range from 60 to 1000 mg/L, with some samples exceeding safe limits, while fluoride levels (0.1 to 1.5 mg/L) mostly fall within acceptable ranges. Chloride and fluoride presence is attributed to mineral dissolution from local rocks.

Conclusion

The groundwater is potable in major parts of the district including Khetri, except in certain isolated pockets where quality issues exist. There is no record of major water quality issues reported for the Khetri block, whereas some other blocks in the district which face fluoride and nitrate hazards. The maximum values of chloride and TDS values and minimum values of total alkalinity in the area coincide to a point which is plotted in the Fig. 8. This indicates to accumulation of contaminated water and recharge in the outside basin (Fig. 1) As Khetri is a copper mining complex, possible phytoremediation methods include controlled plantation of Plantago lancelota and Ricicus communis for the phytoremediation of copper. [9]

References

[1] “Indian Minerals Yearbook 2023,” Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur, 2025. [2] “Groundwater atlas of Rajasthan,” State remote sensing application center, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Rajasthan, Jodhpur, 1999. [3] Geology and Mineral Resources of Rajasthan, Miscellaneous Publication No. 30 Part 12, 2011, p. 130. [4] S. N. Gupta, Y. K. Arora, R. K. Mathur, Iqbaluddin, B. Prasad, T. Sahai and S. B. Sharma, The Precambrian Geology of the Aravalli Region, Southern Rajasthan and Northeast Gujarat, vol. 123, Geological Survey of India, Memoir, 1997, p. 262. [5] M. Kumar and R. Kumar, “Asssesment of physico-chemical properties of groundwater in granite minig area Goramachira, Jhansi, UP, India,” Inernational Resaearch journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 2(1), pp. 19-24, 2013. [6] “Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality,” WHO, Geneva, 2011. [7] “Indian Standard DRINKING WATER — SPECIFICATION,” BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS, New Delhi, 2012. [8] A. W. Hounslow and D. B. Back, “ Evaluation of Chemical Data from Water Supplies in Southwestern Oklahoma .Final report to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.,” 1985. [9] J. Widmer and L. Norgrove, “Identifying candidates for the phytoremediation of copper in viticultural soils: A systematic review,” Environmental Research, vol. 216, p. 114518, 2023.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Vijay Pal Meena, Rachit Parihar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.