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The theory and practice of sustainability involves the understanding and management of the coupled relationship between the environment and humans. This relationship is very evident in respect to mining where the impacts of operations, both positive and negative, are environmental and socioeconomic in nature. In recent years, evaluating the sustainability of a mining operation has grown within the literature due to the impacts that mining has upon a local community. However, the literature has been often characterised by a variety of case study-specific approaches to define and evaluate the sustainability of mining operations. This is due to the fundamental problem of defining what is sustainability. The paper applies, based on our previous research, a mathematical model of sustainability to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of a proposed bauxite mining project in the Andhra Pradesh province, India. The model's application to the impact assessment, which used the rapid impact assessment matrix, was undertaken for the purpose of determining the level and nature of sustainability (if appropriate) of the proposed project. The results indicated that the project was considered as unsustainable in its current form, based on an obtained E value of 0.249 and an H value of 0.500. The results suggested that the project would greatly benefit from an environmental management plan in order to mitigate the extensive negative environmental and social impacts of the project. The results also indicated the potential of the model in assisting in the resolution of questions of the sustainability of local projects, which are assessed through quantitative-based EIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the groundwater quality for domestic and irrigation purposes in a coastal aquifer in the West Godavari delta region based on geochemical evaluation, integrated multivariate statistical analysis and entropy water quality index (EWQI). The study area is underlain by the Quaternary sediments with unconsolidated to semi consolidated sand, silt and clay formation. In the study, the significant hydrochemical facies of groundwater observed were Na-Mg-Cl-HCO3−, Na-Cl-HCO3− and Mg-Na-Cl-HCO3−. The results revealed that the area occupies high salinity groundwater controlled mainly by evaporation and also by rock weathering-solubilization to some extent. The concentrations of major cations and anions decreased in the order: Na+ > K+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ = Cl− > HCO3− > SO42− > NO3−. The chemical constituents of the samples TA (85%), TDS (100%), TH (83%), Mg2+ (91%), Cl−(81%) and SO42 (12%) exceeded the limits, making them unfit for drinking. Based on EWQI (53.3–143.4), nearly 70% of groundwater samples were of poor to very poor quality for drinking, which required treatment, and the remaining 30% of samples were unsuitable for domestic purposes. Some samples of the irrigation suitability parameters (Na%, SAR, RSC, PI, CAI, KR and CCR) exhibit moderate to good categories, which can be used for irrigation with proper management. The multivariate statistical analysis was performed to understand the relationships among the chemical constituents present in groundwater. TDS is highly correlated with EC, TH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3− and Cl−. Principal component analysis (PCA) applied to the datasets showed that the first three PCs accounted for 65% of total variance cumulatively 94.5% for a total of 7 PCs. The PCA results indicate that the variation of groundwater quality is possibly attributed to various anthropogenic and geogenic factors, rock–water interactions and ion exchange processes in groundwater. The uncontrolled drawl of subsurface waters and aqua forming at an advanced rate when compared with recharge has led to this coastal aquifer being in a critical stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional factors responsible for fluoride (F)-bearing groundwater used for drinking as well as for cooking in the area of Gummanampadu Sub-basin, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India are discussed. The study area is a part of an Archean Gneissic Complex, consisting of banded-biotite-hornblende-gneisses, over which the Proterozoic Cumbhum quartzites, shales, phyllites, and dolomitic limestones occur. The chemistry of groundwater is dominated by carbonates (HCO and CO) at a higher pH. This results in a higher total alkalinity over total hardness, causing an excess alkalinity. Sodium ion is dominated among the cations (Ca, Mg, and K). The concentration of F (2.1-3.7 mg/L) is higher than that of desirable national limit (1.2 mg/L) prescribed for drinking purpose. A significant positive correlation exists between F and pH as well as that between F and HCO + CO. This indicates that the alkaline condition is the prime conducive factor for dissolving F-bearing minerals more effectively leading to a higher concentration of F in the groundwater. Furthermore, a positive chloro-alkaline index reflects the ion exchange, and an oversaturation with respect to CaCO indicates the evaporation. In addition, a negative relation between the well depth and F shows the effect of solubility and/or leaching of salts in different depth levels. These factors regulate the concentration of F in the groundwater. On the other hand, a positive correlation of F with SO as well as with K shows the human land use activities (namely, use of chemical fertilizers, disposal of domestic wastes, etc.), which add F to the groundwater. A significant number of the residents of the study area suffer from the health disorders related to fluorosis, which is a consequence of higher concentration of F in the drinking water. Thus, this study emphasizes the need for supply of safe drinking water, nutritional diet, rainwater-harvesting structures, and public education to realize 'health for all' motto of World Health Organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Narava basin in Visakhapatnam district situated on the east coast is a productive agricultural area, and is also one of the fastest growing urban areas in India. The agricultural and urban-industrialization activities have a lot of impact on this coastal aquifer water quality. The hydrochemistry of the groundwater was analyzed in the basin area with reference to drinking and agricultural purposes. The area is underlain by Precambrian rocks like khondalites, charnockites and migmatites. The water samples were collected from shallow wells for the year 2008. Physical and chemical parameters of groundwater such as pH, total alkalinity (TA), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO, Cl, SO, NO, F were determined. The analytical results revealed that the most of the groundwater found to be in polluted category. Geographical information system (GIS) was utilized to generate different spatial distribution maps of various chemical constituents in the study area. The analytical data were used to compute certain parameters such as salinity hazard, percent sodium (Na%), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), Kelley's ratio (KR) and corrosivity ratio (CR) to determine the quality of water for agricultural purposes. The abundance of the major ions in the basin area was found to be in the following sequence: Na > Ca > Mg > K:Cl > HCO > SO > NO > F. According to Gibbs' diagram most of the samples fall under rock dominance. As per Wilcox and USSL classification most of the groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation except few samples which are unsuitable due to the presence of high salinity and high sodium hazard. From the obtained data, it can be concluded that the water quality profile was good and useful for normal irrigation agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plausible forms of fluoride (F) responsible for the persistence of fluoride toxicity in ground water of a granitic terrain of semi-arid region, which is the main source of drinking water, have been studied. The study area in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India, is one of the chronic regions with excess fluoride in groundwater and the region is under transformation into aridity due to poor rainfall and over-exploitation of groundwater. Geochemical analysis of soil, groundwater, and rock samples of the study area revealed the presence of other toxic elements also in addition to fluoride which need to be addressed in drinking water sector in near future. Soil fluoride leaching experiments demonstrated the probable mode of mobilization of F into the groundwater through natural recharge process during monsoon. Analysis of saturation indices indicates that the fluorite solubility alone is not attributable to the high fluoride content in groundwater. The groundwater flow controls fluoride mobilization in the study area as it is evidenced through fluoride concentration and electrical conductivity increase from catchment to downstream region. Creation of lesser fluoride groundwater sources through rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge of groundwater in catchment areas is suggested as a long-term sustainable safe drinking water strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is the prime source in the area of Varaha River Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India. Groundwater samples collected during pre- and post-monsoon were analyzed for major ion chemistry to understand the operating mechanism of geochemical processes for variation of groundwater quality. Low ionic concentration is observed in the groundwater occurring at topographic-highs and towards the river compared to the rest of the area. This is caused by the influence of recharge water. Geochemistry of groundwater is observed to be mainly controlled by the rock-weathering, mineral dissolution, leaching, ion exchange and evaporation, and is subsequently modified by the anthropogenic and marine activities. Contribution of residual soluble salts below the depth of 5 m from the ground surface is high, while it is low beyond the depth of 5 m. Anthropogenic activities cause an accumulation of excess residual soluble salts in the former depth and the content of this soluble matter is reduced by the clay products beyond the latter depth. Seasonal ionic concentration of groundwater is greatly influenced by the recharge process with reference to topographical features, lithological characteristics and anthropogenic activities. Groundwater quality is classified as mixed and non-carbonate alkali groups due to a combined action of geogenic/anthropogenic and marine sources, respectively. The groundwater quality is above the adequacy level for both drinking and irrigation, and appropriate management measures are recommended for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]