Fluoride, Iron Levels In Groundwater Breach Safe Limit In Many Districts Report

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Much to concern for public health, several locations in the districts of Alirajpur, Chhindwara, Dewas, Dhar, Katni, and Mandla have reported fluoride levels in groundwater exceeding the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l, making it unsafe for human consumption. High fluoride concentration in water can lead to mottling of teeth and skeletal fluorosis.

This is stated in report of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of Madhya Pradesh 2024. The report further states ground water from observation wells in major parts of the state shows fluoride level below 1.0 mg/l.

The presence of fluoride in ground water is very important from health point of view for human consumption as in low concentration, it prevents dental caries (upto 1.0 mg/l).

There are several locations in districts of Alirajpur, Chhindwara, Dewas, Dhar, Katni and Mandla where the fluoride in ground water exceeds 1.5 mg/l. The high concentration of fluoride above the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l in drinking water is harmful for human consumption as it causes mottling of teeth and skeletal flourosis.

The report also highlights concerns regarding groundwater hardness, which is mainly due to the presence of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate, sulfate, and chloride ions.

As per Bureau of Indian Standard IS: 10500:2012 (Drinking Water), the desirable limit of total hardness is 200 mg/l and permissible limit is 600 mg/l.

It is observed that there are several locations in the districts of Agar Malwa, Bhind, Burhanpur, Chhindwara, Datia, Dewas, Guna, Gwalior, Indore, Khandwa, Khargone, Mandla, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Sagar, Sehore, Seoni, Sheopur, Shivpuri, Ujjain, Vidisha where the total hardness in ground water exceeds 600 mg/l.

The report further states that as per BIS standards, iron in drinking water should be below 1.0 mg/l. however, a total of 1064 samples from 20 locations of districts like Ashok Nagar, Balaghat, Damoh, Gwalior, Khandwa, Neemuch, Panna, Sagar, Sehore, Shajapur, and Tikamgarh have shown iron concentrations exceeding the BIS limit.

Maximum iron concentration was found at Naktapur, Sagar.

The Dynamic Ground Water Resources (as in 2024) of Madhya Pradesh has been assessed jointly by Central Water Board, North Central Region (Bhopal) and Ground Water Survey, MP Water Resources Department.