River Contamination and Groundwater Integrity

River and groundwater are the major source of water for drinking and irrigation water supply in rural and urban area in the country. Large cities face water quality and quantity problems due to increasing population and improper disposal of solid and liquid waste. Groundwater which is the favorite alternative is facing threats due to anthropogenic activities in India, which has lead to deterioration in groundwater quality. Groundwater chemistry depends on a number of factors which includes geology, degree of chemical weathering of the various rock types, quality of recharge water and input from the sources other than water rock interaction and their interaction results in a complex groundwater quality. Pollution is primarily the result of irrigated agriculture, industrialization, and urbanization, which generates diverse waste, with attendant impact on the ecosystem and groundwater. Chemical contamination of river and groundwater is the most serious pollution problem, particularly in arid and semi- arid areas with deficient water resources.