Analysing the Influence of Groundwater Exploitation on Its Quality in Kolkata

The present research is an attempt to study the relationship between groundwater quality and groundwater level, if any, for the city of Kolkata. The groundwater level in the city is on the fall, and due to over exploitation of groundwater resources, the level of it is receding in the city. A trough has been formed in the central and northern part of the city due to over exploitation of the resources. With increase in groundwater usage, the quality of it is being impacted. The water quality parameters for the present study included total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, chloride and total hardness as these were considered to be important for the city based on literature review and field study. The parameters were collected from West Bengal Pollution Control Board Web portal and were then linked to groundwater level to analyse the relationship between the same. It is seen that the parameters assessed for the year 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 show a mixed trend and the groundwater level in the city is falling and if further depletion of groundwater takes place the resource will be at stake.