Arsenic contamination in sedimentary groundwater basin of Mukunkan in northern Sri Lanka

Abstract

Present study was carried out to assess the status of arsenic (As) in groundwater of Murunkan sedimentary basin. This basin supplies 10,000 m3/day of groundwater as potable water to surrounding region. A total of 19 groundwater samples were collected from shallow wells and deep wells and analyzed for their contents of cations and anions, including trace elements. Highest As concentration recorded was 6.59 (mg/L) which is less than the recommended WHO limit. The mean of As concentration of shallow and deep wells were 4.26 (mg/L) and 2.04 (mg/L), respectively. It revealed that relatively high prevalence of As in the shallow groundwater compared to deep groundwater. Mean Fe contents in deep and pumping wells were also higher compared to shallow wells and non-pumping wells. The results also revealed that As and Fe contents behave in similar manner.