Sediment color tool for targeting arsenic-safe aquifers for the installation of shallow drinking water tubewells

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.064
• Publication Date: 2014-06-28T06:00:33Z
• Authors: Mohammed Hossain; Prosun Bhattacharya; Shaun K. Frape; Gunnar Jacks; M. Mainul Islam; M. Moklesur Rahman; Mattias von Brömssen; M. Aziz Hasan; Kazi Matin Ahmed
• Keywords: Geologic Sediments; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Impact of Heavy Metal Contamination; 550; Water Wells; Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis; Color; Environmental engineering; sediment color tool; 01 natural sciences; Environmental science; Arsenic; Sustainable mitigation; Environmental Chemistry; Waste Management and Disposal; Groundwater; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; 2. Zero hunger; Bangladesh; Drinking Water; arsenic; Sediment color tool; FOS: Environmental engineering; Hydrology (agriculture); Geology; Geomorphology; FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences; Local driller; Metal-Induced Oxidative Stress and Health Effects; local driller; Arsenic Contamination in Natural Waters; Pollution; Materials science; 6. Clean water; tubewell; Geotechnical engineering; Tubewell; Environmental Science; Physical Sciences; Metallurgy; Sediment; Aquifer; Water Pollutants, Chemical; sustainable mitigation; Environmental Monitoring

In rural Bangladesh, drinking water supply mostly comes from shallow hand tubewells installed manually by the local drillers, main driving force in tubewell installation. This study was aimed at developing a sediment color tool on basis of driller's perception color, arsenic (As) concentration waters and respective aquifer sediments. Laboratory analysis 521 groundwater samples collected 144 wells during 2009 to 2011 indicate that As concentrations were generally higher black colored sediments with an average 239 μg/L. All 39 producing red provide safe following Bangladesh standard for (50 μg/L) where mean median values less than WHO guideline value 10 Observations off-white also quite similar. White rare seemed be important well installations depths. A total 2240 intervals 1.5 m down depths 100 15 locations spread over 410 km2 area Matlab, compared Munsell Color Chart purpose direct comparison consistent manner. assigned Code, which eventually led identify 60 shade varieties narrowed four colors (black, white, red) as perceived used drillers. During process grouping, participatory approach considered taking opinions technicians, geologists into account. simplified can conveniently installation thus shows potential educating drillers target aquifers characteristics