A contribution to solve the arsenic problem in groundwater of Ganges Delta by in-situ treatment.
Arsenic in groundwater is a huge problem in numerous regions of the world. Many people are exposed to high arsenic concentrations and consequently risk getting ill or even die as a result of arsenic poisoning. There are several efficient technologies for the removal of arsenic but often these methods have disadvantages, e.g. high costs for installation and/or operation, the need for chemicals or the production of arsenic contaminated filter sludge. These disadvantages can make the application difficult, especially in poor regions. Under suitable ancillary conditions the subterranean (in-situ) treatment, which is often used for iron and manganese removal from groundwater, can also be applied for the removal of arsenic and can be a cost-effective treatment technology. A field trial was carried out with a low-cost in-situ treatment plant in West Bengal/India which is described in this paper, in order to investigate whether this treatment technology is also applicable under the boundary conditions there. As for the in-situ treatment technology besides oxygen no additives are required and no arsenic contaminated filter sludge is produced this technology could be a suitable method for arsenic removal especially in poor regions.
Rott
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Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management (ISWA), University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, D-70569, Stuttgart, Germany. rott@iswa.uni-stuttgart.de
Kauffmann
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H
D000327:Adsorption; D000388:Air; D001151:Arsenic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen; D011891:Rain; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D001151:Arsenic; D010100:Oxygen