Analytical studies on Well Water at areas in the Batticaloa District

Abstract

A preliminary analysis was done to determine the Sodium, Potassium, Nitrate, Phosphate and the pH content in well water in Kalady, Sittandy and Sathurukondan areas in Batticaloa district after heavy flooding in last winter sessions 2012. Thirty drinking water wells have been selected from three divisional areas (DS) to be analyzed. Sodium and Potassium were assessed usingAtomicAbsorption Spectrometry(AAS) and Nitrate, Phosphate, pH were analyzed using HANNA portable low range Nitrate meter, Phosphate meter & pH meter respectivelY. The sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) contents in these wells water were fittedwith the recommended maximum acceptable level. Among.the nitrate content analySismost of the welt (86 %) were showed safe by the WHO drinking quality ler/el (<10m9/l)')While highest nitrate contents at sittandy (10.80 mg/l), and lowest nitrate conteht (0.40 mg/l) and also 10.40 mg/l content of nitrate was observed in drinking..water in Sathurut"<ondan. Therefore appropriate technique needed to reduce nitrate conlent in those areas. 90% of wells contain phosphate content safe by European Community(1980) standard, and 76 o/o of weils contain safe level of pff OV WHO(6.d - 8.5i. Highest level of phosphat6 content (>Smg/l) and lowest level of pH (<6.5) were observed in Sittandy and Sathurukndan areas. Therefore the analysis suggested the purity and management of effected wells water are important for Sittandy and Sathurukondan areas after flooding. '