INTRODUCTION:

A thermal power station is a power station in which heat energy is converted to electric power. In most, a steam-driven turbine converts heat to mechanical power as an intermediate to electrical power. Water is heated, turns into steam and drives a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. After it passes through the turbine the steam is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated. This is known as a Rankine cycle. The greatest variation in the design of thermal power stations is due to the different heat sources: fossil fuel or Coal, nuclear energy, solar energy, biofuels, and waste incineration are all used. Certain thermal power stations are also designed to produce heat for industrial purposes, for district heating, or desalination of water, in addition to generating electrical power In [8] Sumit Mishra, Gurdeep Singh gives study in Coal area.

Beside this, at the beginning of 20th century, the total production of coal was just about 6 million tonnes per year. According to the report of Coal India, 1997, the production was 154.30 million tonnes in 1985-86 and it reached 298 million tonnes in the year 1997-98. The expectation to reach the production of coal by 2000 A.D. was 417 million tonnes. On the study of Muraka et al., 1987, about 70% of India’s annual coal production is used in about 72 power generating plants and produce more than 90 million tons of coal ash per year. It is likely that it may cross over 100 million tons during 2001–2010 AD. Carlson and Adriano, 1993, study on the impact of coal ash leachates on receiving waters, apart from increased elemental concentrations cause changes in water pH with implications for trace element mobility.

Water is an essential commodity to living things and non living things and it is important in all aspect of human life. Water is used for domestic, industrial and other purposes. Chemically, the combination of oxygen and hydrogen forms water. As water penetrates through the ground surface to the subsurface as groundwater, impurities get into it. The public most especially the rural dwellers consume well water without due consideration of its chemical and biological composition. Perhaps this may be due to severe water problems in parts of the rural area. According to the Todd, 1959, the quantities of water are just as important as its quality. The exploitation of the mineral resources results in the environmental degradation with large scale consequences. Although mining activities directly affects a relatively limited area of terrestrial land, its impacts on the environment, as well as on public health, may be found at greater distances from the source and for a long period.

Fly ash is a waste material generates on the combustion of coal in power station throughout the world. The increasing amount of fly ash being generated from thermal power plants can pose a serious environmental threat. Fly ash contains major elements like Silica, Aluminum and Iron with significant amount of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorous and Sulphur. It also contain trace amount of some heavy metals like Molybdenum, Mercury, Selenium and Cadmium etc. In [3] Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Samir Bajpai, U. K. Dewangan gives brief review about the fly ash. Some of related work also cited in [4,5,6,7,9,10,11].

Study Area:

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully commissioned two thermal units each has 500 MW (megawatt) thermal unit at Marwa Thermal Power Station in Chhattisgarh, located in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh, Marwa Tharmal Power Station has been set up by Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company (CSPGCL).

Locality Marwa Tharmal Power Station near Tendubhata at Janjghir Champa in Chattisgarh was selected as the study area.

Collection of Sample:

Groundwater samples were collected from eight different locations (borwells) near Marwa Tharmal Power Station during September to November 2020 which are average 250 feet deapt. The water samples were collected in Glass bottles which were pre-cleaned by nitric acid and distilled water in the laboratory. The pre-cleaned Glass bottles were also washed twice by water sample prior to collect the samples and after taking samples we put the bottles in air tight container (thermocol boxes) after taking its temperature because of its we maintain its natural temperature. The water samples were immediately taken to the laboratory and analyzed to minimize the physicochemical and other changes.

Physico-Chemical Analysis:

Physico-chemical parameters like pH, turbidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness and heavy metals like Lead and Cadmium were determined by adopting standard methods of APHA (1995) and the methods by Trivedi and Goel (1986). The reagents of analytical grade were used for analysis and the instruments were calibrated.

Sample Location	Source 1	Source 2	Source 3	Source 4	Source 5	Source 6	Source 7	Source 8	Source 9	Source 10
Temperature	23	23.5	23	22.5	24	24	23	22.5	22.5	23
pH	7.35	7.5	7.35	7.35	7.1	6.9	7.15	7.5	7.35	7.45
Turbidity	17.20	16.88	16.68	16.78	15.52	14.63	15.25	15.7	14.8	14.85
Electrical Conductivity	752	628	722	648	1250	880	925.5	680	650	690
Alkalinity	450	330	390	325	400	390	395	415	545	520
Total Hardness	695	630	546.95	273.95	725.2	587	737	520	575	425
Total Dissolved Solids	300	369	681.5	703.5	958.5	209.5	279.5	265	450	560
Calcium (Ca )	205.94	189.91	233.84	198.86	204.42	198.57	187.41	202.35	198.24	189.75
Magnesium (Mg)	95.36	103.9	173.08	150.08	640.78	218.65	102.84	110.25	102.20	98.22
Lead(Pb)	0.04	0.04	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.02	0.04	0.02	0.04	0.03
Cadmium (Cd)	0.004	0.004	0.004	0.003	0.002	0.003	0.002	0.005	0.004	0.005
Chromium (Cr)	0.048	0.053	0.043	0.042	0.047	0.048	0.047	0.048	0.065	0.052
Iron (Fe)	1.291	1.352	0.97	0.942	1.437	0.945	0.821	0.698	1.091	1.122
Nickel (Ni)	0.061	0.073	0.074	0.074	0.068	0.064	0.072	0.069	0.072	0.077
Copper (Cu)	0.1	0.05	0.125	0.15	0.05	0.05	0.1	0.07	0.05	0.1
Chloride (Cl)	260	240	245	280	270	265	270	250	240	260
Zinc (Zn)	0.004	0.005	0.004	0.004	0.003	0.002	0.003	0.004	0.005	0.005

All parameters are in mg/l except pH, temperature, turbidity and EC. Temperature in ºC, Turbidity in NTU and EC in micromhos/cm.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

pH:

It plays an important role in clarification process and disinfection of drinking water. For effective disinfection with chlorine, the pH should preferably be less than eight, however, lower-pH water (<7) is more likely to be corrosive. Failure to minimize corrosion can result in the contamination of drinking water and adverse effect on its taste and appearance. The desirable limit and permissible limit of total pH value for drinking water as specified by IS: 10.500 is to be within 6.5 to 8.5. In our observation we found pH value of all samples in 6.9 to 7.50 ranges, which is in normal range.

Turbidity:

Recent research establishes a correlation between gastro-intestinal infections with high turbidity and turbidity events in distribution. The desirable limit and permissible limit of total Turbidity value for drinking water as specified by IS : 10.500 is to be within 5 NTU to 10 NTU. In our observation we found Turbidity of all samples in 14.63 NTU to 17.20 NTU ranges, which are exceeding to normal range.

Electrical Conductivity:

Conductivity is a parameter in water affected by the presence of dissolved ions. Organic compounds do not conduct electric current very well and hence their contribution to conductivity is very low. Significant changes in conductivity could then be an indicator that a discharge or some other source of pollution has entered in a stream. Conductivity of collected samples varies in the range of 628–1250μS/cm

Alkalinity:

Alkalinity in the water may be due to hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates. The desirable limit and permissible limit of Alkalinity value for drinking water as specified by IS: 10.500 is to be within 120mg/l to 600mg/l. Alkalinity of our observed samples are within the specified range and its are 325mg/l to 545mg/l.

Total Hardness:

In fresh water sources, hardness is mainly due to presence of calcium and magnesium salts. Temporary hardness more than 200mg/L as CaCO3 may cause scale deposition in the treatment works, distribution system and pipe work and tanks within buildings. Water with hardness less than 100mg/l may, in contrast, have a low buffering capacity and will be more corrosive for water pipes. IS: 10.500 has prescribed 200mg/l as the acceptable limit and 600mg/l as the permissible limit for total hardness in absence of alternate source of drinking water. The hardness of groundwater samples in the study area is found to be in the range 273.95 – 725.2mg/L as CaCO3.

Total Dissolved Solids:

The presence of dissolved solids in water may affect its taste. The palatability of drinking water has been rated by panels of tasters in relation to its TDS level as follows: excellent (less than 300mg/l), good (300–600mg/l); fair (600–900mg/l), poor (900–1,200mg/l) and unacceptable (>1,200mg/l). IS: 10500-2012 has prescribed 500mg/L as the acceptable limit and 2,000mg/L as the permissible limit for TDS for the water to be used for drinking purpose. In present study, the TDS concentration of analysed samples lies in the range of 209.5- 958.5mg/L.

Calcium:

Analysis of calcium has also been carried out in all the samples in present study. The IS:10500-2012 limit for calcium is 75mg/l as acceptable limit and 200mg/L as permissible limit for drinking water. In present study, the Calcium concentration of analysed samples lies in the range of 187.41- 233.84mg/L

Magnesium:

Magnesium is another important parameter that has been analysed in all the samples taken in the present study. The IS:10500-2012 limits the magnesium concentration of 30mg/l as acceptable value and 100mg/L as a permissible value for drinking water. The magnesium concentration of all the samples has been found to be in the range of 95.36–640.78mg/l.

Lead:

Lead is a dangerous element; it is harmful even in small amount and enters the human body in many ways. High concentration of lead in the body can cause death or permanent damage to the central nervous system, the brain, and kidneys (Jennings, Sneed, & Clair, 1996; Mandour, 2012). The permissible limit of lead in drinking water prescribed by IS 10500: 2012 is 0.01 ppm although in present study concentration ranged from 0.02mg/l to 0.04mg/l. Lead concentration in all groundwater samples around ash pond was observed exceeding the prescribed limit of IS 10500 : 2012

Cadmium:

Cadmium (Cd) has been in industrial use for a long period of time. Its serious toxicity moved into scientific focus during the middle of the last century. Food and cigarette smoking are the most important sources of Cd apart from water. Cd accumulates within the kidney and liver over long time. Longterm low-level exposure leads to cardiovascular disease and cancer. It is known to primarily affect renal tubular function of reabsorbing protein, sugar and amino acids. The desirable limit and permissible limit of Cadmium value for drinking water as specified by IS: 10.500 is to be 0.003mg/l and in our observed samples we found its range between 0.002mg/l to 0.005mg/l.

Chromium:

Maximum permissible limit of IS 10500:2012 in drinking water for chromium is 0.05 mg/l but the concentration estimated in groundwater samples near ash pond ranged from 0.042 mg/l to 0.065mg/l. Chromium in excess amount can be toxic especially the hexavalent form. Long-term exposure of chromium can cause kidney and liver damage and can damage too circulatory and nerve tissue (Hanaa et al., 2000).

Iron:

Iron is readily found in soil and water. Coal and pond ash are also a rich source of iron into groundwater. Concentration of iron in groundwater samples was observed from 0.821mg/l to 1.437mg/l. Prescribed limit of IS 10500: 2012 for iron in drinking water is 0.3-1.0mg/l while in most of the sample of groundwater it is exceeding the limit. Liver cirrhosis is found to be related to drinking water contaminated with iron (Mandour, 2012).

Nickel:

Nickel is regarded as essential trace metal but toxic in large amount to the health. Concentration of Ni in groundwater was observed from 0.061 mg/l to 0.077 mg/l and it was above the prescribed permissible limit (0.02 mg/l) by IS 10500: 2012. Drinking contaminated water causes hair loss and can be related to dermatoxicity in hypersensitive human (Hanaa, Eweida, & Farag, 2000).

Copper:

Copper is essential for the formation of enzyme in human beings. Intake of excessively large doses of Cu leads to severe mucosal irritation and corrosion, wide spread capillary damage, hepatic and renal damage and central nervous system irritation followed by depression. Copper toxicity includes blue green diarrhea stool and saliva and acute haemolysis and abnormalities of kidney functions. Wilson's disease is an inborn error of metabolism where the inherited defect lies in the incorporation of Cu2+ into apocerplasmin to form ceruloplasmin and also impaired ability of the liver to excrete Cu into the bile which leads to Cu accumulation in tissues of liver, brain, kidney and cornea resulting in organ damage. The desirable limit and permissible limit of Copper value for drinking water as specified by IS: 10.500 is to be within 0.05mg/l to 1.0mg/l and it is found in our observed samples within the range 0.05mg/l to 0.125mg/l.

Chloride:

Some common chloride compounds found in natural water are sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2). The desirable limit and permissible limit of Chloride value for drinking water as specified by IS: 10.500 is to be within 1mg/l to 1.5mg/l.

Zinc:

The recommended Daily Dietary Allowance of Zn is 15mg for adults and 20 to 25mg for pregnant and lactating women. Acute Zn toxicity in human includes vomiting, dehydration, drowsiness, lethargy, electrolytic imbalance, abdominal pain, nausea, lack of muscular coordination, and renal failure. Chronic dose of Zn increases the risk of developing anemia, damage to the pancreas, lowers down HDL cholesterol levels and raises LDL cholesterol levels and possibly enhances the symptoms of the Alzheimer's disease. Workers exposed to Zn fumes from smelting or welding have suffered from a short-term illness called mental fume fever. The desirable limit and permissible limit of Zinc value for drinking water as specified by IS: 10.500 is to be within 5mg/l to 15mg/l and in our observed samples within the range 0.002mg/l to 0.005mg/l.

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Received on 10.01.2021 Modified on 24.01.2021

Research Journal of Science and Technology. 2021; 13(2):79-84.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2988.2021.00012