DECIPHERING HYDROGEOCHEMICAL SIGNATURES OF GROUNDWATER UNDER COAL MINING STRESS: A TWO YEAR SPATIO-TEMPORAL INVESTIGATION FROM CHHINDWARA (CENTRAL INDIA)

Abstract

The quality of the water is the main factor affecting the existence of all living beings on Earth. The condition of the groundwater in the mining zones is the people' top worry. Groundwater samples from the coal mining areas of the Chhindwara district were collected in different sessions for the current study. These samples were analyzed for pH, TDS (Total Dissolved Solid), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Chlorides, Sulfate, Nitrate, Iron, Hardness, Magnesium, and Sodium, among other aspects of water quality. After analysis, the findings were contrasted with other water quality criteria, such as IS and WHO. The findings indicate that the quality of the groundwater was somewhat impacted by the mining activities.