Evaluation of heavy metal and microbial contamination in various water resources of West and North Sikkim, India

Zimik, HV and Misra, AK and Ranjan, RK and Wanjari, N and Basnett, S and Roy, G and Rai, A and Sharma, K and Keshare, MK and Dolui, S (2023) Evaluation of heavy metal and microbial contamination in various water resources of West and North Sikkim, India. In: Environment, Development and Sustainability .

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Abstract

The present study investigates coliform bacteria contaminations and heavy metal pollution vulnerability of springs, rivers, and household water samples in the climatically and lithologically distinct segments of the Sikkim Himalaya. A total of 42 samples were collected from West and North districts of Sikkim during the wet and dry seasons. The integrated approach applied in this study includes pollution evaluation indices and multivariate statistical analysis to evaluate the intensity and source of pollution. The average concentrations of trace elements in the wet season in the order of their concentration are U < As < Li < Cu < Ba < Mn < Al < Zn < Fe and in the dry season are As < U < Li < Cu < Mn < Ba < Zn < Al < Fe, respectively. The distribution map of pollution evaluation indices, total coliform bacteria (TC), thermotolerant coliforms (TTC), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) indicate a significant spatial and temporal variation. Further, it is observed that 100% and 67% of the water samples were contaminated with E. coli in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The multivariate statistical techniques suggest that geogenic sources and anthropogenic activities via the municipal sewage systems have assimilated various contaminants which account for the concentration of heavy metals. The current distribution level of TC, TTC, E. coli, and trace elements such as Al, Fe, and Zn is of environmental and health concern which requires attention. It indicates that the region’s most dependable springs and stream water used for consumption are susceptible to contamination and therefore need treatment before consumption. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Environment, Development and Sustainability
Publisher:	Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Keywords:	E. coli; Multi-pathway analysis; Multivariate statistical analysis; Pollution evaluation indices
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Divecha Centre for Climate Change
Date Deposited:	29 Mar 2023 10:56
Last Modified:	29 Mar 2023 10:56
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/81179

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