Spatial Analysis of Groundwater Contamination in Sanganer Area (Jaipur City, Rajasthan): Assessment of Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate and TDS- Implications for Treatment and Management

Abstract

Groundwater is the principal source of domestic and agricultural water supply in much of Rajasthan, including the Sanganer area of Jaipur. Over recent decades, increasing extraction, rapid urbanization, expansion of textile and allied industries, and inadequate wastewater management have altered hydro chemical regimes and elevated concentrations of major ionic contaminants notably fluoride, chloride, nitrate and total dissolved solids (TDS). This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of groundwater quality in Sanganer with emphasis on these parameters: it synthesizes historical monitoring, recent field studies, and regional hydrogeological reports to describe spatial patterns, probable sources, health and agronomic risks, and feasible treatment and management options. The study shows that fluoride and nitrate remain persistent concerns in many sampling locations, while elevated TDS and chloride reflect both natural mineralization in semi-arid aquifers and anthropogenic inputs from domestic and industrial effluents. Drawing on national standards (BIS IS 10500) and WHO guidelines, the paper discusses household and community-scale treatment technologies (adsorption, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, biological denitrification) and evaluates their suitability for Sanganer’s socio-economic and hydrogeologic context. The conclusion recommends an integrated approach combining targeted monitoring, demand-side management, decentralized treatment where necessary, industry effluent controls, and community recharge and conservation initiatives to protect groundwater quality and public health. (Keywords: groundwater quality, fluoride, nitrate, chloride, TDS, Sanganer, Jaipur, defluoridation, treatment, BIS, CGWB).