Heavy metals in the groundwater of Medak and Hyderabad districts of Telangana, India

This paper deals with heavy metal concentration in the ground waters of Medak and Hyderabad districts located in Telangana, India. Four bore wells, SI, SII, SIII and SIV located in Medak and Hyderabad districts were identified and analyzed for a period of one year. Groundwaters from all these stations were used for drinking as well as other domestic purposes. In the groundwaters of Medak, Pb and Cd were analyzed while at Hyderabad, Zn, Pb and Cr. Pb was below detectable limits i.e., BDL at SI, II and III while at SIV it was 0.027 mg/l which is below the permissible limits given by WHO 1984 and BIS 1983. Cd concentration at SI and SII were 0.13mg/l and 0.10mg/l which was higher than the permissible limits. The concentration of Zn was 0.017mg/l at SIII and BDL at SIV which once again was below the permissible limits. Cr concentration which was 0.027mg/l and 0.037 mg/l at SIII and SIV respectively was well within the permissible limits. Interestingly, the ground water samples from SI and SII exceeded the permissible limits in Cd. Hence, unfit for human consumption. Alternate measures must be made for drinking purpose like supply of potable water or bottled water etc. Potable water protects the health of the individual which leads the progress of the state and nation at large.