Groundwater Quality Assessment in Anuradhapura for Domestic Purposes

Groundwater in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, exhibits elevated levels of nitrate and fluoride, posing significant health risks. Nitrate averages 28.725 mg/L (range: 22–131 mg/L), while fluoride averages 0.6 mg/L (range: 0.4–1.7 mg/L). These contaminants are linked to dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, and potential kidney disease, as well as oesophageal cancer and haemoglobinemia from nitrate exposure. Heavy metals like cadmium, arsenic, iron, and copper remain below permissible levels (<0.01 mg/L), suggesting no significant metallic contamination. The study attributes fluoride to natural sources in bedrock and soil, while excessive agricultural fertilizer use drives nitrate pollution. Physical-chemical analysis of 43 well water samples (pH: 6.7–7.7; turbidity: 1–8 NTU) confirms widespread contamination, particularly in the dry zone, with no clear climatic pattern mitigating risks.

K.H.I, G., R.S.R, W., I.M.C, G.,. (2021). Groundwater Quality Assessment in Anuradhapura for Domestic Purposes. Conference Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Safety, 66–75. https://doi.org/10.32789/agrofood.2021.1006