Electrical resistivity investigation of the arsenic affected alluvial aquifers in West Bengal, India: usefulness in identifying the areas of low and high groundwater arsenic

This study aims at finding out possible relation between lithology and spatial pattern of dissolved arsenic (As) in groundwater around Chakdaha municipality, West Bengal, India. Satellite image, coupled with electrical resistivity survey and borehole drilling helps to delineate surface and sub-surface lithological framework of the As affected alluvial aquifers. The satellite imagery demonstrate that the high As area are presumably under active flood plain environment (low-lying areas), that constantly receive organics due to periodic flooding. Thick low resistive (fine-grained) layer was observed at the top around the high As areas, which, however, not found in low As areas. The result suggests that hydraulic properties of the surface/sub-surface soil/sediment have an important control on the fate and transport of As in the aquifer. This study demonstrates that electrical resistivity tools can be effectively used for the reconnaissance survey in characterizing the plausible lithological framework of an alluvial aquifer containing As.