Water Quality Assessment of Jharia Coal Field in Dhanbad district

Using Geospatial Tools

*Gaurav Chakrabarty **Ritesh Kumar
*Msc Geoinformatics, BIT Mesra Ranchi
gaurav_chakrabarty2004@yahoo.com
**Scientist CIFMR Dhanbad
ritesh13@rediffmail.com

Abstract
Jharia coalfield spread over an area of 450 sq. km. and contains 40 identified coal horizons and has one of the
highest coal densities in the world The coalfield has a vast number of streams and Damodar river is the main drain
of the area. The mining and associated activities have altered the surface drainage pattern of the coalfield to a great
extent and in the last century more than 100 km of the natural streams/drains have vanished from the coalfield
area. Damodar river is considered to be one of the most polluted river in the country In this study an attempt has
made to assess the surface water turbidity using Remote Sensing and GIS technique. In this study LANDSAT
ETM+ data has been used to obtain an optical measure of water colour and turbidity Remote sensing offers
considerable advantages for the study of large areas, determination of water current and water circulation patterns,
and monitoring of sedimentation, water productivity, and eutrophication. Further, water turbidity data from
CIMFR and MADA has been used to prepare Water Quality Index Map of JCF.

Introduction
Jharia coalfield (JCF) is probably one
of the most talked about coal mining area not
only in the country but also in many countries
abroad due to its typical characteristics and
unique status and problems. Mining in the coal
field started in the year 1894 and most of the
mining
was
underground
until
the
nationalization of the coal mines in the country
in 1971 and 1973. Opencast mining was done
only in the areas having outcrops of the seam.
The mining operation carried out by various
companies is approximately in 450 sq. km.
area
The major source of Water Pollution
in the coal mines is the carry over of the
suspended solids in the drainage system of the
mine sump water and storm water drainage.
The impact of mining on water resources may
range from minimal through to severe. The
effects depend on the location of the mine, the
hydrology and climate of an area, and the

physical and chemical properties of the coal,

associated strata, and reject materials.
In this study LANDSAT ETM+ data
has been used to obtain an optical measure of
water colour and turbidity. Colour increases
the absorption of light in water and decreases
the remotely sensed signal; turbidity increases
the backscatter of light. For low concentrations
of suspended materials, spectral reflectance is
determined mostly by the absorptance
characteristics of water. For higher
concentrations, the absorptance characteristics
of suspended particles are the most important
factor. Remote sensing offers considerable
advantages for the study of large areas,
determination of water current and water
circulation patterns, and monitoring of
sedimentation, water productivity, and
eutrophication. Further, water turbidity data
from CIMFR and MADA has been used to
prepare Water Quality Index Map of JCF.

Measuring Water Turbidity using satellite data

The feasibility of measuring water
colour and turbidity from satellites can be

assessed by considering light and water

interaction processes and by evaluating the

effects of atmospheric and hydrological

variables. Water parameters that affect the
energy levels detected by a camera or scanner
are colour and turbidity. Differences in water
colour and turbidity affect signals in the
visible and very near ultraviolet and infra-red
wavelengths. An increase in water colour
decreases the energy flux reaching a sensor,
because more of the sun's energy is absorbed
in the water. An increase in turbidity increases
the energy flux reaching a sensor, because
more solar energy is reflected or backscattered
by the particles that produce turbidity. An
increased signal also occurs, however, in clear,
shallow water where some solar energy is
reflected from the bottom. If the solar energy
that reaches a water surface is represented by
Io, the interaction is expressed by:

where, ISR is the solar flux that is specularly

reflected at the water surface (the mirror

effect), IA is the flux absorbed by the water,

and IB is the flux backscattered to the water
surface and thereby available for remote
detection. Specular reflection is equal at all
wavelengths, but absorption and backscatter
produce distinctive spectral signatures.
Pollutants generally affect the colour,
turbidity,
temperature,
or
microwave
emissivity of water to be detectable by remote
sensing. Dissolved coloured materials increase
light absorption in water but do not affect their
initial
light
scattering
characteristics.
Nevertheless, the spectral distribution of
backscattered energy is affected by additional
absorption. A brown water, for example,
backscatters much less blue light and slightly
less green and red light than a clear water. The
average path length for light in coloured water
is the same as in clear water. Table 1 lists the
relative turbidity as seen from different bands
in LANDSAT data.

Table 1: Relative Turbidity from different Bands in LANDSAT Data

Relative Turbidity
None
Slight
Moderate
Heavy
Very Heavy

Band 4
Dark
Medium
Light
Light
Light

Tone of Image
Band 5
Band 6
Dark
Black
Dark
Black
Medium
Dark
Light
Medium
Light
Light

Band 7
Black
Black
Black
Dark
Medium

Source: Moore K.G. ,Satellite remote sensing of water turbidity, Hydrological Sciences-Bulletindes Sciences Hydrologiques, 25, 4, 12/1980
Methodology Adopted
In this research LANDSAT ETM+
data of JCF has been used and separately the
Band 4, Band 5, Band 6 and Band 7 data have
been analysed in detail using ERDAS
IMAGINE. However, since the resolution of
band 4, band 5 and band 7 is 30m and that of
band 6 is 60m, so it was very difficult to

predict turbidity in small water resources like

small ponds or reservoirs. For those water
resources, non-spatial turbidity data obtained
from CIMFR and MADA is used in
conjunction with image interpretation. Further,
water quality index map has been generated
using both spatial and non-spatial data.

Results and Discussion

The LANDSAT ETM+ band 4, band
5, band 6 and band 7 geo-rectified images are
shown in Figure 1 . These images are
analysed in detail and the concept of image
interpretation as given in Table 1 is applied to
find out the Turbidity content in various parts
of Damodar river and other water resources in
the coal mining area. However, as stated

before, with the resolution of LANDSAT

ETM+ data, it is not possible to obtain the
turbidity content in small ponds and other
water resources like small drainage or nala in
the coalfield, so for those places the nonspatial data obtained from CIMFR and MADA
is used to generate the final Water Quality
Index Map.

Figure1. LANDSAT ETM+ Images of Band 4, Band 5,Band 6 & Band 7

Band 4

Band 6

Band 5

Band 7

While generating the water quality index map

the quality has been categorized into four
divisions from the data obtained from CIMFR

and MADA. The quality index so used is

tabulated in Table 2.

Table 2: Quality Index

Slight
Moderate
Heavy
Very Heavy

Water Quality

Using the categorization of Water Quality as

given in Table 2, Water Quality Index Map
and the geo-database of water quality is
prepared in ArcGis. The Water Quality Index
Map is given in Figure 2. It was found from
the final analysis that the mining and its allied
area with a distant about 50m experience the
highest degree of water pollution. The fact
there of is that the suspended particulate
Conclusion
The water pollution in JCF is a great
threat to the people including mine as well as
non-mine workers. Since the turbidity content
in surface water is very high, generally
underground water is used. But, with the
continuous extraction of ground water has
.

Turbidity (mg/L)
Less than 100
100-200
200-300
Greater than 300
matter (SPM) due to mining which is the
major source of turbidity in the JCF can carry
by air generally to a distance of 40-60 m. On
the other hand when different small streams
nearby mining area also becomes a source of
turbidity carrier to other parts of Jharia. This is
one of the biggest reasons for the pollution of
Damodar River

resulted scarcity of water, especially in

summer season when the water level drops
below.In those periods, the surface water is
being used and as a result many chronic
diseases have emerged out in this area, making
the
life
of
people
really
pity

Figure 2: Water Quality Index Map of

JCF

.
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