Abstract

The fluoride concentration in underground water was determined in Badvel revenue Mandal. Kadapa district,
Andhra Pradesh (India) where it is the only source of drinking water. The various parameters determined were
pH, EC (electrical conductivity), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium
(Mg2+), bicarbonate (HCO3-), chloride (Cl-), and Fluoride (F-). Fluoride concentrations in the study area are
varied between 0.245 to 3.28 mg/l. Higher fluoride concentration (4.22 mg/l) was observed in the groundwater
sample collected at village Gandlatimmayyapalle, while the lower concentration (0.245 mg/l) was observed at
Venkatasettipalli. About 24% of the samples of the study area are exceeding the permissible limits of fluoride
1.5 mg/l in drinking water W.H.O (2004).Overall water quality was found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes
without any prior treatment.