Hydrochemical Characteristics of Groundwater Resources and Its  Importance in the Assessment of Rural Water Supply in Southern India

V  Ajaykumar; N C Mondal

doi:10.48165/bpas.2023.42F.1.9

Authors

V Ajaykumar Earth Process Modeling Group, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Tel
N C Mondal Electrcial and Heliborne Geophysics Group, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/bpas.2023.42F.1.9%20

Keywords:

Quality of groundwater, Suitability, Water Supply, Health Risks, Rural Area, Southern India

Abstract

This article deals with the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater resources that favor water supply in both irrigation and drinking uses at a rural area of Southern India. Groundwater samples were gathered from a village water-supplied wells, and analyzed for physiochemical parameters, and major ions including nitrate (NO3−) and fluoride (F−) using standard methods, and also drawn their spatial distribution in the GIS platform. Results show that the dominancy of major ions is in order of HCO3-> Cl−> NO3-> SO42- > F−, and Ca2+> Mg2+> Na+ >K+. Among various parameters measured, TH (47%), Cl− (40%), NO3- (7%), and Ca2+ (53%) exceeded the WHO permissible limits. Spatial distribution maps of the major ions had been prepared and found the appropriateness to utilize for both irrigation and drinking purposes at this rural area. According to the Piper diagram, three dominant facies are observed such as Na-Cl, Ca-Cl, and mixed Ca-Mg-Cl- types, whereas Gibbs plot has shown the dominance of groundwater evaporation. SAR, Na (%), KR, MAR, and USSL-diagram are used to evaluate irrigation suitability and improve water supply. The range of NO3- concentration was from 8.0 to 122.7 mg/L which may be the main cause of health risk whereas the F- concentration is within the permissible limit. Assessment of health risks shows children more vulnerable to threat than adults. The corrosivity ratio (CR) of groundwater is also calculated to identify the supply well for groundwater use safely. In addition, the present groundwater conditions of rural water supply at this village have been discussed with local people the leave no one behind (LNOB).

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