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In the management of water resources, quality of water is just as important as its quantity. The main aim of this study has been to assess the variability of groundwater parameters to develop water quality of Tirupati area and its suitability for domestic and irrigation purpose. Further, the samples were analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, carbonates, bicarbonates, alkalinity, chlorides, sulfates, hardness, fluoride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Based on the analytical results, chemical indices like percent sodium, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), adjusted SAR, percent sodium (Na %), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index (PI) have been calculated. Chadha rectangular diagram for geochemical classification and hydrochemical processes of groundwater indicated that most of waters are Ca-Mg-HCO 3 and Ca-Mg-Cl types. Assessment of water samples from various methods indicated that majority of the water samples are suitable for domestic and irrigation purpose.

The multivariate statistical analysis, hydrogeochemical modelling using visual MINTEQ software, indices of base exchange and Gibbs ratio were simultaneously applied to groundwater hydrochemical data of the Tirupati area. These techniques were applied to know the principal processes controlling the water chemistry. Fifty groundwater samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, CO3, Cl, and SO4. The results showed that the abundance of the major ions in the water samples is in following order: Na > Ca > Mg > K and HCO3 > Cl > SO4 > CO3 > F. From this study, it is clear that there are five main processes that are responsible for this hydrochemistry namely: (1) weathering of silicate minerals, (2) dissolution of chloride salts, (3) Ion exchange between (sodium, potassium) and (calcium, magnesium) during the infiltration of reclaimed water, (4) precipitation of carbonate minerals and (5) anthropogenic activities (agricultural activities such as irrigation practices and fertilizers). Further, this study clearly demonstrates that the multivariate statistical techniques are potential tools and provide with greater precision clues to the processes that control water chemistry.