Geochemical characterization and evaluation of groundwater suitability for domestic and agricultural utility in semi-arid region of Basara, Telangana State, South India

Abstract

Hydrogeochemical investigations were carried out in semi-arid region of Basara to estimate the quality of groundwater for its suitability for domestic and agricultural purposes. For this region 34 groundwater samples were collected in different locations and analyzed for various ions, viz., Na + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + , Cl − , HCO 3 − , SO 4 2− , CO 3 2− , HCO 3 − , NO 3 − and F − to assess the water chemistry with sodium absorption ratio, %Na, residual sodium carbonate, magnesium hazard. The nitrate and fluoride concentrations were above the maximum permissible limit, while calcium, sodium, potassium and chloride were found below the desirable limits in most of the groundwater samples. The Wilcox diagram illustrates that 59% of the samples belong to excellent to good category, while the US Salinity Laboratory diagram indicates medium salinity/low sodium content in 64.70% of samples. In general, the geochemistry of groundwater in Basara region is influenced by the water rock processes through percolation and dissolution of rock forming minerals, while calculated values of saturation index for Anhydrite, Aragonite, Artinite, Brucite, Calcite, Fluorite, Gypsum, Dolomite and Magnesite of the groundwater samples were less than zero, indicating under-saturation. Chadha rectangular diagram for geochemical classification and hydrochemical processes of groundwater for Basara provinces indicates 50% of Na + -Cl − , 29% of Ca 2+ -Mg 2+ -Cl − and 18% of the water samples concentrate in the category of Na + -HCO 3 − type.

Phreatic Water Quality Assessment and Associated Hydrogeochemical Processes in an Irrigated Region Along the Upper Yellow River, Northwestern China

“…Groundwater is one of the most precious water sources for residents in semi-arid and arid regions of the world. Due to the shortage of surface water, groundwater is increasingly pumped for drinking and irrigation purposes in the arid regions [1]. With the rapid development of China's economy, the gap between water supply and demand in the northwest is widening each year.…”

Assessment of fluoride contamination and distribution: a case study from a rural part of Andhra Pradesh, India

“…A high chloride concentration of groundwater is a result of leaching from the soils and also effect of domestic wastes, domestic effluents, fertilizers, leakages from septic tanks and road salt used to de-ice roads in the winter, and from natural sources such as rainfall, the dissolution of fluid inclusions, and chloride-bearing minerals, which also indicates an index of pollution (Todd 1980;Adimalla and Venkatayogi 2018;). In the present study, the concentration of chloride ranges from 25 to 940 mg/L, with a mean of 189.43 mg/L.…”

“…Particularly in India, a number of people suffer from fluorosis due to intake of high fluoride content through drinking water. Approximately, in India, the excessive fluoride in groundwater is noticed in 177 districts covering 21 states, affecting 62 million people, including 6 million children (Adimalla and Venkatayogi 2018;Ayoob and Gupta 2006).…”

Hydrogeochemical characterization and assessment of water suitability for drinking and irrigation in crystalline rocks of Mothkur region, Telangana State, South India

“…In recent times, huge population growth, intense urbanization, increasing industries and tremendous agricultural activities all over the world have contributed to tremendous increase in demand for freshwater for household applications, agricultural and industries (Adimalla and Venkatayogi 2018;Alexakis and Tsakiris 2010). Due to insufficient supply of surface water, most of the people in arid and semiarid regions in India are depending primarily on groundwater for their daily needs and irrigation usages.…”

“…Moreover, in India and many parts of the world, abundant studies have been carried out to assess the geochemical characteristics of groundwater quality with respect of drinking and irrigation (Kudoda and Abdalla 2015;Adimalla et al 2018a;Murkute 2014;Raju et al 2011;Dimitris Alexakis 2011;Subba Rao et al 2012;Sudarshan et al 2014;Li et al 2017a, b;Jeevanandam et al 2006;Li et al 2012;2014a, b;Cheng Qian et al 2016;Sappa et al 2015;Narsimha and Sudarshan 2013;Salem et al 2015;Sethy et al 2016;He et al 2015;Panaskar et al 2016). Furthermore, a number of researchers have used electrical conductivity (EC), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), per cent sodium (%Na), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index (PI) classifications for irrigation water quality in many parts of the country (Adimalla and Venkatayogi 2018;Adimalla et al 2018a;Qian et al 2016;Sappa et al 2015;Narsimha et al 2013a, b;Aghazadeh and Mogaddam 2011;Ravikumar et al 2012;Li et al 2012). Eventually, Nalgonda district represents a true picture of hard terrain, where there is no sufficient surface water; therefore, most of the district people depend on groundwater for their daily needs.…”