Geochemistry and assessment of hydrogeochemical processes in groundwater in the southern part of Bathinda district of Punjab, northwest India

Abstract

Hydrogeochemistry of groundwater is important for sustainable development and effective management of the groundwater resource. Fifty-six groundwater samples were collected from shallow tube wells of the intensively cultivated southern part of district Bathinda of Punjab, India, during pre-and post-monsoon seasons. Conventional graphical plots were used to define the geochemical evaluation of aquifer system based on the ionic constituents, water types, hydrochemical facies and factors controlling groundwater quality. Negative values of chloroalkaline indices suggest the prevalence of reverse ion exchange process irrespective of the seasons. A significant effect of monsoon is observed in terms chemical facies as a considerable amount of area with temporary hardness of Ca 2? -Mg 2? -HCO 3 -type in the pre-monsoon switched to Ca 2? -Mg 2? -Cl -type (18%) followed by Na ? -HCO 3 -type (14%) in the post-monsoon. Evaporation is the major geochemical process controlling the chemistry of groundwater process in pre-monsoon; however, in post-monsoon ion exchange reaction dominates over evaporation. Carbonate weathering is the major hydrogeochemical process operating in this part of the district, irrespective of the season. The abundance of Ca 2? ? Mg 2? in groundwater of Bathinda can be attributed mainly to gypsum and carbonate weathering. Silicate weathering also occurs in a few samples in the post-monsoon in addition to the carbonate dissolution. Water chemistry is deteriorated by land-use activities, especially irrigation return flow and synthetic fertilisers (urea, gypsum, etc.) as indicted by concentrations of nitrate, sulphate and chlorides. Overall, results indicate that different natural hydrogeochemical processes such as simple dissolution, mixing, weathering of carbonate minerals locally known as ''kankar'' and silicate weathering are the key factors in both seasons.

Identification of surface water-groundwater interaction by hydrogeochemical indicators and assessing its suitability for drinking and irrigational purposes in Chennai, Southern India

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Groundwater Flow Processes and Human Impact along the Arid US-Mexican Border, Evidenced by Environmental Tracers: The Case of Tecate, Baja California

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Mecanismos que controlam as características das águas dos reservatórios do estado de Sergipe, Nordeste do Brasil

“…Assim, atribuíram a origem do HCO3ao intemperismo dos carbonatos e rochas alumino-silicato e a do Cle Na + ao aerossol marinho da precipitação atmosférica e a fontes litogênicas primárias como a halita ou evaporitos. Para Singh et al (2011) [46] quando existe uma proporção elevado do HCO3em relação aos outros ânions, indica o intemperismo principal de silicatos minerais.…”