IJEP 41(2): 173-178 : Vol. 41 Issue. 2 (February 2021)
Sri Venkateswara University, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Tirupati – 517 502
Abstract
An experimental study on water quality index has been carried out to assess suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purposes in Cheyyeru watershed, YSR Kadapa district. This was done by subjecting groundwater samples from fourteen locations, to comprehensive physico-chemical analysis. Twelve parameters, namely pH, alkalinity, acidity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, nitrates, sulphates, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and bacteriological index have been considered for calculating the water quality index (WQI). The computed WQI shows that 15% of water samples fall in good quality category and 50% fall in moderate and rest in poor category which are not suitable for drinking purposes under normal conditions. High value of WQI is found due to the higher values of TDS, total hardness and sulphates. Factors influencing quality of groundwater were analyzed and found that improper landuse and land cover in the basin are the main contributing factors for poor quality of water.
Keywords
Cheyyeru watershed, Water quality index, Landuse and land cover
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