Assessing Groundwater Quality of Chatha Region of Jammu and Kashmir, India Using Water Quality Index and Irrigation Indices

By /

IJEP 44(7): 579-590 : Vol. 44 Issue. 7 (July 2024)

Full Text

Indica Mohan1*, Kanika Chib1, Sarita Kumari2 and Deepak Pathania1

1. Central University of Jammu Bagla (Rahya-Suchani), Department of Environmental Sciences, Samba – 181 143, Jammu and Kashmir, India
2. Sardar Patel University, Department of Zoology, Mandi – 175 001, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The current study evaluates the water quality index of groundwater in the Chatha region of Jammu district, Jammu and Kashmir (UT). Water samples from 15 different sites during winter and summer seasons were tested for various physico-chemical parameters. Temperature, total dissolved solids, pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, dissolved oxygen, calcium, magnesium, total alkalinity, phosphate, nitrate, sodium, potassium, sulphate and chloride were tested using APHA standard methods. The results were compared to BIS values to determine compliance with acceptable limits. The water quality index rated fourteen sites under excellent and one site under good category for both winter and summer seasons. Additionally, the irrigation suitability was evaluated using Kelley’s index, sodium adsorption ratio and sodium hazard, all of which showed that the groundwater is suitable for irrigation purposes. Concentrations of total hardness, sulphate, calcium, magnesium and total alkalinity were found within acceptable limits. Total dissolved solids, pH and chloride levels were found to be below acceptable limits. The overall order of major ion concentrations in the winter season was recorded as SO42->Mg2+>Ca2+>Na+>Cl–>NO3–>K+>PO43-, while in summer season, it was SO42-> Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+>Cl–>NO3–> PO43->K+. Notably, TDS exhibited a significant positive correlation with total alkalinity, nitrate, sodium, dissolved oxygen, sulphate and chloride during the summer season, alongwith a significant negative correlation with pH. In the winter season, total dissolved solids, total hardness, electrical conductivity, magnesium, calcium, total alkalinity, nitrate, sodium, sulphate and chloride showed significant positive correlations. Conversely, dissolved oxygen exhibited a significant negative correlation with chloride, sodium, magnesium and total hardness. In conclusion, the study suggests that continuous monitoring of groundwater is advisable for future assessment of various parameters.

Keywords

Water quality index, Irrigation indices, Sodium adsorption ratio, Sodium hazard, Kelley’s index

References

  1. Alam, A. and A. Singh. 2023. Groundwater quality assessment using SPSS based on multivariate statistics and water quality index of Gaya, Bihar (India). Env. Monit. Assess., 195(6): 687.
  2. Liu, H., et al. 2018. Multivariate analysis of water quality of the Chenqi basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Mine Water Env., 37(2): 249–262. DOI: 10.1007/s10230-018-0533-1.
  3. Zaresefat, M. and R. Derakhshani. 2023. Revolutionizing groundwater management with hybrid AI models: a practical review. Water. 15(9): 1750.
  4. Rawat, K.S., S.K. Singh and S.K. Gautam. 2018. Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation use: A peninsular case study. Appl. Water Sci., 8: 1-24.
  5. Ayers, R. and D. Westcott. 1994. Water quality for agriculture. FAO irrigation and drainage paper 29 (rev. 1). Food and Agricultural Organisation, United Nations, Rome, Italy.
  6. Ibrahim, H., et al. 2023. Evaluation and prediction of groundwater quality for irrigation using an integrated water quality indices, machine learning models and GIS approaches: A representative case study. Water. 15(4): 694.
  7. Harun, H.H., et al. 2021. Association of physicochemical characteristics, aggregate indices, major ions and trace elements in developing groundwater quality index (Gwqi) in agricultural area. Int. J. Env. Res. Public Health. 18(9): 4562. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094562.
  8. Tripathi, M. and S.K. Singal. 2019. Use of principal component analysis for parameter selection for development of a novel water quality index: A case study of river Ganga, India. Ecol. Indicators. 96 (September): 430–436. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.20 18. 09.025.
  9. Honarbakhsh, A., et al. 2019. GIS-based assessment of groundwater quality for drinking purpose in northern part of Fars province, Marvdasht. J. Water Supply Res. Tech. Aqua. 68(3): 187–196. DOI: 10.2166/aqua.2019.119.
  10. Patil, B., et al. 2020. Multivariate statistics and water quality index (WQI) approach for geochemical assessment of groundwater quality- A case study of Kanavi Halla sub-basin, Belagavi, India. Env. Geochem. Health. 42(9): 2667–2684. DOI: 10.1007/s10653-019-00500-6.
  11. Jasrotia, A.S., et al. 2019. Monitoring and assessment of groundwater quality and its suitability for domestic and agricultural use in the Cenozoic rocks of Jammu Himalaya, India: a geospatial technology based approach. Groundwater Sustain. Develop., 8: 554-566.
  12. Taloor, A.K., et al. 2020. Spring water quality and discharge assessment in the Basantar watershed of Jammu Himalaya using geographic information system (GIS) and water quality index (WQI). Ground water Sustain. Develop., 10: 100364.
  13. Taloor, A.K., A. Bala and P. Mehta. 2023. Human health risk assessment and pollution index of groundwater in Jammu plains of India: A geospatial approach. Chemosphere. 313: 137329.
  14. APHA. 2012. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, Wasghington DC.
  15. Abbasi, T. and S.A. Abbasi. 2012. Water quality indices. Elsevier.
  16. IS 1500. 2012. Drinking water. Bureau of India Standards, New Delhi.
  17. Verma, P., et al. 2020. Assessment of groundwater quality status by using water quality index (WQI) and geographic information system (GIS) approaches: A case study of the Bokaro district, India. Appl. Water Sci., 10: 1-16.
  18. Rawat, K.S., S.K. Singh and S.K. Gautam. 2018. Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation use: A peninsular case study. Appl. Water Sci., 8: 1-24.
  19. Kelly, W.P. 1940. Permissible composition and concentration of irrigated waters. Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers. 66: 607-613.
  20. Adimalla, N., et al. 2020. Appraisal of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes in Central Telangana, India. Groundwater Sustain. Develop., 10: 100334.
  21. Adimalla, N., P. Li and S. Venkatayogi. 2018. Hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes and integrated interpretation with water quality index studies. Env. Processes. 5: 363-383.
  22. Fatah, K.K., et al. 2020. Evaluation groundwater quality by using GIS and water quality index techniques for wells in Bardarash area, Northern Iraq. Iraqi Geol. J., 53(2C): 87-104.
  23. Wantasen, S., et al. 2021. Study on the quality of irrigation water in the talawaan irrigation channel using the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR)
    method. J. Physics Conference Series. 1918(3): 032018.
  24. Zaman, M., S.A. Shahid and L. Heng. 2018. Irrigation water quality (chapter 5). In Guideline for salinity assessment, mitigation and adaptation using nuclear and related techniques. pp 113-131.
  25. Maqbool, S. and V. Singh. 2023. Evaluation of groundwater quality for drinking purposes using physico-chemical parameters of district Shopian, (Jammu and Kashmir) India. Int. J. Geol. Earth Env. Sci., 13: 67-75.
  26. WHO. 2017. Guidelines for drinking water quality (4th edn). World Health Organization, Geneva.
  27. Dogra, S., K. Sharma and N. Singh. 2023. Water quality and health risk assessment of heavy metals in groundwater of Ranbir Singh Pura tehsil of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Env. Monit. Assess., 195(9): 1026.
  28. Krishan, G., et al. 2023. Integrated approach for the investigation of groundwater quality through hydrochemistry and water quality index (WQI). Urban Climate. 47: 101383.
  29. Panneerselvam, B., et al. 2023. An integrated approach to explore the suitability of nitrate-contaminated groundwater for drinking purposes in a semiarid region of India. Env. Geochem. Health. 45(3): 647-663.
  30. Arora, S. 2011. Sustainable water resource management in the foothills of the Siwaliks, Northwest India. In Groundwater management practices.
IJEP Logo

Quick Link

Menu

Query Form

    Contact Us

    Indian Journal of Environmental Protection,
    Kalpana Corporation, Kalpana Bhawan,
    N 10/60 H-12, Shyama Nagar
    P.O. Bajardiha, Varanasi – 221106

    Phone Number : +91 8130034876

    Email: kalpanacorp81@gmail.com

    Websites : www.e-ijep.co.in

    Copyright © 2024 Indian Journal of Environmental Protection | Kalpana Corporation