Hydrochemical and quality assessment of irrigation water at the trans-himalayan high-altitude regions of Leh, Ladakh, India

Abstract

A total of seventy irrigation water samples were collected from Leh, Ladakh, India, to determine their hydrochemistry profile and water quality for irrigation purposes. Water quality indices such as total hardness (TH), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), potential salinity (PS), permeability index (PI), Kelly's ratio (KR), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), corrosivity ratio (CR), and chloroalkaline indices (CAI) were measured. The Piper diagram, Durov's diagram, and United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagram were drawn to determine the water types, ion exchange processes, and rock–soil–water interaction. The findings indicated that the hydrochemical characteristics of irrigation water are naturally alkaline. Furthermore, water quality parameters revealed that the study area’s surface water is suitable for irrigation purposes, despite relatively high TH and MH levels. The level of CR indicated that water should not be transported using metal pipes. The CAI and Durov's plot indicated direct ionic exchange processes controlling water chemistry. Additionally, this irrigation water is mainly dominated by the Ca2+–Cl−–SO42−, Na+–K+–CaCO3 + HCO3−, and Na+–K+–Cl− type, which indicates silicate rock weathering along with some anthropogenic input. The USSL salinity diagram indicated a medium salinity and low Na hazard. Hence, it is concluded that the rock weathering cycle is the natural source of all the cations and anions, and these ions pass directly from water to rock and vis-à-vis, along with some input of anthropogenic activity.