Hydrogeo-Chemical Processess and Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes in Afzalpur Taluk, Karnataka, India.

Abstract

To determine the geochemical processes impacting groundwater geochemistry and its appropriateness for drinking and irrigational uses, a thorough examination of groundwater is conducted in some areas of the Afzalpur taluk. According to the results of a thorough chemical analysis, the research area's groundwater has a pH average between 6.7 and 6.3, making it fairly acidic. Mg2+ and Ca2+ cations and HCO3- anions are also present in high amounts. Ion-exchange and rock weathering mechanisms were perceived to dominate the groundwater chemistry, with anthropogenic sources playing a minor role. Particularly, the electrical conductivity, total hardness (TH), and concentrations of Na+ and HCO3- exceeded the BIS and WHO water quality standards' acceptable limits. Groundwater suitability for irrigation was assessed on the basis of sodium adsorption ratio, Na%, magnesium hazard (MH), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and Kelley's index (KI). Above parameters revealed that nearly 40 to 50 % of the groundwater in the sampling sites was of high-quality for irrigation purpose.