Impact of Polluted River Water on Ground Water of Agricultural Area and its Suitability for Irrigation

Shinde SD,Patil KA

doi:10.4172/2165-784x.1000208

Abstract

This paper describes the impact of polluted river water on ground water of agricultural area and its suitability for irrigation. In this study seven villages were selected for investigating river and groundwater contamination. Hence 11 river and 54 well water samples were obtained from either side of Kham River. Pollution by TDS, Cl, NO3, Ca, Mg, and Na in 22 river water sample during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period was observed. 6 groundwater sample during pre-monsoon period and 8 well water samples during post-monsoon period have NO3 concentration more than 45 mg/lit as per Indian Irrigation and drinking water standard. The suitability of river and groundwater for irrigation was determined on the basis of chemical indices like Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Soluble Sodium percentage (SSP), Kelly’s ratio (KR). IS 11624:1986 and analytical data plotted on US salinity diagram illustrates that, 22 river water samples during pre-monsoon and post monsoon period are having SAR above 26 and EC above 6000 micromhos/ cm. This suggests that river water is unsuitable for irrigation. 6, 13 groundwater samples along left and right bank of Kham river respectively have SAR between 18 to 26 and EC 3000 to 6000 micromhos/cm. Such water when used for irrigation decreases soil solution capacity and irrigated water is not available to plant even though soil appears wet. A statistical correlation was attempted on above mentioned water quality parameter. River and groundwater sample analysis shows increased concentration of sodium, calcium, magnesium, nitrate and chloride which indicates the influence of domestic and industrial effluent on river and groundwater hydrochemistry in village Waluj, Patoda, Naigaon, Valdgaon of Aurangabad and Gangapur taluka. This was clarified in Spatial relationship between river water and groundwater.

Highlights

Chemical contamination of river and groundwater is the most serious pollution problems, in arid and semi-arid areas with deficient water resources
The conductivity shows a significant correlation with Na with (r>0.835) during pre-monsoon and post monsoon period season
The analysis in respect of eight parameters namely pH, EC, Total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, Nitrate, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium reveals that 100% of the river water samples have exceeded the permissible limit prescribed by Indian standard

Summary

Introduction

Chemical contamination of river and groundwater is the most serious pollution problems, in arid and semi-arid areas with deficient water resources. Many aquatic ecosystems are severely threatened by human mediated contamination since several industrial establishments are concentrated near river basin for obvious reasons Such activities put high hydrological stress on existing groundwater by deteriorating its quality. Considering the above facts, the effect of polluted river water on ground water is focused in present research work This makes it very necessary to investigate level of concentration of physical, chemical water quality parameter of river and groundwater of selected wells along river basin. The motivation behind the present study was to perform following objectives (a) To analyze eight physical and chemical parameters of the river and GW namely pH, EC, TDS, NO3, Cl, Na, Mg, Ca and SAR (b) To develop river water quality and Ground water quality map of study area using Q-GIS To achieve this objective author had selected 11 river and 54 GW samples obtained from selected wells on either side of the Kham River at various villages. River and GW was analyzed for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period in the year 2014 [4,5,6]

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion