Irrigation Water Quality Assessment Using Water Quality Index and GIS Technique in Pondicherry Region, South India

Thilagavathi Rajendran,Pradeep Kamaraj,Dheeraj Kumar Singh,Ramanathan A.L,Chidambaram Sabarathinam,Meenu Ghai,Mohan Viswanathan Prasanna,Mahalakshmi Mathivanan

doi:10.34256/ijceae2124

Abstract

The utility of groundwater, irrespective of its availability, is essential for mankind. The efficacy of the coastal aquifer’s groundwater quality for agriculture purpose in the Pondicherry region was gauged by their hydrochemistry. 44 groundwater samples were collected during 4 different seasons namely, pre-monsoon (PRM), southwest monsoon (SWM), northeast monsoon (NEM) and post-monsoon (POM). The samples were measured for physico-chemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3, PO4, SO4 and NO3. The spatio temporal variations of EC indicates that the coastal groundwater were relatively saline except during PRM. The suitability of groundwater for irrigation is evaluated through various water quality parametrs such as Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Na%, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index (PI). Na%, SAR, PI and EC values were spatially interporlated and integrated to determine the regions suitable for irrigation purpose. The study infers that the groundwater of the study area is suitable for irrigation except few samples’ locations along the western part, as they have attained an alarming stage and they are unsuitable for irrigation. Thus, proper management strategy for irrigation water source has to be developed and a preventive management practice to address this issue has to be implemented.

Highlights

There are many indexes adopted for determining the suitability of irrigation water, such as degree of acidity or alkalinity, electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and permeability index (PI). [1-3]
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), salinity and indices such as sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Sodium Percentage (Na percent), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) and Permeability Index (PI) are selected in this study to evaluate the suitability of water quality for irrigation
To evaluate suitability groundwater for irrigation use, 176 groundwater samples were collected from existing wells and were analyzed for major cations and anions

Summary

Introduction

There are many indexes adopted for determining the suitability of irrigation water, such as degree of acidity or alkalinity (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and permeability index (PI). [1-3]. Different methods, such as geochemical modeling, classification, statistical and geographic information systems (GIS) adopted to determine the assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation. Delbari et al (2014) [4] assessed the groundwater quality for irrigation prupose using GIS technique. Ahamed et al, (2013) and Gholami et al, (2013) [5,6] have analysed the effects of agriculture using irrigation efficiency parameters on groundwater quality. [4,7] have used multivariate statistical approaches to evaluate the irrigation water quality of a region. The groundwater budgeting in the region was studied using a novel method in GIS platform [10]. It is crucial to evaluate the irrigation water quality in this region. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of water quality for irrigation purpose

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion