Spatial assessment of major ion geochemistry in the groundwater around Suryapet Region, Southern Telangana, India

Abstract

Twenty-two groundwater samples were picked up from the bore wells during the pre and post-monsoon seasons in and around the Suryapet region of the southern Telangana State, India. The samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrates (NO3−), sulfates (SO42−), carbonates (CO3−), bicarbonates (HCO3−), total hardness (TH), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), chloride (Cl−), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and fluoride (F−) to study the geochemistry of groundwater available in that region. EC concentration ranges from 570–5200 µS/cm and 640–4800 µS/cm with an average value of 2238.64 µS/cm and 1981.8 µS/cm for pre and post-monsoon seasons respectively. Wilcox classification indicates that the groundwater samples of pre and post-monsoon times showed low sodium hazard (S1–C1) as of 86% and 91% respectively, and moderate to high in salinity risk (C2–C3) for maximum samples. Piper trilinear plot was made to detect hydro-chemical facies by utilizing major anions and cations concentrations. Maximum of the samples belong to Ca2+–Mg2+–Cl−–SO42− and Na+–Cl−–SO42− hydro-chemical facies. Besides this, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out to understand the geochemistry of groundwater. The quality of the groundwater system is of high apprehension as potable water desires to have sustainable mineral content.