Major Ion Chemistry of Groundwater and Surface Water in Parts of Mulugu-Venkatapur Mandal, Warangal District, Telangana State, India

Abstract

Fifty water samples including Surface water, Dug well, Hand pump and Bore well during pre-monsoon (May- June) and post-monsoon season (November) in parts of Mulugu-Venkatapur mandals, Warangal District to an extent of 453 Km2 and falls under Top sheet No. 56 N/15 and 56 N/16 of Survey of India were collected. The samples were analysed for major ion chemistry to study the groundwater characteristics and its suitability for drinking as well as irrigation purposes. The pH ranges from 6.7-8 indicating water is slighly acidic to alkaline in nature. TDS ranges from 201-3612 mg/l and 154-3457 mg/l during pre and post monsoon season. Total Hardness (TH) ranges from 100-1000 mg/l and 38.8-2148 mg/l; Chloride ranges from 7.81-1667 mg/l and 7.6-1089 mg/l; sulphate ranges from 2-1533 mg/l and 5.2-1200 mg/l during pre and post season respectively. Majority of the samples are suitable for domestic purposes due to low to medium hardness, however few samples described very hard and unsuitable for domestic, drinking and irrigation purposes. Various indices like Salinity Index, Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Kelly’s Ratio (KR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), Permeability Index (PI) and Water Quality Index (WQI) are used to classify groundwater and surface water for drinking as well as irrigation purposes. Besides this, Piper trilinear diagram, Wilcox diagram, Doneen’s classification and Gibb’s plot were studied for geochemical controls, and hydrogeochemistry of groundwater and surface water.