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The present study carried out to
assess the water quality and hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in the
Handri river basin of the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Total
of 41 groundwater samples was collected and analyzed for their
physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity,
total hardness, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, and major
cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+)
and anions (Cl-,F-, NO3-, HCO3-,
CO32-, SO42-). The analytical results were
compared with drinking water standards
as prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards and the World Health
Organization (WHO) for domestic usage and irrigation suitability.
The cation dominance trend is Na+>K+>Ca2+>Mg2+>
while anion dominance trend is Cl->HCO3->NO3->SO42-.The
groundwater of the area is slightly alkaline. The major
hydrochemical facies of groundwater were identified using Piper
trilinear diagram. This plot showed that most of the samples fall in
the field of Na-Cl, mixed NaHCO3 type. The concentrations
of chlorides, fluorides, and nitrates are above the maximum
permissible limit (WHO, 1993) while sodium, potassium, and calcium,
were slightly above the permissible limit. The USSL and Wilcox
diagrams of the study area revealed that most of the groundwater
samples fall in the field of C3-S4, unsuitable indicating high
salinity, high sodium percentage, and high sodium absorption ratio.
The present study concludes that the majority of the samples in the
study area are not suitable for domestic and agriculture purposes
thereby, recommended to follow the effective management of
groundwater resources. |
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Key words:
Hydrogeochemistry, Water quality, Handri river basin, Kurnool,
Andhra Pradesh. |
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