Assessment of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purpose using hydrochemical studies in Dera Bassi town and its surrounding agricultural area of Dera Bassi Tehsil of Punjab, India

Abstract

Present research aims to assess the suitability of groundwater of Dera Bassi town (Punjab) and its surrounding agricultural area for drinking as well as irrigation purpose. Thirty groundwater samples were collected (in February 2020) and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters. Results of physicochemical analysis were compared with Indian (IS 10500:2012) as well as WHO (2006) standards to ascertain the suitability of the groundwater samples for drinking purpose, and it has been found that results for almost all the parameters except alkalinity (at few sites) are within the permissible limit. The pattern of ionic dominance was observed in the order of Ca2+\u2009>\u2009Mg2+\u2009>\u2009Na+\u2009>\u2009K+ for cations and Cl−\u2009>\u2009NO3−\u2009>\u2009SO42−\u2009>\u2009F− for anions. Further, according to the observed Kelly’s ratio, sodium adsorption ratio, sodium percentage, corrosivity ratio and permeability index, the groundwater samples were found to be fit for irrigation purpose. However, the magnesium ratio and residual sodium carbonate revealed that groundwater of the area under study is not fit for irrigation purpose at some sites. The plot of SAR values versus EC values in the US Salinity Laboratory diagram revealed that the majority of the samples fall under water type C3-S1 (high salinity—low SAR) and 36.77% samples fall under water type C2-S1 (medium salinity—low SAR). Gibb’s diagram revealed that all samples fall under rock dominance category. The values of index of base exchange (CAI 1 and CAI 2) indicate that both direct ion and reverse ion exchange processes are taking place in the region.