Evaluation of Groundwater Quality and Hydro Chemical Characteristics in the Eloor Industrial Area, Ernakulam, India

This study assesses groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking purposes based on hydro chemical and statistical approaches. Water samples were analyzed for key parameters, including Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Sodium percentage (Na%), Kelly’s Ratio, Permeability Index (PI), and Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR). Most parameters were satisfactory for irrigation except those with high sodium and magnesium content. Hill-Piper Trilinear Diagram showed that some wells were suitable for drinking, and some were acidic and required treatment to make it potable. According to US Salinity Diagram, most samples were non saline, but there was one sample that was saline due to human activities. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation of key ions, calcium, magnesium and chloride influencing water quality. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) partitioned the samples into two dominant clusters and the spatial variation of groundwater quality was considered due to natural and anthropogenic reasons. These results highlight the importance of implementing sustainable management strategies including groundwater protection, which will be both suitable for irrigation and drinking.