Study of the groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and irrigational use in Bathinda district, Punjab, India

ABSTRACT Checking the suitability of groundwater for domestic and irrigation purposes is important for sustainable development and effective management of groundwater resources. For the present study, we have analysed the groundwater of Bathinda district, Punjab, for drinking as well as for irrigational purposes. In the studied area, samples were collected and analysed for physical and chemical parameters. The TDS is very high in this area, ranging from 103.1 to 3,440 mg L−1 with a mean value of 1,319.9 mg L−1. The chemical parameters with average concentration values higher than the guideline values given by national and international agencies are sodium (356 mg L−1), hardness (452.7 mg L−1), alkalinity (397.7 mg L−1) and chloride (271.6 mg L−1), respectively. The correlation has also been studied. The irrigation parameters, such as sodium absorption ratio and residual sodium carbonate, revealed that more than 80% of the samples are good for irrigation, whereas according to percent sodium, Kelly's ratio and permeability index, almost 50% of the samples are suitable for agricultural purposes. But if we consider the magnesium adsorption ratio, 60.3% of the samples are unsuitable for irrigation. From the analysis, it is indicated that different natural hydrogeochemical processes such as evaporation, rock − water interaction, dissolution of dolomite, silicate and carbonate weathering are controlling the groundwater chemistry.