SUITABILITY OF GROUNDWATER AND RIVER WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR THE RIICO SITAPURA INDUSTRIAL AREA, JAIPUR, INDIA

Farmers around the RIICO Sitapura industrial area in Jaipur irrigate with groundwater and with river water that receives industrial effluent. This study assessed whether this water is fit for irrigation. Water was sampled from four wells, three river and canal sites and one control site in six rounds between May 2025 and August 2026 (n = 144). Electrical conductivity, major ions, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium, Kelly's ratio, magnesium hazard, residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index were determined. Mean EC ranged from 684 µS/cm at the control site to 2522 µS/cm in the river near the drains. Percent sodium exceeded 60 at five of the six exposed sites, and Kelly's ratio exceeded 1 at all six. RSC in the river near the drains was 4.02 meq/L, above the safe level of 2.5 meq/L. All exposed samples fell in the high and very high salinity classes of the USSL diagram, although SAR stayed below 10 at all sites. Sodium hazard decreased with distance from the drains, and the control water was suitable on all criteria. Continued use of the river water and of wells near the estate is likely to make soils saline and sodic.