Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

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Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation Use and Evolution of Hydrochemical Facies in the Markanda River Basin, Northwestern India


Affiliations
1 Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Mountain and Hill Environment (CISMHE), Patel Marg, ARC Building, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110 007, India
2 Department of Geology, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110 007, India
     

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The Markanda river basin occupying an area of about 1547 km2 is a part of the alluvial deposits of the Indo- Gangetic plain near the Himalayan foothills in the northwest India. The region is associated with active agricultural activities and makes significant contribution to the country's agricultural products. Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation use and hydrochemical evolution of groundwater has been studied. Hydrochemical analysis has been carried out based on concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, SO4 2-, CO3 2- and HCO3 -. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (%Na), permeability index (PI) and Trilinear diagram have been studied to evaluate suitability of irrigation use. Hydrochemical evolution has been analyzed based on the Chebotarev sequence and expanded Durov diagram. SAR, %Na and PI results indicate that the groundwater in the basin is suitable for irrigation use. Analysis on Trilinear diagram reveals that hydrochemical facies are dominated by HCO3 -- Ca2+- Mg2+ facies indicating that the groundwater is associated with recharge waters percolating through sandstone and limestone rocks which are exposed in the northern part of the basin. Studies based on Chebotarev anion sequence and expanded Durov diagram indicate that the evolution of groundwater belongs to initial to intermediate stage indicating fresh water quality. Thus, the present work reveals that groundwater in the Markanda basin is of good quality and is suitable for all uses including interbasin water transfer in the region.

Keywords

Groundwater Quality, Hydrochemical Parameters, Hydrochemical Facies, Chebotarev Sequence, Markanda Basin, Northwestern India.
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  • Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation Use and Evolution of Hydrochemical Facies in the Markanda River Basin, Northwestern India

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Authors

K. S. Kshetrimayum
Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Mountain and Hill Environment (CISMHE), Patel Marg, ARC Building, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110 007, India
V. N. Bajpai
Department of Geology, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110 007, India

Abstract


The Markanda river basin occupying an area of about 1547 km2 is a part of the alluvial deposits of the Indo- Gangetic plain near the Himalayan foothills in the northwest India. The region is associated with active agricultural activities and makes significant contribution to the country's agricultural products. Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation use and hydrochemical evolution of groundwater has been studied. Hydrochemical analysis has been carried out based on concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, SO4 2-, CO3 2- and HCO3 -. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (%Na), permeability index (PI) and Trilinear diagram have been studied to evaluate suitability of irrigation use. Hydrochemical evolution has been analyzed based on the Chebotarev sequence and expanded Durov diagram. SAR, %Na and PI results indicate that the groundwater in the basin is suitable for irrigation use. Analysis on Trilinear diagram reveals that hydrochemical facies are dominated by HCO3 -- Ca2+- Mg2+ facies indicating that the groundwater is associated with recharge waters percolating through sandstone and limestone rocks which are exposed in the northern part of the basin. Studies based on Chebotarev anion sequence and expanded Durov diagram indicate that the evolution of groundwater belongs to initial to intermediate stage indicating fresh water quality. Thus, the present work reveals that groundwater in the Markanda basin is of good quality and is suitable for all uses including interbasin water transfer in the region.

Keywords


Groundwater Quality, Hydrochemical Parameters, Hydrochemical Facies, Chebotarev Sequence, Markanda Basin, Northwestern India.

References