Suitability Assessment of Deep Groundwater for Drinking and Irrigation Use in the Parts of Hoskote and Malur Taluks, Karnataka (India)

Abstract

Groundwater samples from thirty four bore wells used for drinking and irrigation in parts of Hoskote and Malur taluks, Karnataka State (India), were collected and geochemically analysed during December 2014. The hydrochemical characteristics was dominated by Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺ -Cl^--SO₄^2- (58.82%) and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃^- (38.24%), with alkaline earth (Ca+Mg) exceeding alkalies (Na+K) and strong acidic anions dominating weak acidic anions. Weathering of rock-forming minerals regulated chemistry of the groundwater in the study area as indicated by Gibbs plot. The groundwater chemistry in the study area is influenced by silicate dissolution of host rock with contribution from weathering of carbonate rocks while positive CAI values indicated exchange of Na and K from the water with Mg and Ca of the rocks in the study area. The Ca^2+/Mg²⁺ molar ratio plot further supported the fact that dissolution of calcite with effect of silicate minerals contributes calcium and magnesium to 97.06% of the groundwater. SAR, percent sodium, WQI and permeability index values demonstrated the suitability of a majority of the samples for irrigation.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.71.1.9809