Hydrochemical investigation of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigational purposes from industrial belt of Jharkhand, India

Abstract

Groundwater (GW) is a key water resource for domestic and agricultural activities. Industrial activities often affect GW chemistry. Therefore, assessment of GW quality for drinking and irrigation purposes is required to be assessed to ensure its suitability in and around industrial setups. Present study was planned to investigate the GW suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes around Bokaro Industrial Area, Jharkhand, India. Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), and percentage sodium (% Na) were evaluated for irrigation purposes, while pH, total hardness (TH), and electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolve solid (TDS), F−, SO42−, HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ for domestic usage. Results showed wide variation in the physicochemical characteristics as major cations were found in the order: Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, while major anions were in the order of HCO3−> Cl−> SO42−> NO3−> F−. The range of pH 6.15–7.73 and EC was 230–1676 μS cm−1, while TH, Cl−, HCO3−, SO4−, NO3‐, F−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ was varied from 66–743, 3.3–289.9, 61–392, 5.5–148.5, 1.2–61.4, 0.66–4.38, 14.5–170.3, 4.9–80.2, 12.3–102.7, and 0.37–5.7 mg/L, respectively. It was found that GW quality at most of the sites was suitable for irrigation and domestic purpose except at few locations. Further, results revealed that industrial activity has noticeable impact on the groundwater quality but, the overall suitability indicates a potential recharge system for the aquifers in the area which maintains the GW chemistry. Albeit alarming values of some of the GW parameters, namely, pH, total hardness, F−, HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ at some locations require attention to design and execute effective water management plans to avoid possible irrigation and human health risks in future.