QUALITY EVALUATION OF GROUNDWATER IN MULAKALACHERUVU AREA, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, SOUTH INDIA BASED ON HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY

摘要

In the present study an attempt has been made to assess the chemical quality of groundwater in the vicinity of Mulakalacheruvu area to evaluate its suitability for drinking and irrigation. Forty groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for various physico - chemical parameters (pH, EC, total dissolved solids, carbonates, bicarbonates, alkalinity, chlorides, sulphates, fluoride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium). The results indicate that these parameters are spatially inhomogeneous and all of the groundwater samples except for one can be classified to be Ca-Na-HCO3 types. In comparison with international and national standards, most of the samples can meet the requirement for drinking. Moreover, according to the sodium absorption ratio (SAR), percentage sodium (% Na) and permeability index (PI), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly's ratio and magnesium ratio, most of the samples are suitable for irrigation. Moreover, Gibbs diagram and Chloro - alkaline indices suggest that water-rock interaction is the main process controlling the hydrochemistry of the groundwater in the study area.