Quality (philosophy)

Geochemistry

Sodium

Sodium adsorption ratio

Philosophy

Ecology

Biology

Sodium carbonate

Weathering

Geotechnical engineering

Water resource management

Water quality

Hydrogeology

Geology

Drip irrigation

Environmental engineering

Groundwater

Organic chemistry

Geography

Hydrology (agriculture)

Environmental chemistry

Epistemology

Total dissolved solids

Environmental science

Chemistry

Irrigation

Nitrate

Applied Water Science

Quality of groundwater is assessed from a part of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Groundwater samples collected from thirty locations from the study area were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), bicarbonate ( $$ {\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - } $$ ), chloride (Cl−), sulphate ( $$ {\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - } $$ ), nitrate ( $$ {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $$ ) and fluoride (F−). The results of the chemical analysis indicate that the groundwater is alkaline in nature and are mainly characterized by Na+– $$ {\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - } $$ and Na+–Cl− facies. Groundwater chemistry reflects the dominance of rock weathering and is subsequently modified by human activities, which are supported by genetic geochemical evolution and hydrogeochemical relations. Further, the chemical parameters (pH, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, $$ {\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - } $$ , Cl−, $$ {\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - } $$ , $$ {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $$ and F−) were compared with the drinking water quality standards. The sodium adsorption ratio, percent sodium, permeability index, residual sodium carbonate, magnesium ratio and Kelly’s ratio were computed and USSL, Wilcox and Doneen’s diagrams were also used for evaluation of groundwater quality for irrigation. For industrial purpose, the pH, TDS, $$ {\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - } $$ , Cl− and $$ {\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - } $$ were used to assess the impact of incrustation and corrosion activities on metal surfaces. As a whole, it is observed that the groundwater quality is not suitable for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes due to one or more chemical parameters exceeding their standard limits. Therefore, groundwater management measures were suggested to improve the water quality.

Groundwater quality from a part of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India