1Department of Geology, Nowrosjee Wadia College, Pune-411001, (M. S.) India
2Department of Geology, Z. B. Patil College, Dhule-424002 (M. S.) India
3Department of Geology, G.B. Tatha Tatyasaheb Khare Commerce, Parvatibai Gurupad Dhere Art's and Shri. Mahesh Janardan Bhosale Science College, Guhagar Dist. Ratnagiri-415703 (M. S.) India
Groundwater is an important component of water resources for human survival and economic development in any regions of the world. Human activities and environmental change have imposed considerable impacts on groundwater quality. Thus the present studies were carried out for physico-chemical quality of groundwater with reference to their suitability for drinking and irrigation use. For this purpose 6 watersheds has been chosen (viz. KR 55, KR 63, KR 64, KR 66, KR 71 and KR 77) from Shirol, Gadhinglaj, Bhudargad and Radhanagari Talukas located in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra (India). Forty eight groundwater samples were collected and analysed their physico-chemical characteristics such as pH, EC, TDS, alkalinity, total hardness, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl−, SO42-, HCO3−, CO32-, NO3−, F and Fe2+ to understand the sources of contaminant. The quality of the groundwater from the study area is mainly dominated by calcium bicarbonate type. The other dominant parameters is chloride in the groundwater from the study area due to disproportionate use of inorganic fertilizers, landfill leachate, septic tank effluents, animal feeds, industrial effluents and irrigation drainage. In general, hardness, calcium, magnesium and potassium in the groundwater samples from the study area is exceed the permissible limit prescribed by bureau of Indian standards. Based on the irrigation parameters (Sodium Adsorption Ratio and Residual soluble carbonate), the groundwater quality is assessed and the overall irrigation qualities of wells are demarcated as suitable for irrigation except few locations.
Groundwater, geochemistry, watersheds, drinking water, irrigation hazards
