Geospatial assessment of ground water quality in Datia district of Bundelkhand

Spatial variation of groundwater quality for a region is very important to the developmental workers and policy makers for site specific management of this important natural resource. The objective of the study is to determine groundwater quality and assess the spatial variation of pollution risk in Datia district. Groundwater quality parameters were analyzed from the existing wells and thematic maps were generated using ordinary kriging method. Spatial variation maps of groundwater quality parameters such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate and electrical conductivity (EC) were examined and area wise distribution of pollution was quantified. Spherical model was best for sodium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chloride and EC and exponential model for potassium, calcium and sulphate. The spatial correlation distance (range) of bicarbonate was minimum and maximum for chloride as expected due to conservative nature of chloride. In the study area the optimum sampling distances for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate and EC were 35.9, 51.3, 34.5, 41.0, 29.6, 61.4, 41.0 and 37.2 m, respectively. The thematic maps of the groundwater quality parameters exhibited that slightly polluted zones are expected at southern part where as good quality water is available at northern part of the district. Thus, Groundwater quality maps are effective for identifying vulnerable zones and useful for proper management of groundwater resources and minimizing the pollution.