Hydrogeochemical investigation of groundwater from Faizpur area of Jalgaon district, Maharashtra**

Groundwater is a major source of water supply for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes. The area under study is covered with undifferentiated quaternary sediments and exhibits an undulating topography with southward gradient. The area is facing a major problem of fast depletion of groundwater table due to various reasons such as unpredictable fluctuations in rainfall and excessive pumping of groundwater for increasing human demands. The chemical quality of groundwater is of great importance in determining the suitability of water for specific use The quality of water varies from place to place and is determined by the extent and composition of dissolved salts in it.

In the present paper. 19 groundwater samples from the area under study have been analysed to determine the qualitative behaviour of water. An attempt has been made to study the suitability of groundwater for domestic and irrigation use. Groundwater from this area is hard to very hard in nature. Hydrogeochemistry reveals that groundwater in inland aquifers is mainly Ca⁺², Mg⁺², CO₃⁻² dominant, indicating that chemistry is controlled by rock water intereactions. Groundwater in aquifer clearly shows infiltration of salts into groundwater system as evidenced through Na/Ca less than 1 and high Cl/HCO₃ Some groundwater samples from southern part of area shows infiltration of salts during evapotranspiration. Variation in groundwater quality indicates that recharge takes place through infiltration of rain water and that anomalous chemistry such as high sulphate are confined to local areas of contamination.

The outcome of this work will be helpful to the local people for clearly understanding the qualitative behaviour of groundwater and it's utility for keeping a healthy environment and increasing human needs.