Chemical Characterization of Ground Waters near a Sugar Industry for Evaluation of Quality and Potentials for Application

Ground water is an important source of drinking water for humankind and is also a reserve of good quality of water. The present research is focussed on the characterization of ground water in the surrounding areas near sugar industry for evaluation of quality and its potentials for application. Eight ground water samples were collected and characterized for physicochemical parameters viz., pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Alkalinity (TA), Total Hardness (TH), Fluoride, Chloride, Sulphate, Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium and Magnesium to estimate the chemical contamination status..Irrigation parameters Percent Sodium (%Na), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Kelly�s Ratio (KR), and Magnesium Hazard (MH) are also determined for considering these waters for irrigation purposes. The research results revealed that higher parametric values of EC, TDS, TH, TA, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Chloride contributes the chemical contamination and make the waters unsuitable for drinking and domestic purposes. Higher values of Magnesium hazard (MH) can cause Magnesium hazard to the ground waters which in turn deplete the quality of soil in the study area and consequently results in the reduction of crop yields. The waters are to be treated properly by the available treatment methods before considering them for drinking or domestic use.