GROUNDWATER SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY FROM YADAGIR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA

A total of 90 groundwater samples spread across three taluks of Yadagir district were collected during pre-monsoon season, 2018 and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters and irrigation quality parameters like sodium absorption ratio (SAR), Percent sodium (%Na) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) were calculated to assess groundwater suitability for irrigation purpose. It was evident from the results that 8.82, 60 and 87.1 % of samples respectively in Yadagir, Shahapur and Shorapur taluks were recorded the pH values above the BIS standard limit of 6.5-8.5. Higher alkaline pH values prevailing in majority of groundwater samples from the study area is due to higher alkalinity and bicarbonate concentration. Electrical conductivity values in 35.29, 28 and 35.48 % of samples respectively in Yadagir, Shahapur and Shorapur taluks witnessed the higher values above 2000 ?S/cm, while 97, 84 and 70.96 % samples respectively in the above taluks showed higher TDS values above BIS desirable limit of 500 mg/L. Overall quality of 32.22 % of groundwater samples from Yadagir district is classified as good water (50>WQI<100) based on WQI values and are considered as suitable for domestic and irrigation purpose. Rest of the samples were considered as unsuitable for domestic and irrigation purpose, attributed to higher salinity, total hardness, fluoride, TDS values, etc.