2. Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,
Telangana State, India
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 5 editor@iaeme.com
50’
28’’
−20° 13’
35’’ and longitude E 78° 28’
25’’
−78° 58’
00’’
covering Thamsi,
Thalamadugu and Gudihathnoor mandals of Adilabad districts, Andhra Pradesh, India
(Figure 1).
Evaluation of hvdrogeological parameters in hard rock terrains is quite difficult,
unlike in soft rock areas. Since quality as important as quantity, the groundwater
chemistry of the area was studied. The study includes determination of ionic
concentrations, chemical classification (Sudersana Raju et al, 1990) [9] and irrigation
suitability. The chemical parameters analyzed were the major cations and anions.
Major cations include Mg2
+
, Ca2
+
, K+
, Na+
, the major anions include SO4
2-
, NO3
-
, F-
,
Cl-
, CO3
-
, HCO3
-
(Sakram. G et al, 2014) [8].
A number of techniques and methods have been developed to interpret the data,
Zaporozerc (1972) summarized the various methods of data representation and
discussed about their possible use. In the present study, the method suggested by Hem
(1975), the Piper trilinear diagram (Piper, 1953) [6] and the Wilcox (1955) diagram
are used for classifying the groundwater [7].
2. GEOLOGICAL SETUP OF THE AREA
The Mathadivagu basin is mostly covered by crystalline rocks or hard rocks. About 60
percent of study area comprises basaltic lava flow i.e., Deccantraps. The central part
comprises Archaean granites and gneisses, and a small pocket in northeast is covered
by limestone of Penganga series (Figures 2, 3 and 4). Granites with numerous basic
and acidic enclaves traversed by basic dikes and veins of quartz, epidote, feldspar, and
pegmatite. Granites are divided into pink and grey types, depending on the
predominant color of K–feldspar. Pink granites are dominant and occupy a major part
of the investigation. Grey granites occupy limited area and occur as pockets, at the
places they are inter spread with pink granites. Gneissic granites are medium to coarse
grained and occur at very few places in the area.
Figure 1 Map showing locations of the samples collected in Mathadi vagu basin
3. K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar
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Figure 2 Map showing litho units of the research area with drainage
Joints are more numerous with large intra spaces near the ground surface and
diminish in width and intensity with depth. Predominance of major set of joints in
northern side of the study area is also noted.
2.1. Sample Collection and Analysis
Water samples were collected from 37 representative wells covering all the units in
the study area. Laboratory analysis using standard methods of the American Public
Health Association (APHA, 1998) [1] include the determination of the ionic
concentration of Na+
, K+
, Mg2+
, HCO3
-
, Cl-
and using the electrical neutrality method
SO4
2-
is determined (Gopalakrishna et al, 2006) [2] Data from field measurements and
major ion analysis are presented in Table-1.
Figure 3 Veins in Granites, South of Devapur
4. Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,
Telangana State, India
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Figure 4 Siliceous Limestone, At Bheemsary
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1. Ionic Concentrations
Sodium is the predominant cation, with a concentration range of 20.4-169.8 mg/l, and
potassium occurs in minor concentration 0.5-239 mg/l, Among alkaline earths,
magnesium varies from 7.8-82.9 mg/l, and calcium from 21.4-311.5 mg/l.
Bicarbonate is the predominant anion, with concentration varying between 137.3 and
683 mg/l. Chloride is the principal anion among the strong acidic and varies from
13.5−333.7 mg/l. Nitrate is the predominant with concentration varying between 0
and 407 mg/l. Fluoride is major concentration varying from 0.5 to 4.5 mg/l.
3.2. Chemical Classification
Classification schemes are developed based on the concentration of various
predominant cations and anions and/or on the interrelationship of ions. Hem (1975)
[3] suggested that water in which no one cation or anion constitutes as much as 50
percent of the total should be recognized as "mixed type” and identified by the names
of all the important cations and anions. In the area under investigation, 50 percent or
more of individual cations or anionic concentration in their respective total have been
considered in formulating the water type. In case where no one cations or anions
constitutes as much as a 50 percent of the total but is dominant, the water is classified
as mixed dominating ion water type. On the basis of the chemical characteristics, the
waters in the area can be classified into five groups, Mixed Cationic and anionic Na
dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Mg dominating bicarbonate water,
Mixed Cationic and anionic Ca dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Ca
dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Na dominating bicarbonate water. The
types of water present in the Mathadivagu basin area and their percentage
distributions in the area are presented in Table 2 and Table 3. It is clear from the table
that the area is dominated by Mixed Cationic Ca dominating bicarbonate water and
Mixed Cationic and anionic Ca dominating bicarbonate water. Mixed Cationic Mg
dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic and anionic Na dominating
bicarbonate water and Mixed Cationic Na dominating bicarbonate water occupy the
least percentage of the area [4].
6. Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,
Telangana State, India
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Table 2 Types of water present in Mathadivagu basin
Sample
No.
Water type (based
on chemical
classification)
Water type
(according
to Wilcox
diagram)
Sample
No.
Water type (based
on chemical
classification)
Water type
(according
to Wilcox
diagram)
1 Ca-K-Mg-HCO3 C3S1 20
Ca-K-Na-Mg-
HCO3-Cl
C3S1
2 Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3-Cl C3S1 21 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
3
Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl-
NO3
C3S1 22 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
4 Mg-Ca-HCO3 C3S1 23 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
5 Na-Ca-HCO3-Cl C3S1 24 Mg-Ca-Na-HCO3 C2S1
6 Ca-Na-HCO3-Cl C3S1 25 Mg-Na-Ca-HCO3 C3S1
7 Ca-Na-HCO3 C2S1 25 Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl C3S1
8 Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3 C3S1 27 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
9 Ca-Na-HCO3-NO3 C2S1 28 Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl C3S1
10 Na-Ca-Mg-HCO3 C2S1 28 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
11 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1 30 Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl C3S1
12 Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3 C3S1 31
Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3-
Cl
C3S1
13 Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3 C3S1 32 Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl C3S1
14 Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3 C2S1 33 Mg-Ca-HCO3 C3S1
15 Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3 C3S1 34
Ca-Mg-K-HCO3-
Cl-NO3
C3S1
16 Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3-Cl C3S1 35 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
17 Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3-Cl C3S1 36 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
18 Ca-Na-Mg-Cl-HCO3 C4S1 37 Ca-Mg-HCO3 C3S1
19 Mg-Ca-Na-HCO3 C2S1
Table 3 Distribution of type of water in Mathadivagu basin
Serial No. Water type No. of Samples
1
MIXED CATIONIC CA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
16
2
MIXED CATIONIC NA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
1
3
MIXED CATIONIC AND ANIONIC CA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
14
4
MIXED CATIONIC MG DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
5
5
MIXED CATIONIC AND ANIONIC NA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
1
3.3. Chemical Relationships
The trilinear diagrams of Piper are very useful in bringing out chemical relationship
among groundwaters in more definite terms than other possible plotting methods
(Walton, 1970) [10]. Chemical data of the area are subjected to graphical treatment by
plotting them in a Piper trilinear diagram (1953). Distribution of the groundwater
7. K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar
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samples in deferent subdivisions of the diamond-shaped field of the Piper diagram
shown in Figures 5a and 5b. Piper plot of water samples showed clusters of samples
tend close to calcium & magnesium, sulfate and chloride in diamond facies showing
water rich in chloride and sulfates of calcium and magnesium.
5(a)
5(b)
Figure 5(a), 5(b) Chemical data of water plotted in Piper trilinear diagram
3.4. Irrigation Suitability
Groundwater quality for irrigation is generally expressed by class of relative
suitability, taking sodium content and electrical conductivity into consideration.
8. Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,
Telangana State, India
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Electrical conductivity and sodium adsorption ratio should be considered in
determining the suitability of water quality for irrigation.
Figure 6 Chemical data of water plotted in Wilcox diagram
The distribution of the data from the Mathadivagu basin area in the Wilcox (1955)
diagram classification (Figure 6) shows that most of the area has medium salinity–low
sodium water is useful for irrigation purposes. Pochera and Thalamadugu villages
have high salinity–low sodium water. Bharampur has high salinity – medium sodium
water (Kumar and Saxena V. K., 1996) [5] indicating a need for adequate drainage to
overcome salinity problem for irrigational purposes
4. CONCLUSIONS
The Mathadivagu basin area is a hard rock terrain consisting granite, basalt and
limestone, and their contact zones. The study of the chemical characteristics of the
water shows that the area is dominate in Mixed Cationic Ca dominating bicarbonate
water, Mixed Cationic and anionic Ca dominating bicarbonate type of water.
The piper trilinear diagram reveals that, the area has basic water and two villages
have strongly acidic water. The entire area is devoid of primary alkalinity and
secondary salinity water but primary salinity water occurs in Bharampur village. And
fluoride is high i.e. concentration of 4.5 mg/l at the Sithgondi village, and 4 samples
have above permissible limits. High concentration of Nitrate − 407 mg/l at Umdam
village and 29 samples have above permissible limits, this is because farmers are
using more fertilizers in agricultural activities. Water sample collected at Devapur
village shows high concentration of TDS − 1150 mg/l, and 25 samples have above
permissible limits. A long intake of this water may lead to chronic diseases, proper
attention is required to purify the water particularly for drinking purposes. While most
of the water available in this area is suitable for irrigation, some pockets have high
9. K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar
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salinity–medium sodium and high salinity-low sodium water which needs better
drainage to overcome the salinity problem.
REFERENCES
[1] APHA. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th ed.
Clesceri, L. S., Greenberg, A. E. and Eaton, A.D. eds., Washington D.C.:
American Public Health Association, 1998, pp. 1220.
[2] Gopalakrishna, G. S., Harinarayanan, P. and Balasubramanian, A. Groundwater
Quality in Twin Microwater sheds near Keralapura, Hassan District, Karnataka.
Journal of The Geological Society of India, 67(6), June 2006, pp. 802.
[3] Hem. Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water.
USGS Water Supply Paper 2254, 1975, pp. 263.
[4] Das, K. K. Hydrogeological studies in Mathadi vagu basin in Adilabad district,
Andhra Pradesh, India. Unpublished thesis, Department of Geology, Osmania
University, Hyderabad, India, 2013.
[5] Kumar, W. and Saxena, V. K. Study for the groundwater problem in Warangal
district of Andhra Pradesh. Proc of Int. Sym. on Applied Geochemistry, 1996, pp.
273−279.
[6] Piper. A graphic Procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water samples
United States Geological Survey Water Supply Paper Note 12 in Groundwater
resource evaluation by W.C. Walton Mc Graw Hill Kogakusha Ltd, Tokya 1970.
Washington, 1953.
[7] Basavarajappa, H. T., Jeevan, L. and Manjunatha, M. C. Delineation of
Groundwater Potential Zones In Precambrian Hard Rock Terrain of Tumakuru
District, Karnataka, India Using Geomatics Application. International Journal of
Civil Engineering & Technology (IJCIET), 5(12), 2014, pp. 305−315.
[8] Sakram, G. and et al. Qualitative assessment of groundwater in and around
Macherla, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. International journal of
advanced scientific and technical research, 4(1), Jan-Feb, 2014.
[9] Raju, C. S. and Goud, P. V. P., Quality characterisation of groundwater in
koilsagar project area, Mahabubnagar district, Andhra Pradesh. Environ Geol
Water science, 16(2), 1990, pp. 121−128.
[10] Walton. Groundwater resource evaluation, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970, pp.
664.
![Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,
Telangana State, India
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 5 editor@iaeme.com
50’
28’’
−20° 13’
35’’ and longitude E 78° 28’
25’’
−78° 58’
00’’
covering Thamsi,
Thalamadugu and Gudihathnoor mandals of Adilabad districts, Andhra Pradesh, India
(Figure 1).
Evaluation of hvdrogeological parameters in hard rock terrains is quite difficult,
unlike in soft rock areas. Since quality as important as quantity, the groundwater
chemistry of the area was studied. The study includes determination of ionic
concentrations, chemical classification (Sudersana Raju et al, 1990) [9] and irrigation
suitability. The chemical parameters analyzed were the major cations and anions.
Major cations include Mg2
+
, Ca2
+
, K+
, Na+
, the major anions include SO4
2-
, NO3
-
, F-
,
Cl-
, CO3
-
, HCO3
-
(Sakram. G et al, 2014) [8].
A number of techniques and methods have been developed to interpret the data,
Zaporozerc (1972) summarized the various methods of data representation and
discussed about their possible use. In the present study, the method suggested by Hem
(1975), the Piper trilinear diagram (Piper, 1953) [6] and the Wilcox (1955) diagram
are used for classifying the groundwater [7].
2. GEOLOGICAL SETUP OF THE AREA
The Mathadivagu basin is mostly covered by crystalline rocks or hard rocks. About 60
percent of study area comprises basaltic lava flow i.e., Deccantraps. The central part
comprises Archaean granites and gneisses, and a small pocket in northeast is covered
by limestone of Penganga series (Figures 2, 3 and 4). Granites with numerous basic
and acidic enclaves traversed by basic dikes and veins of quartz, epidote, feldspar, and
pegmatite. Granites are divided into pink and grey types, depending on the
predominant color of K–feldspar. Pink granites are dominant and occupy a major part
of the investigation. Grey granites occupy limited area and occur as pockets, at the
places they are inter spread with pink granites. Gneissic granites are medium to coarse
grained and occur at very few places in the area.
Figure 1 Map showing locations of the samples collected in Mathadi vagu basin](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)