Hydrochemical Characterisation and Suitability Assessment of Groundwater Using Multivariate Techniques in Challakere Taluk, Chitradurga District, Karnataka State, India
Vinay C
*
Department of Studies of Earth Science, University of Mysore, Mysuru-570006, India.
Nagendra P
Department of Studies of Earth Science, University of Mysore, Mysuru-570006, India.
Samarth Urs M
Department of Studies of Earth Science, University of Mysore, Mysuru-570006, India.
Suresh Kumar B V
Department of Studies of Earth Science, University of Mysore, Mysuru-570006, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Understanding the groundwater resources of Challakere taluk is essential for sustainable management. A comprehensive hydrogeochemical study was carried out using 40 groundwater samples to assess various physicochemical properties. WQI provided a numerical rating of the water's potability, while Wilcox diagrams evaluated its suitability for irrigation. The groundwater quality, as indicated by the WQI, shows significant spatial variation across the study area, with values ranging from 41 to 310. Among the samples analyzed, 27.5% are classified as excellent, and 22.5% as good. However, it is concerning that 50% of the samples fall into poor, very poor, or unsuitable categories for drinking. Further geochemical analysis using Piper, Gibbs, and Chadha diagrams revealed dominant water types and related processes, especially how rocks interact with water and facilitate ion exchange. Some areas showed elevated levels of TDS and sodium (Na). By integrating these techniques, the study provides a detailed understanding of groundwater quality, offering crucial insights for effective groundwater management and policy development in Challakere taluk.
Keywords: Groundwater contamination, hydrochemical classification, hydrostatistics, and hydrogeochemistry, groundwater quality, sustainability