Hydrogeochemical Characterization and Usability Analysis of Deep Groundwater in the Eastern Part of Hetauda-Chitwan Dun Basin, Bagmati Province, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v29i2.66878Keywords:
Groundwater facies, rock-water interaction, usability analysisAbstract
Groundwater is an essential commodity on which residents of the area are dependent for drinking and irrigation purposes. The study focuses on the evaluation of hydrogeochemistry and the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes in the eastern part of the Hetauda-Chitwan Dun Valley. Altogether, seventeen groundwater samples were collected from deep aquifers and analyzed for different physical and chemical constituents. The groundwater has been characterized as slightly acidic and soft. The dominant anions and cations are in the order of HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > NO3- and Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ respectively. The groundwater facies in the study area are dominantly the Ca-HCO3 type however some Ca-Mg-Cl facies were also identified. The groundwater chemistry in the area is predominantly governed by rock-water interaction where silicate weathering emerges as principal sources of ionic concentration. The analytical results compared with the National Drinking Water Quality Standard (NDWQS) show that all parameters lie within the permissible limit. The water samples fall under excellent to good classes in terms of drinking water quality index. Based on several indices like electrical conductivity (EC), salinity hazard (SH), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), and percent sodium (%Na) the groundwater is suitable for irrigation purposes. In contrast, magnesium ratio (MR) and soluble sodium percentage (SSP) show that 23.53% and 17.65% of the groundwater samples are unsuitable and doubtful for irrigation purposes, respectively. The outcome of the study can be better used for informed decision-making regarding water resource management and sustainable development in the evolving landscape of Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City.
Downloads
References
Adimalla, N., & Qian, H. (2019). Groundwater quality evaluation using water quality index (WQI) for drinking purposes and human health risk (HHR) assessment in an agricultural region of Nanganur, south India. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 176, 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.03.066
APHA. (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.
Brown, R.M., McClelland, N.I., Deininger, R.A., & O’Connor, M.F. (1972). A water quality index—crashing the psychological barrier. Indicators of Environmental Quality: Proceedings of a symposium held during the AAAS meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 26–31, 1971 (pp. 173-182). Springer US.
Dassargues, A. (2018). Hydrogeology: groundwater science and engineering. CRC Press.
Egbueri, J.C., Mgbenu, C.N., & Chukwu, C.N. (2019). Investigating the hydrogeochemical processes and quality of water resources in Ojoto and environs using integrated classical methods. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 5, 1443-1461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-019-00613-y.
Freeze, R.A., & Cherry, J.A. (1979). Groundwater. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs.
Gaillardet, J., Dupre, B., Louvat, P., & Allegre, C.J. (1999). Global silicate weathering and CO2 consumption rates deduced from the chemistry of large rivers. Chemical Geology, 159 (1-4), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(99)00031-5.
Gibbs, R.J. (1970). Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry. Science, 170(3962), 1088-1090.
Handa, B.K. (1969). Description and classification of media for hydro-geochemical investigations. In Symposium on ground water studies in arid and semiarid regions, Roorkee, 20, 319.
Mahaqi, A., Moheghi, M.M., Mehiqi, M., & Moheghy, M.A. (2018). Hydrogeochemical characteristics and groundwater quality assessment for drinking and irrigation purposes in the Mazar-i-Sharif city, North Afghanistan. Applied Water Science, 8, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-018-0768-9.
Mallick, J., Singh, C.K., AlMesfer, M.K., Kumar, A., Khan, R.A., Islam, S., & Rahman, A. (2018). Hydro-geochemical assessment of groundwater quality in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. Water, 10(12), 1847. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10121847.
Mostafa, M.G., Uddin, S.H., & Haque, A.B.M.H. (2017). Assessment of hydrogeochemistry and groundwater quality of Rajshahi City in Bangladesh. Applied Water Science, 7, 4663-4671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-017-0629-y.
Mukherjee, I., & Singh, U.K. (2018). Assessment of fluoride contaminated groundwater on food crops and vegetables in Birbhum District of West Bengal, India. In Advance Technologies in Agriculture for Doubling Farmer’s Income (pp. 225-235). New Delhi Publishers New Delhi.
Nagaraju, A., Thejaswi, A., & Sharifi, Z. (2016). Assessment of groundwater quality and its suitability for agricultural usage in and around Rangampeta area, Andhra Pradesh, south India. Journal of Water Chemistry and Technology, 38, 358-365. https://doi.org/10.3103/S1063455X16060102.
Nandini, K., & Suriya, S. (2020). A review of potential impact of climate change on global water resources. Journal of Seybold Report, 15(7), 495.
NDWQS. (2005). Ministry of Physical Planning and Work, Government of Nepal.
Nematollahi, M.J., Ebrahimi, P., Razmara, M., & Ghasemi, A. (2016). Hydrogeochemical investigations and groundwater quality assessment of Torbat-Zaveh plain, KhorasanRazavi, Iran. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4968-6.
Pandey, A.S., & Walraevens, K. (2019). Hydrogeochemical analysis of part of the alluvial aquifer, Rupendehi District, Nepal. Journal of Nepal Geological Society, 58, 171-180. https://doi.org/10.3126/jngs.v58i0.24602.
Pant, B.R. (2011). Ground water quality in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 178, 477-485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1706-y.
Paternoster, M., Buccione, R., Canora, F., Buttitta, D., Panebianco, S., Rizzo, G., ... & Mongelli, G. (2021). Hydrogeochemistry and groundwater quality assessment in the High Agri Valley (Southern Italy). Geofluids, 2021, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6664164.
Piper, A.M. (1944). A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water‐analyses. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 25(6), 914-928. https://doi.org/10.1029/TR025i006p00914.
Raghunath, H.M. (1987). Groundwater. Wiley Eastern Ltd. New Delhi, India.
Raheja, H., Goel, A., & Pal, M. (2022). An evaluation of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and irrigation uses under the GIS framework. Water Practice and Technology, 17(11), 2259-2277. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2022.134.
Raju, N. J., Gurung, D., & Patel, P. (2016). Groundwater Quality Appraisal in Parts of Dun Valley Aquifers in the Terai Region, Central Nepal. Geostatistical and Geospatial Approaches for the Characterization of Natural Resources in the Environment: Challenges, Processes and Strategies (pp. 191-198). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18663-4_31.
Raju, N.J., Ram, P., & Dey, S. (2009). Groundwater quality in the lower Varuna river basin, Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 73, 178-192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-009-0074-0.
Richards, L.A. (Ed.). (1954). Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils (No. 60). US Government Printing Office.
Saha, S., Reza, A.H.M., & Roy, M.K. (2019). Hydrochemical evaluation of groundwater quality of the Tista floodplain, Rangpur, Bangladesh. Applied Water Science, 9(8), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1085-7.
Silwal, C.B., Karkee, B., Dahal, K., Nepal, M., Acharya, S., Khanal, M., & Pathak, D. (2022). Hydro-geochemical characterization and suitability analysis of spring water of the Mai Khola watershed, Ilam, eastern Nepal. Journal of Nepal Geological Society, 63(1), 123-132. https://doi.org/10.3126/jngs.v63i01.50847.
Tamrakar, N.K. (2004). Petrographic properties and their relationship with engineering properties of the Siwalik sandstones, Central Nepal. Doctoral Thesis, Central Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University.
Tamrakar, N.K., Maharjan, S., & Shrestha, M.B. (2008). Petrology of Rapti River sand, Hetauda-Chitwan dun basin, central nepal; an example of recycled provenance. Bulletin of the Department of Geology, 11, 23-30.
Tegegne, A.M., Lohani, T.K., & Eshete, A.A. (2023). Evaluation of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes using proxy indices in the Gunabay watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Heliyon, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15263.
Todd, D.K. (1960). Saltwater intrusion of coastal aquifers in the United States. Subterranean Water, 52, 452-461.
USSL. (1954). Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. U.S. Salinity Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Wang, L., Long, F., Liao, W., & Liu, H. (2020). Prediction of anaerobic digestion performance and identification of critical operational parameters using machine learning algorithms. Bioresource Technology, 298, 122495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122495.
Wang, X., Zhang, L., Zhao, Z., & Cai, Y. (2018). Heavy metal pollution in reservoirs in the hilly area of southern China: Distribution, source apportionment and health risk assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 634, 158-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.340.
Wang, Y., Li, R., Wu, X., Yan, Y., Wei, C., Luo, M., ... & Zhang, Y. (2023). Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes Using GIS-Based IWQI, EWQI and HHR Model. Water, 15(12), 2233. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15122233.
Wilcox, L.V. (1948). The quality of water for irrigation use. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
Wilcox, L.V. (1955). Classification and use of irrigation waters. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington, DC
Wu, C., Wu, X., Lu, C., Sun, Q., He, X., Yan, L., & Qin, T. (2021). Hydrogeochemical characterization and its seasonal changes of groundwater based on self-organizing maps. Water, 13(21), 3065. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13213065.
Xiao, Y., Gu, X., Yin, S., Pan, X., Shao, J., & Cui, Y. (2017). Investigation of geochemical characteristics and controlling processes of groundwater in a typical long-term reclaimed water use area. Water, 9(10), 800. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9100800.
Zaidi, F.K., Nazzal, Y., Jafri, M.K., Naeem, M., & Ahmed, I. (2015). Reverse ion exchange as a major process controlling the groundwater chemistry in an arid environment: a case study from northwestern Saudi Arabia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4828-4.
Zhang, J., Zhou, J., Chen, Y., Wei, X., Zeng, Y., & Sun, Y. (2023). Identifying the factors controlling surface water and groundwater chemical characteristics and irrigation suitability in the Yarkant River Basin, northwest China. Environmental Research, 223, 115452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115452.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Institute of Science and Technology, T.U.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The views and interpretations in this journal are those of the author(s). They are not attributable to the Institute of Science and Technology, T.U. and do not imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers of boundaries.
The copyright of the articles is held by the Institute of Science and Technology, T.U.
