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Assessing the surface and bottom river water quality for irrigation: a study of Damodar River, India

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Abstract

The present study examines the suitability of water (surface and bottom) of the Damodar River and its tributaries for irrigation purposes. Irrigation water quality index (IWQI) and indices related to irrigation hazards (salinity, alkalinity, sodicity, and permeability) were measured at 14 stations located around the confluence of the tributaries with the trunk stream to assess the point-specific as well as spatial variations of river water quality and its degree of suitability to irrigation. The degree of salinity hazard (both the surface and bottom water) ranges from low to medium along with a low degree of sodium hazard for both the surface and bottom water. Doneen’s permeability diagram has found 7.14% of the surface and 14.29% of the bottom water samples unsuitable for irrigation. Moreover, the alkali hazard indicates that all of the water samples (both the surface and bottom water) are suitable for irrigation due to the lesser concentration of sodium in the river water. Furthermore, the IWQI ranges from 37.83 to 47.01 on the surface and 42.1 to 53.02 in the bottom water samples of the river. Thus, the poor water quality is mainly driven by the mixing of polluted water from the urban-industrial complex in the Damodar region. The spatial variation in downstream river water quality and the point-specific assessment of the river water quality around the confluences contributes to locating the potential pollutant bearing segments within the watershed. The study bears a valuable understanding of sustainable irrigation development within a watershed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Govt. of India vide letter number 3286/(OBC)(NET-JAN 2017) dated 1st September 2017 to carry out the Ph.D. work of the first author (Md. Mofizul Hoque) of this paper. Moreover, National Test House, Kolkata, India is duly acknowledged for extending the kind cooperation for testing the water samples at a subsidized rate.  

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Aliah University, 17 Gorachand Road, Kolkata, 700 014, India

    Md. Mofizul Hoque, A. Islam & B. Sarkar

  2. Department of Geography, Vivekananda College for Women, Affiliated to University of Calcutta, Kolkata, 700008, India

    U. Deep Saha

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  1. Md. Mofizul Hoque
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  2. A. Islam
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  3. B. Sarkar
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  4. U. Deep Saha
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Correspondence to A. Islam.

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Hoque, M.M., Islam, A., Sarkar, B. et al. Assessing the surface and bottom river water quality for irrigation: a study of Damodar River, India. Int J Energ Water Res (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-022-00206-z

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