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Evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality in the Jhansi district of Bundelkhand region, India

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Abstract

A base line study involving analysis of groundwater samples from the Jhansi district were carried out to determine the major and trace element chemistry and to assess the hydrogeochemical processes and water quality for domestic and irrigation uses. Study results show that groundwater is mildly acidic to alkaline in nature and HCO3 −, Cl−, Ca2+, Na+ and Mg2+ are the major contributing ions for the dissolved loads. The data plotted on the Gibbs and Piper diagrams reveal that the groundwater chemistry is mainly controlled by rock weathering with secondary contribution from anthropogenic sources. In a majority of the groundwater samples, alkaline earth metals exceed alkalies and weak acid dominate over strong acids. Ca–Mg–HCO3 is the dominant hydrogeochemical facies in the majority of the groundwater samples. The computed saturation indices demonstrate that groundwater is oversaturated with respect to dolomite and calcite. Kaolinite is the possible mineral that is in equilibrium with the water, implying that the groundwater chemistry favors kaolinite formation. A comparison of groundwater quality parameters in relation to specified limits for drinking water shows that the concentrations of TDS, F−, NO3 −, total hardness and Fe are exceeding the desirable limits in many water samples. Quality assessment for irrigation uses reveal that the groundwater is of good to suitable category. Higher salinity and residual sodium carbonate values at some sites restrict the suitability of groundwater and need an adequate drainage and water management plan for the area.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Dr. A. Sinha, Director, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research for his kind support and permission to publish this paper. Financial support by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi under its 11th Five Year Plan Project (IAP-006) is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Dr. B. K. Tewary and other laboratory colleagues for their support and encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, 826 015, India

    Abhay Kumar Singh, Beenu Raj, Ashwani K. Tiwari & Mukesh K. Mahato

  2. IEDS, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, UP, India

    Beenu Raj

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  1. Abhay Kumar Singh
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Correspondence to Abhay Kumar Singh.

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Singh, A.K., Raj, B., Tiwari, A.K. et al. Evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality in the Jhansi district of Bundelkhand region, India. Environ Earth Sci 70, 1225–1247 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2209-7

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