Poll Res. 39 (1) : 68-72 (2020) Copyright © EM International ISSN 0257–8050 EVALUATION OF GROUND WATER QUALITY IN BORIGAON AREA, MAHARASHTRA P.K. GOGARI1, S.N. SAVE2 AND V.S. CHAUDHARI3 1Department of Botany, 2Department of Chemistry, 3Department of Biotechnology, 1,2,3N.B. Mehta Science College, Bordi, Tal-Dahanu, Dist-Thane 401 701, Maharashtra (Received 1 August, 2019; accepted 17 September, 2019) ABSTRACT The study area Borigaon, is situated near the western coast of India at the Maharashtra, Gujarat border. The area is famous for its horticultural development for Chikoo (Sapote). The present study deals with the evaluation of ground water quality for irrigation in Borigaon area. The ground water samples were collected from 26 sites during pre- monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of the year 2008 and were subjected for chemical characteristics. The suitability of water for irrigation is evaluated based on Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Salinity Hazard and US salinity Diagram. KEYWORDS : Ground water, Chemical characters, SAR, Salinity hazard, USSL diagram. INTRODUCTION purpose depends upon its mineral constituents. The characteristics of irrigation water that have been The water quality analysis is the important aspect in most important in determining its quality depends ground water studies. The physical and chemical upon climatic conditions, irrigation practices, soil- parameters of ground water play a significant role water retention characteristics, crop tolerance, depth in classifying and assessing waterquality. to water table and agronomic practices etc. (Gupta Ground water often consists of seven major and Gupta, 2003) 2+ 2+ - + + 2- elements. Ca , Mg , Cl , HCO3, Na , K and SO4 . The characteristics of irrigation water that appear Considering the individual and paired ionic to be most important in determining its quality are- concentration certain indices are proposed to find 1. Total concentration of soluble salts as measured out water quality. It was observed that the criterion by electrical conductivity. used in the classification of waters for particular 2. Relative proportion of sodium to other principle purpose may not find the suitability standards for cations as expressed by SAR. other purposes and better results can be obtained 3. Specific ion toxicity hazard (Major constituents only by considering the combined chemistry of all Na, Mg, Cl, related to the concentration of the ions rather than individual or paired ionic calcium plus magnesium or calcium alone. (US characters (Kumaresan and Riyazuddin, 2006) Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954) Chemical classification also throws light on the The US Salinity Laboratory of the Department of - - - concentration of HCO3 , CO3 , NO3 and minor Agriculture adopted the certain technique based on constituents B, Li, F and other) various predominant which the suitability of water for agriculture cations, anions and Alkalinity hazard as isexplained. concentration their inter relationships. A number of The objective of the present work is to study the techniques and methods have been developed to ground water quality of Borigaon area in interpret the chemical data. Presentation of chemical Maharashtra. In this case the method proposed by analysis in graphical form makes understanding of US Salinity Laboratory has used to study the complex ground water system simpler and quicker. ground water quality of Borigaonarea. The suitability of groundwater for irrigation EVALUATION OF GROUND WATER QUALITY IN BORIGAON AREA, MAHARASHTRA 69 MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The present study area Borigaon is situated near the Table 1 represents the results of ground water western coast of India at the Maharashtra-Gujarat analysis during pre-monsoon season. border. The Borigaon is situated in Talasari Taluka Table 2 represents the results of ground water in Maharashtra state. The Borigaon lies between analysis during post-monsoon season. latitude 2007’ 31.23" N and longitude 720 45’ 19.10" E. Table 3 represents the suitability of water for The Borigaon area is famous for its horticultural irrigation purpose based on USSL classification. development for chikoo. 80% of the land is covered Table 4 represents the classification based on by plantation of chickoo, mango, coconut, salinity hazard. vegetables etc. The lion’s share of this development Table 5 represents the classification of ground is availability of plenty of water. For irrigation of water samples on the basis of USSL diagram. farms 95% of farmers use bore-well system. For Figure 1 represents the USSL classification of irrigation ground water is pumped out in excessive ground water samples during pre-monsoon amount. Industrial estates are situated in nearby seasons. area of Borigaon. Coast line is 2 Km away from this Figure 2 represents the USSL classification of area. ground water samples during post-monsoon Twenty six ground water samples were collected seasons. from Borigaon area during pre-monsoon (April, USSL Diagram 2008) and post-monsoon period (October, 2008). The locations for collection of ground water samples When the sodium absorption ratio and specific during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period conductance of water are known, the classification were kept same. The intervals between the locations of water for irrigation can be determined by were maintained more than 100m. graphically plotting these values on the US salinity All the samples were collected from bore well of diagrams (USSL). Water have been divided into C1, 60 to 120 feet’s depth. The pump was run for about C2, C3 ,C4 types on the basis of salinity hazard and 10 minutes prior to sampling. The water samples S1, S2, S3, S4 types on the basis of sodium hazard. were collected into precleaned (and rinsed with The significance and interpretations of quality water sample) polythene container for analysis. The ratings on the USSL diagram can be summarized as proper labeling was made on each sample. follows. The samples were brought to laboratory for Conductivity further analysis and following physico- chemical characters were analyzed. Electrical conductivity, Low Salinity Water (C1) acidity, alkalinity, chlorides, calcium, total hardness, sulphate, sodium and potassium. The analysis was Low salinity water can be used for irrigation with done by standard methods given by APHA (1976). most crops on most soils. Some leaching is required, The sodium in irrigation waters is usually but this occurs under normal irrigation practices, denoted as percentage sodium (%Na), sodium except in soils of extremely low permeability. absorption ratio (SAR) and residual sodium Medium Salinity Water (C ) carbonate (RSC). They can be determined by using 2 the following formula. Medium salinity water can be used if a moderate amount of leaching occurs. Plants with moderate salt tolerance can be grown in most instances without special practices of salinity control. High Salinity Water (C3) High salinity water is satisfactory for plants having moderate salt tolerance, on the soils of moderate permeability with leaching. –3 – 2+ 2+ Very High Salinity Water (C4) RSC = (HCO ± CO2 )-(Ca + Mg ) All ionic concentrations are expressed in epm. Very high salinity water is not suitable for irrigation 70 GOGARI ET AL Table 1. Pre-monsoon Analysis Sample Pre-monsoon Pre-monsoon Sample Pre-monsoon Pre-monsoon No. EC in mS SAR No. EC in mS SAR 1 517 5.022 14 2680 39.282 2 670 2.321 15 1960 13.241 3 716 6.876 16 3280 25.638 4 760 6.149 17 2750 7.537 5 955 4.348 18 3800 18.085 6 1240 18.872 19 3610 28.667 7 2640 53.093 20 3650 13.478 8 1200 24.538 21 3880 116.275 9 3060 43.240 22 3400 41.276 10 1353 16.770 23 1980 15.842 11 1045 12.290 24 2420 31.748 12 1740 35.015 25 1360 11.784 13 2220 11.932 26 1230 8.199 Table 2. Post-monsoon Analysis Sample Post-monsoon Post-monsoon Sample Post-monsoon Post-monsoon No. EC in mS SAR No. EC in mS SAR 1 382 0.473 14 1470 2.621 2 656 0.623 15 1610 2.459 3 513 0.561 16 2530 5.366 4 606 0.935 17 2470 6.554 5 966 1.824 18 3930 8.251 6 2180 6.354 19 2400 5.040 7 1967 13.044 20 3880 4.823 8 1130 0.933 21 3360 29.00 9 3140 8.464 22 2680 3.780 10 1292 1.692 23 2270 3.845 11 1077 1.101 24 1660 1.608 12 1953 1.609 25 1360 1.473 13 1710 1.054 26 1298 1.322 Table 3. Suitability of water for irrigation purpose based under ordinary conditions, but may be used on USSL classification occasionally under very special circumstances. The soils must be permeable, drainage must be Sodium SAR epm Remark on adequate, irrigation water must be applied in excess hazard class quality to provide considerable leaching and very salt- S1 <10 Excellent tolerant crops should be selected. S2 10 to 18 Good S3 18 to 26 Doubtful Sodium S4 >26 Unsuitable The classification of irrigation waters with respect to sodium absorption ratio is based primarily on the Table 4. Classification based on salinity hazard effect of exchangeable sodium on the physical Salinity Electrical Conductivity Remark on condition of the soil. Sodium-sensitive plants may, hazard class (Micro mhos/cm) quality however, suffer injury as a result of sodium accumulation in the plant tissue when exchangeable C1 100 to 250 Excellent sodium values are lower than those effective in C2 250 to 750 Good causing deterioration of the physical condition of C3 750 to 2250 Doubtful C4 > 2250 Unsuitable the soil. EVALUATION OF GROUND WATER QUALITY IN BORIGAON AREA, MAHARASHTRA 71 Low Sodium Water (S1) High Sodium Water (S3) Low sodium water can be used for irrigation on High sodium water may produced harmful levels of almost all soils with little danger of the develop- exchangeable sodium in most soils and will require ment of harmful levels of exchangeable sodium.