Seasonal variation in groundwater quality and beneficial use for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes from Deccan Basaltic Region, Western India

Abstract

Sustainable management of groundwater resources requires detailed basin-wide water assessments. Semi-urbanized areas surrounding metropolitan cities in the western part of India were assessed for their suitability for domestic, irrigation, and industrial purposes. These study areas reflect rapid urban growth with residential complexes, combined with agricultural, horticultural, and industrial uses. Therefore, 68 representative groundwater samples were collected during the pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM) seasons of 2015 and analyzed for major ions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking standards, parameters like EC, TDS, TH, HCO₃, Ca, and Mg were found to exceed the desirable maximum limits, and the B and F content exceeded the permissible limits. The drinking suitability was studied using the modified water quality index (MWQI). The irrigation suitability was assessed using indices such as sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (%Na), and permeability index (PI). The industrial suitability was evaluated based on Langelier saturation index (LSI), saturation index (SI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), etc. MWQI results corroborate that 52.94 and 70% samples fall in no pollution category, and 47% and 30% samples were identified to be in the moderate category of pollution in the PRM season and POM season, respectively. The spatial variation maps of LSI, SI, RSI, Puckorius scaling index (PSI) and Larson-Skold index (LaI) show that the majority of the samples in the PRM season have low to insignificant scaling and corrosive potentials as compared to POM samples. The study results provide reliable information for water reserve managers to prepare the sustainable and more accurate basin management plans.

Keywords: Groundwater suitability; MWQI; Spatial variation; WHO; Western India.