Original Articles
M. Sujatha and T. Satyanarayan
Abstract
The present paper deals with the study of different Hydro chemical groups of ground water in Sarada River Basin (SRB). The ground water samples were collected from dug wells and bore wells which were analyzed for cations and anions in different sub-basins of the study area. The SRB was divided into six sub-basins for the purpose of the study. Different hydrochemical groups namely sodium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, calcium bicarbonate, sodium sulphate and magnesium chloride, according to their dominant cations and anions, were observed and studied in different types of rock formations, soil groups, geomorphic settings, slopes and ground water aquifers in the area of the investigation. The hydrochemical data indicated that the ground water was contaminated in the southern part of lower Sarada River Basin by sub-surface sea water intrusion, pollution due to the industrial wastes discharged by existing sugar factories and chemical contamination due to over use of fertilizers and further, due to the heavy use of pesticides in the said areas of intensive irrigation. In many locations, maximum parameters were within the permissible limits and some were beyond the limits of drinking water standards. However most of the ground water of the SRB was found suitable for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes.