Jornal de Geologia e Geofísica
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Groundwater Studies with Special Emphasis on Seasonal Variation of Groundwater Quality in a Coastal Aquifer

Kasi Viswanadh Gorthi and Mohan Babu

The qualitative and quantitative assessment of groundwater is obligatory pre-requisite for developing countries like India with rural based economy. It is essential to evolve a strategy for ecologically sustainable development of groundwater resources which can be done only through exploration of hydro-geological environment. In the present study, groundwater studies, with special emphasis on groundwater quality and its variation with season have been carried out for upland areas of Nellore district, situated on the East Coast of India. Groundwater quality data of samples collected during pre and post monsoon season in the year 2011 by State Groundwater Department, Nellore have been used for finding its suitability for drinking and agricultural purposes. The data pertaining to the following parameters / ions, viz., Hydrogen Concentration(pH), Total Dissolved Solids(TDS), Total Hardness(TH), Calcium(Ca²⁺), Magnesium(Mg²⁺), Chlorides(Cl), Sodium(Na⁺), Potassium(K⁺), and Sulphates(SO₄²⁺) has been analyzed. It has been observed that in post-monsoon period most of the water samples are found not suitable for drinking. For evaluation of water quality for irrigation, US Salinity Laboratory’s and Wilcox’s diagrams, and percent Sodium (Na⁺) are used. It is found that the majority of the groundwater samples are not good for irrigation in post-monsoon compared to that in pre-monsoon.