Geochemical Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in Katedhan IDA and Surrounding Areas, Hyderabad, A.P., India

Abstract

The region comprising Miralam, Katedhan IDA and surrounding areas constitutes the southern part of the old city of Hyderabad and parts of Ranga Reddy district of the State of Andhra Pradesh, India. Marked urbanization and industrial concentration characterize this region. In this paper, the quality of groundwater is evaluated from geochemical analysis of fifty groundwater samples collected from the region. Ionic concentrations of K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, F-, Cl-, SO4 2-, HCO3- and NO3-, and parameters such as pH, total hardness (TH), total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), permeability index (PI), residual carbonate (RC), electrical conductance (EC) and groundwater quality index (GWQI) are determined. Groundwater in the Miralam and surrounding areas is found to be alkaline, with low CO3 2-, high HCO3-, high dissolved oxygen and low level of nutrients. Anomalously high values of total hardness (TH) and total dissolved solids (TDS) at numerous places indicate the unsuitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation. Excessive leaching of various chemical components into the groundwater leading to the enrichment of different anions and cations in the Sivarampally and Katedhan IDA areas indicates pollution from extraneous sources.

Keywords: geochemical analysis, groundwater quality, hyderabad