Abstract
An investigation on quality of groundwater has been carried out in the river basin of Varaha located in Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh to find out the factors that are responsible for spatial variations of water vulnerability. The study area is underlain by the Precambrian rocks of Eastern Ghats over which the Recent Formations occur. Groundwater is a prime source for drinking and irrigation. The quality of groundwater is fresh and brackish with dominance of the latter. Groundwater samples are categorized into two major clusters A and B, using the dendrogram of cluster analyses. Out of these two major clusters, five sub-clusters I to V in the pre-monsoon season and six sub-clusters I to VI in the post-monsoon season are identified. The sub-clusters I to IV of pre-monsoon and I to V of post-monsoon seasons of the cluster A are characterized by less mineralized groundwater compared to those of V of pre-monsoon and VI of post-monsoon seasons of the cluster B, which represent highly mineralized groundwater. The low to high mineral content follows gradually from upstream to the downstream area, being higher in post-monsoon season in both the clusters A and B, depending upon the source, mineral dissolution, and precipitation, solubility and leaching of ions, ion exchange and adsorption processes. Spatial distributions of the sub-clusters give clues to understand the factors that cause variations of groundwater vulnerability at a specific site, vis-a-vis local and regional lithological and non-lithological influences. As a result, the quality of groundwater on a regional scale changes from Na+ > Mg2+ >Ca2+ > K+: HCO −3 > Cl− > SO 2−4 > NO −3 > F− in the cluster A to Na+ > Mg2+ >Ca2+ > K+: Cl− > HCO −3 > SO 2−4 > NO −3 > F− in the cluster B, following the topography. The classification of the area into the zones of relative groundwater vulnerability with respect to drinking water quality of the chemical composition of the sub-clusters helps the planners to identify the specific locations, where the inferior quality of groundwater can occur, for taking the remedial measures.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
APHA (1992) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, p.
Back, W. (1966) Hydrochemical facies and groundwater flow pattern in northern part of Atlantic Coastal Plain. USGS Prof. Paper 498A, 42p.
Bhatt, K.B. and Saklani, S. (1996) Hydrogeochemistry of the Upper Ganges River, India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.48, pp.171–182.
Bilas, R. (1980) Groundwater resources of Varanasi District, India: An assessment of condition, use and quality. Natl. Geograph. Jour. India, v.26, pp.81–93.
BIS (2003) Drinking water specifications. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi IS: 10500.
Chidambaram, S., Ramanathan, A.L., Prasanna, M.V., Karmegam, U., Dheivanayagi, V., Ramesh, R., Johnsonbabu, G., Premchander, B. and Manikandan, S. (2010) Study on the hydrogeochemical characteristics in groundwater, post- and pre-tsunami scenario, from Portnova to Pumpuhar, southeast coast of India. Environ. Monit. Assess., v.169, pp.553–568.
Dalton, M.G. and Upchurch, S.B. (1978) Interpretation of hydrochemical facies by factor analysis. Ground Water, v.16, pp.228–233.
Domenico, P.A. and Schwartz, F.W. (1990) Physical and chemical hydrogeology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 824p.
Elampooranan, T., Rajmohan, N. and Abirami, L. (1999) Hydrochemical studies of artesian well waters in Cauvery Deltaic area, South India. Indian Jour. Environ. Health, v.41, pp.107–114.
Goyal, S.K., Chaudhary, B.S., Singh, O., Sethi, G.K. and Thakur, P.K. (2010) GIS based spatial distribution mapping and suitability evaluation of groundwater quality for domestic and agricultural purpose in Kaithal District, Haryana State, India. Environ. Earth Sci., v.61, pp.1587–1597.
Gupta, S., Mahato, A., Roy, P., Datta, J.K. and Saha, R.N. (2008) Geochemistry of quality groundwater, Burdwan District, West Bengal, India. Environ. Geol., v.53, pp.1271–1282.
Guler, C., Thyne, G.D., Mccray, J.E. and Turner, A.K. (2002) Evaluation of geographical and multivariate statistical methods for classification of water chemistry data. Hydrogeology Jour., v.10, pp.455–474.
Hem, J.D. (1991) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. 2254, Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India, 263p.
Holden, W.S. (1970) Water treatment and examination. J & Churchill Publishers, London, 513p.
Jacks, G. (1973). Chemistry of groundwater in a district in southern India. Jour. Hydrol., v.18, pp.185–200.
John Devadas, D., Subba Rao, N., Thirupathi Rao, B., Srinivasa Rao, K.V. and Subrahmanyam, A. (2007) Hydrogeochemistry of the Sarada River Basin, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ. Geol., v.52, pp.1331–1342.
Khurshid, S. and Zaheerudin (2004). Geochemistry of groundwater: An overview of sporadic fluoride and nitrate contamination in parts of Yamuna basin. Jour. Appld. Geochemistry, v.6, pp.25–35.
Kumar, M., Kumari, K., Ramanathan, A.L. and Saxena, R. (2007) A comparative evaluation of groundwater suitability for irrigation and drinking purposes in two intensively cultivated districts of Punjab, India. Environ. Geol., v.53, pp.553–574.
Kumar, V.V., Sai, C.S.T., Rao, P.L.K.M. and Rao, C.S. (2001) Studies on the distribution of fluoride in drinking water sources in Medchal Block, Ranga Reddy District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Jour. Fluoride Chemistry, v.55, pp.229–236.
Mahlknecht, J., Steinich B. and Navarrao De Leon, I. (2004) Groundwater chemistry and mass transfers in the independence aquifer, Central Mexico, by using multivariate statistics and mass balance models. Environ. Geol., v.45, pp.781–795.
Manjusree, T.M., Josephy, S. and Thomas, J. (2009) Hydrogeochemistry and groundwater quality in the coastal sandy clay aquifers of Alappuzha District, Kerala. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.74, pp.459–468.
Melloul, A. and Collin, M. (1992) The principal component statistical methods as a complementary approach to geochemical methods in water quality factor identificationapplication to coastal plain aquifer of Israel. Jour. Hydrology, v.140, pp.49–73.
Millot, R., Gaillardet, J., Dupre, B. and Allegre, C.J. (2002) The global control of silicate weathering and the coupling with physical erosion: new insights from rivers of the Canadian Shield. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.196, pp.83–98.
Mridul, C., Soumya, C., Saumen, B., Manash, J.N., Lokendra, S., Ravi, B. Srivastava and Hari P. Sarma (2011) Groundwater arsenic contamination in Brahmaputra River Basin: a water quality assessment in Golaghat (Assam), India. Environ. Monit. Assess., v.173, pp.371–385.
Naik, P.K., Awasthi, A.K., Anand, A.V.S.S. and Behera, P.N. (2009) Hydrogeochemistry of the Koyna River Basin, India. Environmental Earth Sci., v.59, pp.613–629.
Piper, A.M. (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analyses. Amer. Geophys. Union Trans., v.25, pp.914–923.
Rajmohan, N. and Elango, L. (2006) Hydrogeochemistry and its relations to groundwater level fluctuations in the Palar and Cheyyar River Basins, Southern India. Hydrological Processes, v.20, pp.2415–2427.
Rajmohan, N., Elango, L. and Elampooranan, T. (1997) Groundwater quality in Nagai Quaid-E-Milleth District and Karaikal, South India. Indian Water Resources Soc., v.17, pp.25–30.
Ramachandramoorthy, T., Sivasankar, V. and Subramanian, V. (2009) A seasonal quality assessment on potability of fresh shallow aquifers along the Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi coastal tract, India. Environ. Monit. Assess., v.159, pp.511–520.
Reddy, A.G.S. and Niranjan Kumar, K. (2010) Identification of the hydrogeochemical processes in groundwater using major ion chemistry: A case study of Penna-Chitravathi River Basins in Southern India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v.170, pp.365–382.
Reddy, N.B.Y. and Prasad, K.S.S. (2005) Hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in and around Tadpatri area, Anantapur District, AP. Jour. Indian Assoc. Environ. Managmt., v.32, pp.66–73.
Rogers, R.J. (1989). Geochemical comparison of groundwater in areas of New England, New York and Pennsylvania. Ground Water, v.27, pp.690–712.
Schoeller, H. (1962) Les eaux souterraines. Masson et Cie. Paris.
Seaber, P.R. (1962) Cation hydrochemical facies of groundwater in the Englishtown Formation, New Jersey. USGS Prof. Paper 450 B, pp.124–126.
Singh, R.P., Chauhan, B.S., Swaroop, D. and Yadev, Y.S. (2000). Seasonal variation in groundwater quality of Agra city. Indian Jour. Environ. Health, v.42, pp.59–69.
Stumm, W. and Morgan, J.J. (1996) Aquatic chemistry. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1022p.
Subba Rao, N. (2002) Geochemistry of groundwater in parts of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ. Geol., v.41, pp.552–562.
Subba Rao, N., Saroja Nirmala, I. and Suryanarayana, K. (2005). Groundwater quality in a coastal area — a case study from Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ. Geol., v.48, pp.543–550.
Subba Rao, N., Srinivas Rao, K.V., John Devadas, D., Deva Varma, D., Thirupaqthi Rao, B., Subrahmanyam, A., Arjunudu, K., Rathakanath Babu, M. and Venkatakrishna, T. (2007) Quality of groundwater in the coastal area of Visakhapatnam-Bhimunipatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Jour. Geochemistry, v.22, pp.193–208.
Subba Rao, N., Subrahmanyam, A., Ravi Kumar, S., Srinivasulu, N., Babu Rao, G., Surya Rao, P. and Venkatram Reddy, G. (2012) Geochemistry and quality of groundwater of Gummanampadu Sub-basin, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ. Earth Sci, v.67, pp.1451–1471.
Todd, D.K. (1980) Groundwater hydrology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 535p.
Umar, R. and Absar, A. (2003) Chemical characteristics of groundwater in parts of the Gambhir River Basin, Bharatpur District, Rajasthan, India. Environ. Geology, v. 44, pp. 535–544.
Umar, R., Khan, M. M. A. and Absar, A. (2006) Groundwater hydrochemistry of a sugarcane cultivation belt in parts of Muzaffarnagar District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Environmental Geology, v. 49, pp. 999–1008.
Zaporozec, A. (1972) Graphical interpretation of water quality data. Ground Water, v.10, pp.32–43.
WHO (2004). Guidelines for drinking water quality. World Health Organization, Geneva, 540p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Subba Rao, N., Surya Rao, P. & Deva Varma, D. Spatial variations of groundwater vulnerability using cluster analysis. J Geol Soc India 81, 685–697 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-013-0090-y
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-013-0090-y