Seasonal and Spatial Variation of Groundwater Quality Vulnerable Zones of Yellareddygudem Watershed, Nalgonda District, Telangana State, India

Evaluation of seasonal and spatial variations in vulnerable zones for poor groundwater quality is essential for the protection of human health and to maintain the crop yields. With this objective, groundwater samples were collected seasonally (i.e., pre- and post-monsoon) from the Yellareddygudem watershed of Telangana, India. These samples were analysed for major chemical parameters (pH, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3-, Cl-, SO42-, NO3-, and F-). Geographical information system (GIS) tools were used to delineate the seasonal and spatial variations for vulnerable zones related to the drinking groundwater quality index (DGQI) and irrigation groundwater quality index (IGQI). Geochemical facies and relations, Piper diagrams, and principal component analysis indicated that the weathering, dissolution, leaching, ion exchange, and evaporation were the primary processes controlling the groundwater quality seasonally. Human influences were the secondary factors. The TDS, Na+, K+, Cl-, SO42-, and F- parameters were observed to be within the drinking water quality standard limits in most post-monsoon groundwater samples. However, the DGQI showed an increase in the number of samples with unsuitable quality for drinking in the post-monsoon period compared with the pre-monsoon period. The IGQI demonstrated that the number of samples with unsuitable quality for irrigation increased in the post-monsoon period compared to the pre-monsoon period. The differences in the vulnerable zones between the pre- and post-monsoon periods were due to variations in groundwater recharge, following the topography. Thus, the present study will help decision makers to plan groundwater treatment measures within vulnerable zones.

Automated summary

Evaluation of seasonal and spatial variations in vulnerable zones for poor groundwater quality demonstrated that weathering, dissolution, leaching, ion exchange, and evaporation were the main processes controlling groundwater quality. Human influences were secondary factors. The study helps decision makers to plan groundwater treatment measures within vulnerable zones.