Hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in the plains of Phalgu River in Gaya, Bihar, India

Assessment of groundwater quality is essential to ensure sustainable use of it for drinking, agricultural, and industrial purposes. The chemical quality of groundwater of Gaya region has been studied in detail in this work to delineate the potable groundwater zones. A total of 30 groundwater samples and 2 surface water samples were collected in and around Gaya district of Bihar. The major cations follow the trend: Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+>K+. The domination of calcium ions in the groundwater is due to weathering of rocks. The K+ ranged between 0.2 and 47.95 ppm, suggesting its abundance the below desired limit; but some samples were found to be above permissible limit. K+ weathering of potash silicate and the use of potash fertilizer could be the source. The major anions abundance followed the order HCO3->Cl-> SO42->NO3->PO43-. Dissolution of carbonates and reaction of silicates with carbonic acid accounts for the addition of HCO3- to the groundwater and oxidation of sulphite may be the source of SO42-. Principal component analysis was utilized to reflect those chemical data with the greatest correlation and seven major principal components (PCs) representing >80 % of cumulative variance were able to interpret the most information contained in the data. PC1, PC2 and PC3 reflect the hydrogeochemical processes like mineral dissolution, weathering and anthropogenic sources. PC4, PC5, PC6 and PC7 show monotonic, random and independent relationships.