ASSESSMENT FOR DIFFERENT GROUNDWATER QUALITY PARAMETERS FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES IN BIKANER CITY, RAJASTHAN

There are many pollutants in groundwater due to seepage viz. organic and inorganic pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides and fluorides. In the present study our aim is to assess the presence and extent of heavy metal concentration with physico-chemical quality of groundwater, due to pollution caused by various industries and around its adjoining areas. For present study the ground water samples were collected from the sixteen sampling points during the study period viz. March 2010 to May 2010 (Pre–monsoon). The drinking water samples were collected in clean polyethylene plastic containers from sites (Code No. B1-B16) of Bikaner District. The water samples were analyzed for pH, Fluoride (F-), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Total Hardness (TH), Chloride (Cl-), Carbonate (CO3-2), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Alkalinity, Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+) and Nitrate (NO3- using standard techniques in laboratory. The results revealed that most of the water samples were below or out of limit; according to the WHO standards (1996). To understand the water quality and utilitarian aspects of groundwater, chemical indices like Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Na% and RSC were calculated based on the analytical results. It is observed that the quality of groundwater is not suitable for drinking and domestic purpose in some sampling sites.