CS(AR)-218 : Ground water quality variations in Jammu and Kathua districts (J & K)

Abstract

In the present study ground water samples were collected from 53 open wells in Jammu and Kathua districts during June/ July and November, 1995. The report also includes discussion based on water quality parameters obtained from 47 open wells in Jammu district during Aug., Dec., 1994 and March. 1995.

The study has shown that most water quality parameters were within the prescribed norms for drinking purposes except at a few well locations in the study area. The concentration of calcium among cations and bicarbonate among anions was found to be relatively higher. The fluoride concentration was within acceptable limit ( 1.0 - 1.7 ) in Kathua district under the present study. The SAR values were well within limit of excellent water for irrigation. The EC values were found to be exceeding 750 micro mhos/cm at many places. Therefore, better drainage conditions should be provided in the study area while irrigating with the present quality of water.

The results of Piper's Trilinear diagram indicate that majority of wells are falling under CaMg-CO3 - HCO3 hydrochemical group. The results of Wilcox diagram have shown that majority of water samples lie under C3-S1 ( high salinity- low SAR) during June/July, 1995. However, during post-monsoon period majority of wells were under the category of C2-S1 (medium salinity- low SAR).

The Principal Component analysis was also carried out for the Jammu district. It could be concluded from this analysis, that the first three components contribute more than 77 % of the total variance of the data. It may be observed that the first principal component has high loading on almost all water quality parameters. However, the remaining components have shown decreasing trends of the loading effect. The analysis has shown that management decision regarding water quality can be made effectively using these results.