Abstract:
Groundwater quality assessment is important to ensure sustainable safe use of water. However describing the overall water quality and assessing its suitability in Dhanbad town area is difficult due to the spatial variability of multiple contaminants and wide range of indicators that could be measured. The study was carried out by collecting twenty four ground water samples (hand-pumps). The present investigation and objective of this study was focused on the classification of physicochemical parameters, and to examine the quality of ground water and its suitability for irrigation purposes by using different types of classification criteria available such as Doneen's Permeability Index, US Salinity Laboratory classification, Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP) etc. From the classification it is inferred that despite the mining and heavy industry, the quality of water is predominantly good to moderate for utilizing for irrigation purposes.
In the present study, toxicity problems to the crop from high concentration of ions like chlorides, sodium, boron etc. have also been reviewed. These parameters become important when the soil itself contains the considerable amount of these ionic species. The precautions to be taken regarding irrigation water quality depending on the soil type and need for awareness among the farmers have also been highlighted.