Assessment and Hydro Chemical Classification of Groundwater Quality in the Western Delta Region of the Godavari River, Andhra Pradesh: Suitability for Drinking Purpose

Abstract

The Godavari River is the largest river in southern India, flowing through five states before entering the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh. Historically, the Godavari Basin has shared water flows among its six states. However, due to declining rainfall and surface water flow, farmers and villagers have increasingly relied on groundwater for their daily activities, including drinking and agriculture. To evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking and other uses, the current study analyzed physical and chemical parameters, such as pH, TDS, Alkalinity, Total hardness, Sodium, Potassium, and chlorides, in parts of the Godavari Western Delta using APHA methods. Comparisons were made with the standard limits recommended by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Results showed that most chemical parameters had higher values during the summer season compared to other seasons. Furthermore, based on the TDS classification, 90% of the samples were classified as brackish water; based on the EC classification, 40.90% of the samples were categorized as saline; and based on the chlorides/Stuyfzand classification, 40.90% of the samples were classified as brackish water during the summer season. Additionally, most water samples in the study area were categorized as hard or very hard based on the total hardness.