STUDY OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION DUE TO AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY UNDER PRAVARA LEFT BANK CANAL, MAHARASHTRA

Civil Engineering

Indian economy is agriculture based and chemical fertilizer application has grown exponentially. Studies have shown that agricultural activity, coupled with conventional irrigation method, disposal practices, has resulted in detoriation of groundwater quality. Groundwater is the chief water source for various requirements in many part of the country. Groundwater sample for 2 cases, i.e during no flow in canal and during flow in canal, are collected from agriculturally dominant regions of Pravara left bank canal command consisting of 5 taluka of Ahmednagar district. Laboratory analysis is done to study the groundwater quality . The study show that Nitrate(NO3-),(K),sodium (Na+)), calcium (Ca2+),pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC),in groundwater sample was under acceptable limit of BIS &WHO, magnesium (Mg2+) and Sulphate (SO42-), was within maximum permissible limit of BIS &WHO.SAR value in 96% of water samples showed water to be of good quality. However Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Chloride (Cl-), Phosphate (PO43—) and RSC in majority of samples showed values above maximum permissible limit of BIS &WHO. Statistical analysis have shown significant correlation between Sodium &SAR, Bicarbonate &RSC, Chloride and Sulphate and moderate correlation between EC and Magnesium, Calcium and Sulphate.

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