Assessment of Surface and Groundwater Quality and their Suitability for Irrigation Purposes in Odisha, Eastern India

Abstract

The study was conducted during the pre-monsoon period in April-May 2019 to monitor the quality of different water sources for assessing their suitability for irrigation purposes in Odisha state of eastern India. Twenty-seven surface water and twenty-one groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for chemical parameters. The suitability of the surface and groundwater for irrigation were evaluated based on pH, residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC), electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Adjusted SAR (Adj. SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), permeability index (PI), Kelly’s ratio (KR), Chloride (Cl-), boron (B), nitrate (NO3-), iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd). Results showed that three rivers, Mahanadi, Brahmani and Bansadhara, were found medium salinity (EC 0.25-0.75 dSm-1), and all the rivers have no sodicity problem with RSC within the permissible limit of 2.5 meqL-1 and free of chloride and boron toxicity. All the surface water samples were safe with respect to Zn (2 mgL-1), Cu (0.2 mgL-1), Fe (5 mgL-1), Mn (0.2 mgL-1) and Cr (0.1 mgL-1). Four rivers were exceeded the maximum permissible limit of Cd. All the groundwater samples were found below the toxicity level and safe concerning Cl-, NO3-, B, Zn (2 mgL-1), Cu (0.2 mgL-1), Fe (5 mgL-1), Mn (0.2 mgL-1) and Cr (0.1 mgL-1) where Cd content of three sources exceeded the MPL (OUAT Agronomy Farm 0.011 mgL-1, Putibandh of Sambalpur 0.011 mgL-1 and Rourkela 0.010 mgL-1). Results depicted that all the surface water samples collected from nine different rivers are of good quality and suitable for irrigation purpose except for some specific limitations. Among all the groundwater sources, groundwaters of the Putibandh area in Sambalpur district are found very poor in quality and unsuitable for irrigation.