Surface and groundwater quality evaluation in parts of Udhampur district – A research report by National Institute of Hydrology

In the present study, surface and groundwater quality monitoring has been undertaken in parts of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir in order to evaluate its quality for domestic and agricultural purposes. Water sources are polluted by four kinds of substances: traditional organic waste, waste generated from industrial processes, chemical agents of fertilizers & pesticides used for crop production and silt from degraded catchment.

In Udhampur district, only a negligible percentage of the rural population use dugwells as their source of water supply. The majority of villages still depend on springs, streams and rainwater tanks. Under the study, the water samples from nine wells, eleven springs and five streams were collected during June 1999 and October 1999. The water quality parameters have been grouped in accordance with the standards of drinking purposes.

The suitability of water for irrigation purposes has been determined based on various parameters like salinity (Electrical Conductivity - EC), permeability (Doneen’s Permeability Index), toxicity due to Chloride and Sodium (Sodium Absorption Ratio - SAR). Also considered are parameters, which cause problems in soil-water-plant relationships (Bicarbonate, RSC, Sulphate) using the United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) Staff Classification. The classification of water has been done on the basis of Piper, Stiff, Schoeller and USSL Staff Classification.

The values of pH indicate alkaline nature of water. The concentration of magnesium exceeded the permissible limits at about 32 per cent sites during pre-monsoon and at 44 per cent during post-monsoon periods. A higher concentration of Fe and Cr has been observed in 67 per cent and 33 per cent water samples. Mn exceeded the tolerance limit (0.5 mg/l) at one location i.e., 7 per cent of sites. The concentration of Cd, which is a highly toxic element, has been observed below detection limits at all sites barring one where its concentration equaled tolerance limit (0.01 mg/l). The SAR values indicate that water for irrigation purposes is under the excellent category.

Almost all sites fall under the Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, HCO^3- hydro-chemical facie in both the sampling periods as per Piper’s Classification. In the study, 52 per cent of water samples belonged to C3-S1 (high salinity-low SAR) class and 48 per cent under C2-S1 (medium salinity-low SAR) category during June 1999. In another sampling carried out during October 1999, 35 per cent water samples belonged to C3-S1 category and the remaining 65 per cent under C2-S1 (medium salinity-low SAR) category during June 1999. However, the higher concentration effect of bicarbonate in irrigation water indicates all samples lying under the ‘increasing problem’ zone (bicarbonate, 1.5-8.5 me/l) in the present study.      

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