In this report, the suitability of groundwater of the Doon valley, Dehradun has been demonstrated on the basis of standards prescribed by BIS and WHO. The groundwater quality of the valley has been studied during 1996 to examine the suitability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes. Twelve water samples representing the shallow groundwater of the valley were collected during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons and analyzed for various constituents, viz. pH, conductance, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
The data was analyzed with reference to BIS and WHO standards. The ionic relationships were studied and hydrochemical facies determined to identify the water types. The results of the study provide information needed for groundwater quality management in the valley. The values of sodium adsorption ratio indicate that groundwater of the area falls under category of low sodium hazards.
An attempt has also been made to classify the quality of groundwater on the basis of Stiff, Piper Trilinear and US Salinity Laboratory Classifications. As per Stiff's Classification, majority of the samples were found to be of calcium and bicarbonate type. In the Piper Trilinear diagram, majority of the groundwater samples of the study area fall in the Ca-Mg-HCO3 hydrochemical facies. The US Salinity Laboratory Classification of irrigation water indicates that in general the water can be used safely for irrigation with most crops on most soils, but may cause problem if the soil permeability is very poor.
It is recommended that the study be continued for two or three years on quarterly basis to have a good understanding of groundwater quality in the area. Bacteriological analysis should be carried out in detail to further this work.
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