Groundwater quality monitoring and evaluation in Jammu and Kathua districts (Jammu & Kashmir) - A research report by National Institute of Hydrology

The study evaluates groundwater on the basis of widely used graphical methods like Piper, Stiff and US Salinity Laboratory classification. The study concludes that, in general, the groundwater in the area varies from medium salinity to very high salinity, the latter being more common in the irrigated stretches. The irrigators are advised to ensure good land and water management practices in the fields, with particular emphasis on creating favorable leaching and drainage conditions to avoid further development of saline conditions in the area. 

In the study, water samples have been collected from open wells, springs and handpumps during June 1998 and February 1999. The water quality parameters have been grouped in accordance with the standards of drinking and irrigation purposes.

The study indicates alkaline nature of groundwater. The pH values were well within the prescribed limits for drinking purposes. The highest values of sodium above the prescribed limit of 50 mg/l were observed in about 31 % of wells during June 1998 and about 25 % of total wells during February 1999. The hardness as CaCO₃ was observed above permissible limits in about 33 % of wells during June 1998 and 36 % during February 1999. Fluoride concentration was found below 0.6 mg/l in 78 % wells and 0.6-1.2 mg/l in 22 % wells during February 1999.

The Pipers diagram shows that about 83 % wells are under Ca²⁺. Mg²⁺, HCO^3-, hydrochemical facies, 11 % under Na⁺, K⁺, HCO^3-, 6 % wells under Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^-, SO₄^2- hydrochemical facies during June 1998 and 91 %, 3 %, 6 % wells under the  above-mentioned hydrochemical facies during February 1999 respectively.

According to Stiff’s classification, calcium bicarbonate was found dominant amounting to 67 % and 80 % of the total wells during June 1998 and February 1999. As per US Salinity Laboratory Classification, the majority of the water samples (72 % and 75 % of total wells) fell under C3-S1 (high salinity, low SAR) category during June 1998 and February 1999 respectively. The C2-S1(medium salinity-low SAR) category of wells fell in 11 % and 22 % of sites during June 1998 and February 1999 respectively. On the basis of SAR values, the water is classified under excellent category for irrigation purposes.

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