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Study of hydrogeochemical processes of the groundwater in Ghatprabha river sub-basin, Bagalkot District, Karnataka, India

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Abstract

The alluvial aquifer of the Ghatprabha River comprises shallow tertiary sediment deposits underlain by peninsular gneissic complex of Archean age, located in the central–eastern part of the Karnataka in southern India. In order to establish the baseline hydrochemical conditions and processes determining the groundwater quality, groundwater samples were collected as part of an integrated investigation that coupled multivariate statistical analysis with hydrochemical methods to identify and interpret the groundwater chemistry of the aquifer system. Three main hydrochemical types (Ca–Mg–Cl, Ca–Mg–HCO3, and Na–SO4) were identified. Gibbs plots indicate that the evolution of water chemistry is influenced by water–rock interaction followed by evapotranspiration process. The results of factor analysis indicated the total variance explained by the extracted factor 79.9% and 87.1% for both pre- and post-monsoon, respectively. And other processes such as silicate weathering, ion exchange, and local anthropogenic activities affect the groundwater chemistry.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Director, NGRI, for his support and encouragement and giving permission to publish this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR), Hyderabad, 500 606, Uppal Road, India

    G. Tamma Rao, V. V. S. Gurunadha Rao & G. Ramesh

  2. International Water Management Institute, Hyderabad, 502 324, India

    G. Tamma Rao

  3. Adikavi Nannaya University, Rajahmundry, 533105, India

    Y. Srinivasa Rao

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  1. G. Tamma Rao
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  2. V. V. S. Gurunadha Rao
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  3. Y. Srinivasa Rao
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  4. G. Ramesh
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Correspondence to G. Tamma Rao.

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Tamma Rao, G., Gurunadha Rao, V.V.S., Srinivasa Rao, Y. et al. Study of hydrogeochemical processes of the groundwater in Ghatprabha river sub-basin, Bagalkot District, Karnataka, India. Arab J Geosci 6, 2447–2459 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0535-4

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