Geochemical modelling, ionic ratio and GIS based mapping of groundwater salinity and assessment of governing processes in Northern Gujarat, India

In semi-arid/arid regions, groundwater is the major source of irrigation, drinking and industrial requirements, water salinity and shortage are major problems of concern. North Gujarat, India, is one such area where highly saline groundwater is generally ascribed to rapid increase of population, agriculture and industries induced decline in water table by unplanned abstraction of groundwater. However, no effort has been made to discriminate the natural and anthropogenic influences on groundwater salinity. In this brief background, the present study attempts to identify the factors and processes controlling the groundwater salinity in the area, based on ionic ratios in integration with various graphical methods, saturation indices and geographical information system. Na⁺/Ca²⁺ > 1 indicates the deficiency of Ca²⁺ possibly due to CaCO₃ precipitation or ion exchange process. Na⁺/Cl⁻ > 1 and \( {\text{SO}}_{4}{}^{2 - } /{\text{Cl}}^{ - } \gg 0.05 \) suggest salinization is mainly due to wastewater infiltration and/or due to irrigation water return flow. Sea water intrusion in coastal parts, vertical and lateral mixing of water and anthropogenic inputs are also responsible for salinization of groundwater. USSL diagram, Na%, sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate and magnesium hazard indicate unsuitability of groundwater for irrigation purposes. To prevent groundwater salinization, appropriate measures need to be taken to control further indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater for irrigation.