Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objectives: A study on groundwater of Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh has been conducted to explore the groundwater hydrochemistry and suitability for potable water and agricultural uses. Methods/statistical analysis: During the dry season, fifty groundwater samples were collected from different shallow tube wells adjacent to Tista River, Bangladesh. Water samples were analysed according to the standard procedures. We calculated some parameters required for assessing irrigation water quality. The correlation matrix, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for better understanding of groundwater chemistry and categorizing the water samples. Findings: The Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–CO₃ ²⁻–HCO₃ − was the dominant water type, and carbonate weathering was the main hydro geochemical process in the study area. The contributions of ion exchange and reverse ion exchange were almost equal. Groundwater characteristics were influenced by precipitation and not affected by seawater intrusion. The results of all the measured and calculated parameters clearly indicated the suitability of all ground water samples for irrigation. Based on all analysed parameters including hardness, all waters were suitable for drinking and domestic uses. Applications: The groundwater of the study area might be suitable for irrigation, drinking and domestic uses until the waters are otherwise polluted. 
Keywords: Hydrogeochemistry, Groundwater, Irrigation, Drinking, Bangladesh