Abstract

EVALUATION OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND ITS SUITABILITY FOR DRINKING AND AGRICULTURAL USE IN DHANUSHA DISTRICT OF NEPAL

*Sunil Ram Vaidya, Ph. D.

ABSTRACT

The present study was confined to the agro-residential belt of Dhanusha district, which lies in the State Number-2 of Federal Nepal. Dhanusa District is a district in Janakpur Zone, Central Development Region, Nepal at latitude 26°50′31.56″ North, longitude 86°02′09.60″ East. Total population of Dhanusha district is 754,777. Main profession of the residents in this district is agriculture. Its agricultural land is 69928.1 hectare and there are 101 village development committees and the capital as Janakpur Metro-Municipality. Groundwater is an essential and vital component of any life support system. It is not only the basic need for human existence but also a vital input for all development activities. Groundwater quality and its suitability for irrigation and domestic purpose were examined by various Physico-chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, and chloride. These parameters were used to assess the suitability of groundwater for domestic purpose by comparing with the WHO and Nepalese standards. TDS, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and permeability index were used for irrigation suitability assessment. The sample analysis reveals that the groundwater is not entirely fit for drinking with respect to pH, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and Cl-. Based on the total hardness and TDS, 96% of groundwater samples are found suitable for drinking purpose.

Keywords: Groundwater quality, Dhanusha, Hydro chemical, Permeability index, Nepal.