Evaluation of groundwater suitability for domestic and agricultural utility in semi-arid region of Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh State, South India

This study reports the evaluation of groundwater suitability for domestic and agricultural utility in semi-arid region of Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh State, South India. Fifty groundwater samples were analysed for parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, total hardness, bicarbonates, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, sodium, potassium and fluoride. The analysis results shows that the concentration of fluoride in 42 samples out of 50 exceed the limit for fluoride (1.5 mg/L) in drinking water set by the W.H.O. Based on the WQI shows overall quality of groundwater is not suitable for drinking purpose. It is inferred from the study that these water sources can be used for potable purpose only after prior treatment. The parameters such as sodium adsorption ratio, per cent sodium, residual sodium carbonate, were calculated for the evaluation of irrigation water quality. Groundwater chemistry was also analysed by statistical analysis, USSL, Wilcox and Piper diagrams, to find out their suitability for irrigation and the analysis reveals that most of groundwater samples of the study area fall under excellent class suitable for irrigation. [Display omitted] •Various physico-chemical parameters of groundwater samples were determined in southeastern part of the Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, South India.•Correlations between the physico-chemical parameters to identify the most influencing parameters for water contamination.•Spatial variation of physico-chemical parameters of groundwater was represented.•More than 80% of the samples exceeded the permissible limit (1.5 mg/L) of fluoride.•Hydrogeochemical facies identified the water composition in different classes. .•The study is done for the sustainable development of southeastern part of the Anantapur district for the efficient utilization of groundwater.