International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 6, Issue 7, Jul 2015, pp. 04-12, Article ID: IJCIET_06_07_002

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ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
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QUALITY CHARACTERIZATION OF
GROUNDWATER IN MATHADIVAGU
BASIN OF ADILABAD DISTRICT,
TELANGANA STATE, INDIA
K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar
Department of Geology, University College of Science,
Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007, India
ABSTRACT
Mathadi vagu basin is located in the northern part of Adilabad District,
Andhra Pradesh. Mathadivagu is a tributary of Sathnala River which is a
tributary of the Penganga River. 37 water samples are collected at various
locations covering different lithounits to understand the groundwater chemistry
and their suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. Study of groundwater
chemistry in this area indicates that the waters are of Mixed Cationic and
anionic Na dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Mg dominating
bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic and anionic Ca dominating bicarbonate
water, Mixed Cationic Ca dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Na
dominating bicarbonate water. Graphical treatment of chemical data reveals
that, the area has basic water, whereas the Battisamargam area is dominated
by secondary alkaline water, and Umdam and Dahegam villages have strongly
acidic water. Graphical representation further shows that most of the area has
medium salinitylow sodium water useful for irrigation purposes. High salinitylow sodium and high salinity-medium sodium waters are present in some areas.

Key words: Groundwater, Chemical classification, Quality, Mathadivagu

basin and Andhra Pradesh.
Cite this Article: Das, K. K. and Muralidhar, M. Quality Characterization of
Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District, Telangana State,
India. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 6(7), 2015,
pp 04-12.
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1. INTRODUCTION
The study area is a contact zone of granites, basalts and limestones, and forms a part
of the peninsular shield area. Mathadivagu basin area is bound between latitude N 19

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Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,

Telangana State, India

502820 13 35 and longitude E 78 28 2578 58 00 covering Thamsi,

Thalamadugu and Gudihathnoor mandals of Adilabad districts, Andhra Pradesh, India
(Figure 1).
Evaluation of hvdrogeological parameters in hard rock terrains is quite difficult,
unlike in soft rock areas. Since quality as important as quantity, the groundwater
chemistry of the area was studied. The study includes determination of ionic
concentrations, chemical classification (Sudersana Raju et al, 1990) [9] and irrigation
suitability. The chemical parameters analyzed were the major cations and anions.
Major cations include Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, Na+, the major anions include SO42-, NO3-, F-,
Cl-, CO3-, HCO3- (Sakram. G et al, 2014) [8].
A number of techniques and methods have been developed to interpret the data,
Zaporozerc (1972) summarized the various methods of data representation and
discussed about their possible use. In the present study, the method suggested by Hem
(1975), the Piper trilinear diagram (Piper, 1953) [6] and the Wilcox (1955) diagram
are used for classifying the groundwater [7].

2. GEOLOGICAL SETUP OF THE AREA

The Mathadivagu basin is mostly covered by crystalline rocks or hard rocks. About 60
percent of study area comprises basaltic lava flow i.e., Deccantraps. The central part
comprises Archaean granites and gneisses, and a small pocket in northeast is covered
by limestone of Penganga series (Figures 2, 3 and 4). Granites with numerous basic
and acidic enclaves traversed by basic dikes and veins of quartz, epidote, feldspar, and
pegmatite. Granites are divided into pink and grey types, depending on the
predominant color of Kfeldspar. Pink granites are dominant and occupy a major part
of the investigation. Grey granites occupy limited area and occur as pockets, at the
places they are inter spread with pink granites. Gneissic granites are medium to coarse
grained and occur at very few places in the area.

Figure 1 Map showing locations of the samples collected in Mathadi vagu basin

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K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar

Figure 2 Map showing litho units of the research area with drainage

Joints are more numerous with large intra spaces near the ground surface and
diminish in width and intensity with depth. Predominance of major set of joints in
northern side of the study area is also noted.

2.1. Sample Collection and Analysis

Water samples were collected from 37 representative wells covering all the units in
the study area. Laboratory analysis using standard methods of the American Public
Health Association (APHA, 1998) [1] include the determination of the ionic
concentration of Na+, K+, Mg2+, HCO3-, Cl- and using the electrical neutrality method
SO42- is determined (Gopalakrishna et al, 2006) [2] Data from field measurements and
major ion analysis are presented in Table-1.

Figure 3 Veins in Granites, South of Devapur

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Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,

Telangana State, India

Figure 4 Siliceous Limestone, At Bheemsary

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1. Ionic Concentrations
Sodium is the predominant cation, with a concentration range of 20.4-169.8 mg/l, and
potassium occurs in minor concentration 0.5-239 mg/l, Among alkaline earths,
magnesium varies from 7.8-82.9 mg/l, and calcium from 21.4-311.5 mg/l.
Bicarbonate is the predominant anion, with concentration varying between 137.3 and
683 mg/l. Chloride is the principal anion among the strong acidic and varies from
13.5333.7 mg/l. Nitrate is the predominant with concentration varying between 0
and 407 mg/l. Fluoride is major concentration varying from 0.5 to 4.5 mg/l.

3.2. Chemical Classification

Classification schemes are developed based on the concentration of various
predominant cations and anions and/or on the interrelationship of ions. Hem (1975)
[3] suggested that water in which no one cation or anion constitutes as much as 50
percent of the total should be recognized as "mixed type and identified by the names
of all the important cations and anions. In the area under investigation, 50 percent or
more of individual cations or anionic concentration in their respective total have been
considered in formulating the water type. In case where no one cations or anions
constitutes as much as a 50 percent of the total but is dominant, the water is classified
as mixed dominating ion water type. On the basis of the chemical characteristics, the
waters in the area can be classified into five groups, Mixed Cationic and anionic Na
dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Mg dominating bicarbonate water,
Mixed Cationic and anionic Ca dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Ca
dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic Na dominating bicarbonate water. The
types of water present in the Mathadivagu basin area and their percentage
distributions in the area are presented in Table 2 and Table 3. It is clear from the table
that the area is dominated by Mixed Cationic Ca dominating bicarbonate water and
Mixed Cationic and anionic Ca dominating bicarbonate water. Mixed Cationic Mg
dominating bicarbonate water, Mixed Cationic and anionic Na dominating
bicarbonate water and Mixed Cationic Na dominating bicarbonate water occupy the
least percentage of the area [4].

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K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar

Table-1 Chemical composition of well water collected from the field
Well
No

Well
Type

Depths
in (m)

pH

EC

TDS

Na

Ca

Mg

Cl

HCO3

SO4

NO3

BW

13.9

7.44

1270

680

22.2

139.2

127.0

34.1

76.2

488.0

29.4

133.5

BW

12.1

7.51

1800

960

118.4

40.5

191.3

50.7

217.8

469.7

96.0

212.8

1.2

SW

12.O

7.36

1470

780

56.0

1.1

151.3

77.5

128.4

408.7

64.1

258.9

0.5

BW

11.6

7.48

1100

590

30.2

1.3

107.8

69.1

68.7

515.5

36.8

66.6

0.6

SW

7.57

1170

620

130.7

18.0

93.6

28.6

160.0

424.0

24.3

9.6

BW

8.5

7.22

1170

620

122.9

1.5

130.9

17.8

125.6

363.0

74.3

73.6

0.5

BW

8.3

7.41

505

269

58.1

1.7

59.3

7.8

18.6

317.2

6.6

0.0

1.1

SW

8.4

7.45

1230

660

81.9

1.1

121.3

62.2

54.2

683.2

40.3

48.0

1.2

BW

7.2

6.28

562

300

43.7

1.4

65.7

11.0

39.6

143.4

27.1

98.8

0.4

10

SW

6.86

314

167

36.7

1.5

21.4

9.5

22.9

137.3

16.9

1.4

0.5

11

BW

11.5

7.27

963

513

41.1

2.1

134.1

33.9

73.4

344.7

27.6

139.9

1.5

12

BW

9.6

7.5

1320

700

109.6

6.8

118.1

52.3

94.2

542.9

59.0

123.5

1.4

13

BW

1.6

7.56

1370

720

86.2

62.1

96.2

56.3

91.0

478.9

51.3

157.4

1.4

14

SW

7.68

403

214

20.4

2.1

38.3

22.8

16.5

201.3

11.7

1.4

0.5

15

BW

5.2

7.48

1370

740

79.4

4.1

131.9

65.0

98.4

485.0

52.0

198.0

0.9

16

BW

9.4

7.35

1810

960

122.1

5.1

199.8

75.4

185.7

546.0

84.3

230.4

1.1

17

DW

4.3

7.38

2070

1110

169.8

50.9

238.8

64.0

242.4

561.2

111.0

263.7

1.1

18

BW

3.8

7.72

2560

1370

160.2

159.9

242.9

78.2

333.7

564.3

124.9

407.4

19

SW

7.52

463

247

29.5

2.2

36.7

27.8

18.0

247.5

9.7

2.0

0.1

20

DW

4.1

7.78

2150

1150

134.3

239.0

136.4

56.5

202.2

576.5

106.7

298.1

21

BW

4.5

7.41

1000

530

22.1

0.5

162.0

33.1

39.0

445.3

26.5

136.7

0.5

22

BW

7.35

962

513

27.8

0.9

164.4

27.6

65.7

393.5

36.0

128.8

0.4

23

DW

4.7

7.25

980

520

25.5

0.8

136.1

43.6

40.3

478.9

15.2

105.4

0.6

24

SW

7.31

516

275

32.5

2.2

41.8

32.1

13.5

329.4

10.2

2.8

0.8

25

BW

5.1

7.36

980

520

76.7

0.9

64.1

55.8

44.1

445.3

45.5

83.0

4.5

25

BW

7.37

1510

810

61.7

2.4

193.8

63.1

140.8

500.2

74.5

193.5

1.9

27

BW

5.6

7.45

780

415

37.9

0.8

89.0

44.0

26.7

475.8

29.0

29.9

0.6

28

BW

10.7

7.17

1930

1030

49.5

6.3

311.5

66.0

218.2

503.3

91.7

315.2

28

DW

7.53

1280

690

61.4

0.9

125.5

70.1

92.3

427.0

61.6

188.1

0.7

30

BW

9.2

7.22

1260

670

38.3

0.5

189.3

41.9

112.8

381.3

64.1

166.9

0.4

31

DW

5.5

7.55

1670

890

112.8

25.0

196.6

60.1

147.9

552.1

86.0

176.1

0.4

32

BW

7.2

7.36

1450

770

34.3

7.9

169.7

80.3

123.2

460.6

59.0

194.4

0.6

33

BW

9.5

7.54

1080

580

37.2

1.5

87.7

76.3

57.8

417.9

34.9

135.0

0.9

34

DW

8.2

7.6

1620

860

57.9

141.2

131.0

58.3

119.3

442.3

56.5

257.7

35

DW

4.5

7.55

753

401

36.5

0.7

83.7

42.7

23.0

405.7

10.1

84.2

1.0

36

DW

8.3

7.46

1610

860

35.5

2.0

223.3

82.9

124.9

481.9

69.0

274.4

0.9

37

DW

7.71

880

469

32.9

13.3

125.6

37.9

29.7

460.6

23.1

93.8

0.5

DW = Dug well, BW=Bore well, SW=Surface water, Depth of the wells in m, EC in S/cm,
ions in mg/l and pH is evaluated at 25 C.

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Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,

Telangana State, India
Table 2 Types of water present in Mathadivagu basin
Water type
(according Sample
to Wilcox
No.
diagram)

Water type (based

on chemical
classification)

Water type
(according
to Wilcox
diagram)

Sample
No.

Water type (based

on chemical
classification)

Ca-K-Mg-HCO3

C3S1

20

C3S1

21

C3S1

22

Ca-Mg-HCO3

C3S1

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Mg-HCO3-ClNO3
Mg-Ca-HCO3
Na-Ca-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Na-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Na-HCO3
Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3
Ca-Na-HCO3-NO3
Na-Ca-Mg-HCO3
Ca-Mg-HCO3

Ca-K-Na-MgHCO3-Cl
Ca-Mg-HCO3

C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C2S1
C3S1
C2S1
C2S1
C3S1

23
24
25
25
27
28
28
30

C3S1
C2S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1

12

Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3

C3S1

31

13
14

Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3
Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3

C3S1
C2S1

32
33

15

Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3

C3S1

34

16
17
18
19

Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Na-Mg-Cl-HCO3
Mg-Ca-Na-HCO3

C3S1
C3S1
C4S1
C2S1

35
36
37

Ca-Mg-HCO3
Mg-Ca-Na-HCO3
Mg-Na-Ca-HCO3
Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Mg-HCO3
Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Mg-HCO3
Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl
Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3Cl
Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl
Mg-Ca-HCO3
Ca-Mg-K-HCO3Cl-NO3
Ca-Mg-HCO3
Ca-Mg-HCO3
Ca-Mg-HCO3

C3S1
C3S1

C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1
C3S1

Table 3 Distribution of type of water in Mathadivagu basin

Serial No.
1
2
3
4
5

Water type
MIXED CATIONIC CA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
MIXED CATIONIC NA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
MIXED CATIONIC AND ANIONIC CA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
MIXED CATIONIC MG DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER
MIXED CATIONIC AND ANIONIC NA DOMINATING
BICARBONATE WATER

No. of Samples
16
1
14
5
1

3.3. Chemical Relationships

The trilinear diagrams of Piper are very useful in bringing out chemical relationship
among groundwaters in more definite terms than other possible plotting methods
(Walton, 1970) [10]. Chemical data of the area are subjected to graphical treatment by
plotting them in a Piper trilinear diagram (1953). Distribution of the groundwater

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K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar

samples in deferent subdivisions of the diamond-shaped field of the Piper diagram

shown in Figures 5a and 5b. Piper plot of water samples showed clusters of samples
tend close to calcium & magnesium, sulfate and chloride in diamond facies showing
water rich in chloride and sulfates of calcium and magnesium.

5(a)

5(b)
Figure 5(a), 5(b) Chemical data of water plotted in Piper trilinear diagram

3.4. Irrigation Suitability

Groundwater quality for irrigation is generally expressed by class of relative
suitability, taking sodium content and electrical conductivity into consideration.

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Quality Characterization of Groundwater in Mathadivagu Basin of Adilabad District,

Telangana State, India

Electrical conductivity and sodium adsorption ratio should be considered in

determining the suitability of water quality for irrigation.

Figure 6 Chemical data of water plotted in Wilcox diagram

The distribution of the data from the Mathadivagu basin area in the Wilcox (1955)
diagram classification (Figure 6) shows that most of the area has medium salinitylow
sodium water is useful for irrigation purposes. Pochera and Thalamadugu villages
have high salinitylow sodium water. Bharampur has high salinity medium sodium
water (Kumar and Saxena V. K., 1996) [5] indicating a need for adequate drainage to
overcome salinity problem for irrigational purposes

4. CONCLUSIONS
The Mathadivagu basin area is a hard rock terrain consisting granite, basalt and
limestone, and their contact zones. The study of the chemical characteristics of the
water shows that the area is dominate in Mixed Cationic Ca dominating bicarbonate
water, Mixed Cationic and anionic Ca dominating bicarbonate type of water.
The piper trilinear diagram reveals that, the area has basic water and two villages
have strongly acidic water. The entire area is devoid of primary alkalinity and
secondary salinity water but primary salinity water occurs in Bharampur village. And
fluoride is high i.e. concentration of 4.5 mg/l at the Sithgondi village, and 4 samples
have above permissible limits. High concentration of Nitrate 407 mg/l at Umdam
village and 29 samples have above permissible limits, this is because farmers are
using more fertilizers in agricultural activities. Water sample collected at Devapur
village shows high concentration of TDS 1150 mg/l, and 25 samples have above
permissible limits. A long intake of this water may lead to chronic diseases, proper
attention is required to purify the water particularly for drinking purposes. While most
of the water available in this area is suitable for irrigation, some pockets have high

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K. Kamal Das and M. Muralidhar

salinitymedium sodium and high salinity-low sodium water which needs better
drainage to overcome the salinity problem.

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[5]

[6]

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[8]

[9]

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