Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation of green spaces in the Rourkela city of Odisha, India

For the health of the city dwellers the development of green spaces is imperative. Sustenance of such green spaces is directly controlled by the water quality. Steel City Rourkela in Odisha State of India, lying between 84.54°E longitude and 22.12°N latitude, has green spaces whose existence depends on the groundwater quality. The quality of 25 groundwater samples in the Rourkela city was evaluated for examining their suitability for irrigation purpose in order to sustain green spaces in the city. The assessment was completed using pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Hardness, Sodium Absorption Ratio, Na %, Residual Soluble Carbonate, Residual Sodium Bicarbonate, Permeability index, Potential Salinity, Magnesium hazard, Magnesium/Calcium ratio, Kelley's ratio and indices of base exchange. Data plot dispositions on Gibb's diagram indicated that the chemistry of groundwater of the area is controlled by rock composition. Most of the samples with negative chloro-alkaline indices values suggested the predominance of chloro-alkaline disequilibrium process in the groundwater system. Data plot disposition on U.S. Salinity hazard diagram indicates that 11 and 14 samples belong to C2S1 and C1S1, illustrating medium salinity/low sodium type and low salinity/low sodium type, respectively. There was difference in the groundwater samples from Urban, Rurban and Rural setup of the region with respect to some parameters/indices. The spatial variability of the physico-chemical parameters suggests that the groundwater of Chhend colony, Civil Township, Sector 21, Uditnagar and Bandamunda are most suitable for irrigation, in contrast to that of Koel Nagar, Shaktinagar, Basanti Colony and northwest part of Jagda-Jhirpani area. With the surface water scarcity in the region the groundwater at some sites of the city can be used for maintenance of green spaces.