Spatial distribution of ground water quality index using remote sensing and GIS techniques

Abstract Water is a vital and widely spread component required for sustaining the life. Groundwater is vastly valuable source and it is extremely beneficial for the human beings. But, the toxic elements release from sources such as industries, landfills as well as non-point causes of pollution such as pesticides and fertilizer from the past year showed high levels of pollution in ground water, hence this is very crucial for evaluating the water quality not only for it’s existing usage, but also a its capacity to develop as a sustainable source of water for human utilization. In rural areas of India, Groundwater is a significant water-drinking source. In Bhokardan area of Jalna District, quality of ground water is great significance, because it is a key alternative source of domestic supply along with drinking water and peoples residing there facing several water quality issues for drinking purpose. In this current research work, an endeavor has been developed to investigate the quality of groundwater as well as spatial distribution by utilizing Remote Sensing along with GIS approaches. Water quality analysis was performed for developing the quality index of water, by utilizing 12 quality parameters of water like Alkalinity, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Fluoride, Chloride, Nitrate, Sulphate, Potassium, Total Hardness, E. coli, Turbidity and Total Dissolved Solids measured at 35 different selected locations in this research work. Spatial distribution map showed that each region of research area falls under category of “Poor water” and “Very poor water” except some sites at Northern regions of the area which falls under “Good water” category during pre-monsoon, whereas most of the sites from Northern and Southern part of the region shifted category from poor to good water along with very poor to poor water during post-monsoon season. The quality index data of water of the current research disclosed that, the high WQI “Water Quality Index” values in the samples of groundwater were principally due to the occurrence of higher values of turbidity and E. Coli. The higher level of water quality parameters like TH, EC, alkalinity, potassium, TDS, chloride and fluoride were also accountable for high values of WQI in this research work. None of the location falls under excellent quality for water during pre-monsoon as well as post-monsoon season.