S.R. Barick¹, B.K. Ratha^1,

Ground water is a scarce resource in most part of Odisha as 80 percent of its area is underlain by hard rocks. As the study area is drought prone most people depend on ground water for drinking and agriculture. Hence, constant monitoring and assessment of water resource is necessary. With this purpose the present study area Hial, a part of Bolangir district of Odisha, India is chosen. Water samples were collected from the study area for quality evaluation during pre monsoon period of 2010. They were analyzed for physical parameters such as pH, EC, TDS and chemical parameters such as Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, HCO₃, CO₃, SO₄, F. Suitability of groundwater for purposes such as drinking, irrigation and industrial was evaluated following various classification schemes and water quality standards. The water quality study reveals that pH of the water varies from 7.23-8.35, EC ranges from 69.3-1345 µmho/cm, TDS values range from 238 to 777.3 mg/l, total alkalinity values range from 84-420 mg/l, total hardness values range from 88 to 452 mg/l. Analytical study of water samples reveals that calcium varies from 8 to 174.4 mg/l, magnesium varies from 2.9 to 78.1 mg/l, sodium varies from 9.4 to 176.5 mg/l, potassium varies from 0.1 to 12.5 mg/l, chloride values range from 8.5 to 195.68 mg/l, carbonate values range from 0 to 33.6 mg/l, bicarbonate values range from 82.96 to 512.4 mg/l, sulphate values range from 0 to 76 mg/l, fluoride values range from 0.25 to 2.8 mg/l in water of the area. Piper Trilinear plot shows most ground water samples as Mg-HCO³ and Ca-HCO³ type. From Richard’s salinity diagram it is observed that most of the samples are plotted in C3-S1 field indicating low Sodium Adsorption Ratio and high salinity hazard. The water chemistry of the area is controlled by lithology of the area.

groundwater, Bolangir, Odisha, India