ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN INDUSTRIAL BELT OF FARIDABAD, HARYANA

Abstract

The present study investigates the groundwater quality in Faridabad, Haryana, an industrial city in the northern part of India within the National Capital Region (NCR). The industrial town of Faridabad lies in the northern part of India and is currently undergoing speedy urbanization with high industrial growth in NCR. This has, coupled with its speedy urbanization and industrial development, led to impacts on groundwater resources within it. However, it's essential for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes. The present study involves essential water quality parameters like pH, total dissolved solids, total hardness, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium for assessing the suitability of groundwater for irrigation and consumption. From the above data and interpretation, it will be enough to make a general suitability assessment for different water uses. With this, it can be observed that the pH in water at most places fall in the optimum scale, which could be presumed to state that neither water is too acidic nor alkaline. On the other hand, high levels of TDS at all indicative points reveal that water may have problems related to taste and long-term health issues. In most of the cases also indicate that total hardness and chloride exceed the desirable limits, which can lead to corrosion in pipes and have a salty taste. The nitrates were within permissible limits, but the sulphates, sodium, and potassium were within high concentrations in some of the locations and, therefore, reflective of the salinity of the soil and ensured health. of crops. High levels of magnesium indicated probable ill effects on agricultural yield. It is thus essential to regularly monitor and treat groundwater for its sustainability. This further reinstates the need for effective practices and policies related to water management, which must prevent or at least minimize the adversities posed by groundwater contamination, hence saving people's health and well-being and the sustainability of agricultural practices in Faridabad.