Study of Groundwater Quality for Drinking Purposes in Khelna Basin, Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Abstract

Groundwater is generally less susceptible to contamination and pollution when compared to surface water bodies. The present paper deals with suitability of water for drinking purpose in part of Khelna river basin Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. Geologically, the area is occupied by Deccan Trap lava flows of upper Cretaceous to Eocene age. A total of fifty-one groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for major physicochemical parameter in order to understand the different geochemical processes. The groundwater is alkaline in nature. The higher amount of total hardness in a few samples is due to application of fertilizer for agricultural contributing the higher concentration of ions.