Groundwater quality assessment in Jirania Block, west district of Tripura, India, using hydrogeochemical fingerprints

A hydrogeochemical assessment was carried out in Jirania Block of west district of Tripura, India, to evaluate the geochemical processes and groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. Twenty-two groundwater samples were collected at different lithologies in the study area during post-monsoon period. The collected samples were analyzed for major ions and heavy metals using the standard protocols. The analyzed parameters were used for various geochemical plots and indices to classify the groundwater quality. The order of dominance of cations is Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+ and HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > NO3- for anions. Higher concentration of Fe and Mn was observed in most of the samples, which are above the acceptable limit of BIS standard. Correlation analysis and factor analysis were applied to unravel the relationship between ions and to identify the possible geochemical processes in groundwater. The interpretation of analytical data, plots and indices reveals that the weathering, mineral dissolution and ion exchange reactions are the major controlling factors for the groundwater geochemistry. The quality of the groundwater is suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes to the local community in this assessment period.