Page 1 of 19

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 04 Issue 06

June 2018

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 142

Geohydrological and Geochemical Studies of Yerraguntla

Mandal, YSR (Kadapa) District, Andhra Pradesh, using

Remote Sensing Techniques

S. Srinivasa Gowd*, V. Sivaprasad Reddy, M. Soujanya Mary and A. Rangaswamy

*Asst. Professor, Dept. of Geology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa – 516005, A.P.

ABSTRACT

Drinking water is an important resource that needs to be protected

from pollution and biological contamination. Water is vital to health, well- being, food security and socioeconomic development of mankind.

Underground water is clean but it depends upon quality and quantity of

minerals dispersed and dissolved in it. Therefore, the presence of

contaminants in natural fresh water continues to be one of the most

important environmental issues in many areas of the world, particularly in

developing countries where several communities are far away from potable

water supply. Low- income communities, which rely on untreated surface

water and groundwater supplies for domestic and agricultural uses are the

most exposed to the impact of poor water quality. The aim of this study is to

conduct an assessment of the ‘Geohydrological and Geochemical Studies of

Yerraguntla Mandal, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, using Remote

Sensing Techniques’. The proposed study area in the Yerraguntla revenue

mandal of Kadapa Disrict and is shown in the figer 1. The study area falls in

the survey of India Top sheet No:57J/06 & 10. Twenty one samples of

ground water used for drinking purposed were collected from either hand

pumps or open wells at different villages of Yerraguntla mandal of Kadapa

District, during the summer season month of March and April 2014. The pH

Page 2 of 19

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 04 Issue 06

June 2018

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 143

of ground water in the study area is ranging from 2.45 to 8.54. The total

hardness of the groundwater in the study area is ranging from 80 to 880mg/l.

Water hardness is primarly due to the result of interaction between water and

the Geological formation. The calcium concentration of groundwater in the

study area is ranging from 40 to 350 mg/l during the pre-monsoon period.

The chloride concentration of the ground water in the study area ranging

from 127 to 2016.4 mg/l during pre-monsoon period. The bicarbonate

concentration of the groundwater in the study area in ranging from 24.4 to

1146.8 mg/l during the pre-monsoon period. The fluoride concentration of

the groundwater in the study area ranging from 0.44 to 6.18 mg/l during the

pre-monsoon period. Low concentration of fluoride (0.44mg/l) is observed

in kalamalla village and high concentration of floured (6.18mg/l) is observed

peddanapadu village. Proper deflouridation techniques have to follow to

monitor fluoride contamination.

INTRODUCTION

Drinking water is an important resource that needs to be protected

from pollution and biological contamination. Underground water is clean but

it depends upon quality and quantity of materials dispersed and dissolved in

it. Water picks up impurities in during its flow, which are harmful to man

and vegetation. The reason for contamination and pollution of water in the

natural surroundings and in the storage are pesticides, fertilizers, industrial

wastes, inorganic and organic salts from top soil and geological strata

(Nanoti, 2004). The domestic water bodies are being used for cattle

drinking, human bathing, cloths washing and other domestic purposes. The

quality of groundwater is highly related with local environmental and

Page 3 of 19

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 04 Issue 06

June 2018

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 144

geological conditions. The quality of soil and rock and the water table

determines the quality of groundwater. Groundwater constitutes an

important source of water for drinking, agriculture and industrial production.

The use of groundwater has increased significantly in the last decades due to

its widespread occurrence and overall good quality. The contribution from

groundwater is vital; because about two billion people depend directly upon

aquifers for drinking water, and 40 percent of the world’s food is produced

by irrigated agriculture that relies largely on groundwater (Morris et al.,

2003). Despite its importance, contamination from natural, human activities,

steady increase in demand for water due to rising population and per capita

use, increasing need for irrigation, changes in climates and overexploitation

etc., among others has affected the use of groundwater as source of drinking

water.

Excess amount of physic-chemical components, cause a certain

ecological and physical problems to human. A chloride present in excess

imports the salty taste to water and people who are not accustomed to high

chlorides are subjected to laxative effect, due to chloride present in excess

amount the salinity of water also increases. Turbidity is a measure of

cloudiness in water, when water is highly turbid, which can clog fish gill,

reduce growth rate and residence of disease

(http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/ Know your

water). The presence of nitrate in water has been associated with

methamoglobinemia and also certain disease in animal (Frank and Shannon,

2005). It was harmful for irrigation due to presence of carbonates as it

increased salinity of soil (Tambekar et al, 2008). Dissolved oxygen present

in drinking water was highly fluctuating factor. The physic-chemical