Hydrogeochemical processes in the groundwater environment of Muktsar, Punjab: conventional graphical and multivariate statistical approach.

Understanding the hydrogeochemical processes that govern groundwater quality is important for sustainable management of the water resource. A study with the objective of identifying the hydro-geochemical processes and their relation with existing quality of groundwater was carried out in an intensively cultivated district of Punjab, India. The study approach includes conventional graphical plots and multivariate analysis of the hydrochemical data to define the geochemical evaluation of aquifer system based on the ionic constituents, water types, hydrochemical facies and factors controlling groundwater quality. The results suggest that different natural hydrogeochemical processes like simple dissolution, mixing, weathering of carbonate minerals locally known as “kankar” silicate weathering and ion exchange are the key factors in the pre-monsoon, which was superseded by leaching processes loaded with anthropogenic inputs in the post-monsoon. Limited reverse ion exchange has been noticed at few locations of the study area especially in pre-monsoon periods. There was a significant effect of monsoon observed in terms of hardness and the significant amount of area with temporary hardness (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO type) in the pre-monsoon switched to permanent hardness domain, i.e. (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–Cl⁻ type) by the post-monsoon. At most, factor analyses substantiate the findings of conventional graphical plots and provide greater confidence in data-interpretation. Thus, the study highlights the descriptive capabilities of conventional and multivariate techniques as effective tools in groundwater evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]