Delineation of salt water contamination zones through chemical parameters in naguleru sub-basin, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Delineation of saltwater contamination zones in the groundwater, hydrogeochemical parameters  such as Ca/Mg, Cl2/CO3+HCO3,TA/TH, Base Exchange Index and Mg/Ca verses Cl2 have been used.  The area chosen for study lies between north latitudes of 16014'29'' and 16043'05'' and the east longitudes of 79035'24'' and 79050'43''.  Fifty groundwater samples were collected to analyse chemical constituents of the area under study. The maximum and minimum values of Ca/Mg and Cl2/CO3+HCO3  ratio are 6.078,  0.159 and  3.585, 0.316  respectively.  Ca/Mg ratio values less than 0.20 indicate saline zones  between 0.20 and 1.00 suggest slightly saline water zones and exceeding 1.00 have been considered as fresh water zones. The maximum and minimum values  of TA/TH ratio are 3.266  and 0.38.7. The results reveal that salinity in groundwater is due to local environmental conditions such as drainage, application of industries in crop fields, water logging and domestic sewage.