Department of Civil Engineering, R V College of Engineering, Bangalore India.
Department of Applied Geology, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, India.
The present study has been carried out for the Sitanadi basin, one of the major west flowing rivers in the west coast of Karnataka, with the objective to assess various factors controlling the groundwater chemistry. It includes water rock interaction, seasonal variations of the groundwater quality in pre and post monsoon periods and to determine its suitability for domestic use confirming to the latest water quality standards. The quality of water in Sitanadi basin is found good in all locations except very few. Soil water interaction and precipitation are the major contributors for the water quality status of the study area. Groundwater in the Sitanadi basin is acidic in nature. The dominance of cation in the study area is in the form of Ca+>Na+>K+>Mg+ and anion dominance is in the form of HCO3->Cl->SO42->NO32 in pre-monsoon season. In post-monsoon season dominance of cation in the study area is represented by Na+> Ca+> Mg+ >K+ and HCO3-> Cl->SO42->NO32- is represents the dominant major anions in pre monsoon season.
Keywords: Anions; Ground water; Rock water interaction; Water quality.