Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation Purposes in Near Coal Washing Plant, Zarand City

In the present study, the chemical characteristics of groundwater with respect to Irrigation water quality in near coal washing plant, Zarand city, Kerman province, SE Iran, have been studied. The agricultural and urbanization activities have a lot of impact on the groundwater quality of the study area. Factor analysis has been applied to the chemical analysis data of 30 water samples collected from bore wells and 8 water samples from tailings pond to extract the principal factors corresponding to the sources of variation in the hydrochemistry. A perusal of the chemical data of the groundwater samples reveals the presence of two chemically differing hydrochemical facies within the study area (zone A and B). This can be demonstrated in bivariate TDS versus Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, HCO3-, SO42-, Cl- diagrams. Suitability of the groundwater for irrigation purposes has been evaluated based on its salinity, percent sodium, Sodium Absorption Ratio, Residual Sodium Carbonate, Kelley’s Ratio and integrated effect of EC and SAR - based U.S salinity laboratory diagram. To understand the spatial distribution of unsuitable zones, ArcGIS was employed. Quality-wise the groundwater zone A and B can be utilised to irrigate coarse-textured soils of farmlands growing salt-tolerant crops.