Abstract

Water is an indispensable source for all living creatures whose quality depends on values of physicochemical parameters. Water is found in several forms, among which one of the most readily available is the underground water. But unfortunately the quality of same source is being deteriorated day by day because of the accelerated rate of dumping of several solid and liquid industrial, institutional, domestic, residential, agricultural and biomedical wastes inside the earth. The present paper briefs about the fifteen parameters of groundwater of three famous villages namely Ladhu, Khrew and Shar of Tehsil Pampore, district Pulwama (J and K, India) to find out its suitability for drinking and domestic purposes. The analysis of the parameters were done according to the prescribed standard procedure to reveal the values of pH, electrical conductivity, DO, free CO₂, Ca²⁺ hardness, total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, TDS, Mg²⁺, nitrite-nitrogen, orthophosphate etc. The analysis of the water samples have shown that the average value of maximum parameters were lying within the maximum permissible limit of ISI and WHO. The soil of the study areas is loamy with little clay content but rich in lime with a high content of magnesia. The soil around the study sites also receives a good content of chemical fertilizers in addition to green manure and legume. During winter the strong winds bring snow and rain from Mediterranean depression.

Keywords: Physico-chemical; Groundwater; Water quality; Pampore; Chemical fertilizers