The study presents detailed investigations of the chemical quality of groundwater in Jammu and Kathua districts (J & K), carried out to evaluate the suitability of water for various uses. The quality of groundwater of the area has been studied based on the physico-chemical analysis of thirty seven water samples collected from open wells between June and December, 1996.

Various parameters like pH, conductance, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium have been determined for all the samples and compared with the standards to evaluate its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Irrigation water quality has been computed on the basis of Doneen’s Permeability Index and residual Sodium Carbonate. The higher values of some parameters at certain locations indicate the contamination in groundwater and make the water unsuitable for specific applications.

The pH values indicate that the groundwater in the area is of alkaline nature. Most of the wells lie under the salinity zone (EC, 750-2250 micro mhos/ cm). The variation of Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) values ranged between 0.113 to 5.1 indicating that water samples fall under the category of low sodium hazard and can be used for irrigating crops on almost all soils. The fluoride concentration was observed to be less than 1.5 mg/l at all sites.

The groundwater of the area has also been classified on the basis of Piper and US Salinity Laboratory Classifications. The results of Piper diagrams have shown that, majority of wells were lying under Ca, Mg, Cl and SO₄ during both periods of the investigations.

According to the US Salinity Laboratory Classification for irrigation water, majority of the samples fall under C3-S1 (high salinity and low SAR) and are followed by C2-S1 (medium salinity and low SAR). The C4-S1 (very high salinity and low SAR) category was observed at Madun during June 1996 and at Londi during June and December 1996.

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