Groundwater samples from alluvial aquifers of Bathinda district, southwest Punjab were measured for physicochemical parameters as well as major ion chemistry to evaluate the groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes and to present the current hydrochemical status of groundwater of this district. Temporal variations were analyzed by comparing the pre- and post-monsoon groundwater chemistry. Most of the samples showed contamination: F⁻ (72 %), Mg²⁺ (22 %), SO₄ ²⁻ (28 %), TH (25 %), NO₃ ⁻ (22 %), HCO₃ ⁻ (22 %) and TDS (11 %) during pre-monsoon and F⁻ (50 %), Mg²⁺ (39 %), SO₄ ²⁻ (22 %), TH (28 %), NO₃ ⁻ (22 %) and TDS (28 %) during post-monsoon above permissible limits for drinking, while rest of the parameters fall within the limits. Irrigation suitability was checked using sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), percent sodium (Na%) and permeability index (PI). Most of the samples fall under good to suitable category during pre-monsoon period, but fall under doubtful to unsuitable category during post-monsoon period. Presence of high salt content in groundwater during post-monsoon season reflects leaching of salts present in the unsaturated zone by infiltrating precipitation. Hydrochemical data was interpreted using Piper’s trilinear plot and Chadha’s plot to understand the various geochemical processes affecting the groundwater quality. The results indicate that the order of cation dominance is Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺, while anion dominance is in the order Cl⁻ > HCO₃ ⁻ > SO₄ ²⁻. The geochemistry of groundwater of this district is mainly controlled by the carbonate and silicate mineral dissolution and ion exchange during pre-monsoon and leaching from the salts deposited in vadose zone during post-monsoon. The main sources of contamination are soluble fertilizers and livestock wastes. This study is significant as the surface water resources are limited and the quality and quantity of groundwater are deteriorating with time due to anthropogenic inputs.

Evaluation of groundwater quality to ascertain its utility gain extra concern in the present day life. This study was carried out to reveal the various factors responsible for deterioration of water quality using environmetric techniques (principal component analysis and cluster analysis), water quality index (WQI) and conventional graphical representation such as Piper trillinear diagram in the industrial area of Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India. The analysis of parameters like pH, EC, TDS, TH and major ions concentrations such as Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻ and PO₄ ²⁻ were carried out to assess the source of pollution in the study area. The parameters like Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻ are within desirable limit as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for drinking and domestic purposes. pH, TH and Mg²⁺ exceeded the permissible limits at certain sites and about 50 % samples of EC, TDS, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were above the desirable limits which gives us caution. Piper trillinear diagram classified 93.75 and 90.63 % of groundwater samples for both seasons falls in the fields of Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃ ⁻ water type indicating temporary hardness. Results of WQI indicate majority of samples falls in poor to unfit range in both seasons. PCA and CA identifies that the groundwater chemistry were influenced by natural as well as minor anthropogenic activities. Thus, the affirmative solution will be proper groundwater development and management practices through artificial recharge to maintain both quality and quantity.