Groundwater Quality Issues and Challenges for Drinking and Irrigation Uses in Central Ganga Basin Dominated with Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Increased population and increasing demands for food in the Indo-Gangetic plain are likely to exert pressure on fresh water due rise demand drinking irrigation water. The study focuses Bhojpur district, Bihar located central Ganga basin, assess groundwater quality purpose discuss issues challenges. Groundwater is mostly utilized area purposes (major crops sown rice wheat). There were around 45 samples collected across region pre-monsoon season (year 2019). chemical analytical results show that Ca2+, Mg2+ HCO3? ions present abundance governing chemistry. Further analysis shows 66%, 69% 84% of exceeded acceptable limit arsenic (As), Fe Mn respectively other trace metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) within permissible as prescribed by Bureau Indian Standard Generally, high As concentration has been found aquifer (depth ranges from 20 40 m below ground surface) proximity river Ganga. For assessing quality, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) values, residual carbonate (RSC), Na%, permeability index (PI) calcium alteration (CAI) calculated almost all be good excellent category purposes. facie classified into Ca-Mg-HCO3 type.