A Study of Impact of Rainfall and Groundwater on Agricultural Crops and Drinking Water in the Bhandara District, India

This study has studied the impact of groundwater on agriculture & drinking water in the district of Bhandara. The correlation between rainfall & groundwater has been studied using some parametric & non- parametric tests. The study of rainfall shows the trend of the rainfall distribution. This study concludes the 43 years of rainfall data collected from 1971 till 2013. The rainfall trends are negative at the rainfall stations of Tumsar, Lakhandur, Bhandara, Pavani & Mohadi. The positive trend is observed at the rainfall station of Sakoli with an increase of 0.84 mm/ year. The groundwater has been studied by calculating the water quality index using several parameters. 62.5% of the water quality is good, while the remaining 37.5% water quality is not potable & suitable for agriculture. In order to determine whether groundwater is drinking water, sixteen parameters were taken into account. Out of the sixteen parameters, two samples had excessive hardness, and ten samples had low nitrate. The pressures on groundwater resources from population growth, urbanisation, industrialization, and agricultural activities are immense. The degradation of groundwater quality caused by both natural and man-made activities is a growing concern. Many researchers will use this study for their regional planning.