Page 79 - Haryana Water Resources Atlas 2025

Ground Water Quality in Shallow Aquifers (Based on WQI 2023)

he Water Quality Index (WQI) is a composite value that integrates various
weighted water quality parameters such as Calcium (Ca), Chloride (Cl), Fluoride
T(F), Carbonate (HCO3), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na), Phosphorous (P), and N
Sulphate (SO4), among others. Figure 41 illustrates the Ground Water quality in the
shallow aquifers of Haryana based on the WQI. The WQI has been categorized into four
W E
classes: Good, Moderate, Low, and Very Low, as indicated in Table 39. These four
categories correspond to the quality of Ground Water. To ascertain the overall water
quality state of Ground Water systems, the WQI approach consists of four steps: S
parameter selection, sub-indices, weight establishment, and final index aggregation. Most Scale
of the northeastern part of Haryana, including districts like Panchkula, Ambala, Kms
Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, and parts of Panipat and Kaithal, falls into the Good 0 12.5 25 50 75 100
WQI category, which is suitable for irrigation. Small parts of Mahendragarh, Gurugram,
Fatehabad, and Palwal districts also fall into this category. The major part of western
Haryana and small parts of central and southern Haryana exhibit a Moderate WQI, which
is considered suitable for specific crops. The main districts falling into this category are
Sirsa, Fatehabad, parts of Bhiwani, Hisar, Mahendragarh, and Jind.
Central and southern Haryana falls into the Low WQI category which is usable only
through the mixing or conjunctive use of both surface water and Ground Water to
minimize undesirable physical, environmental, and economic effects while optimizing
water demand. Parts of Hisar, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Faridabad, and Mewat lie
under this category. Some parts of Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Hisar, and
Sirsa have a very low WQI, indicating that the water is not usable for agriculture. The
overall state is facing severe water quality or scarcity issues. A large population depends
on Ground Water for domestic and irrigation activities but it is not suitable for use
everywhere. Prolonged consumption of such poor-quality water can cause serious health
problems. Remedial measures should be implemented mainly in the central and southern
parts of Haryana to improve Ground Water quality and identify areas with good-quality
potential in regions with poor Ground Water quality.

Table 39. District-wise Ground Water Quality in Shallow Aquifers

Category wise Area in Acres

Low Very Low

Good Moderate (Usable by (Not usable
(Usable for (Usable for mixing or for
District TGA Irrigation) specific crops) conjuctive use) Agriculture)

Ambala 388943.27 316796.84 72146.43 0.00 0.00

Bhiwani 848064.36 73843.21 492892.11 190723.88 90605.17

Charkhi Dadri 332603.33 12743.42 153770.63 139328.09 26761.19
Faridabad 183104.81 1320.47 60741.50 121042.84 0.00

Fatehabad 627152.49 56019.20 543998.98 27134.30 0.00

Gurugram 310858.09 125999.98 134719.71 46650.51 3487.89
Hisar 984219.22 67336.86 432395.79 435360.31 49126.26

Jhajjar 453190.57 5455.07 83084.94 320590.37 44060.19

Jind 667677.71 67109.73 394109.38 203039.00 3419.60

Kaithal 572542.29 373859.91 139698.54 54992.44 3991.39

Karnal 622704.60 537790.34 79164.86 5749.40 0.00

Kurukshetra 378070.65 374507.68 3562.97 0.00 0.00

Mahendragarh 469252.40 62711.15 259061.92 147479.32 0.00

Mewat 372387.24 26854.85 123084.72 215286.37 7161.29

Palwal 335815.70 32484.13 191831.97 105792.92 5706.67
Panchkula 221900.29 221900.29 0.00 0.00 0.00

Panipat 313329.14 177709.06 106710.47 28909.61 0.00

Rewari 393885.37 29125.33 204801.90 159958.14 0.00

Rohtak 431198.23 14585.99 161813.29 235654.84 19144.11

Sirsa 1056868.09 63571.01 694425.02 253842.59 45029.47

Sonipat 524356.81 48598.92 280935.88 151338.75 43483.25
Yamunanagar 436881.64 436881.64 0.00 0.00 0.00

Haryana 10925006.26 3127205.09 4612951.02 2842873.68 341976.48
Source: HARSAC/ GIS Based Figure 41. Ground Water Quality in Shallow Aquifers (Based on WQI 2023)
Data Source-HARSAC
Haryana Water Resources Atlas 61|