Punjab has been grappling with significant challenges in managing its water resources to meet the needs of agriculture, industry, and urban areas. There is an urgent necessity to address water pollution and depletion to preserve the state's ecological balance and economy. Human activities are degrading both the quality and quantity of water, leading to severe pollution and overexploitation. The groundwater quality in Punjab has been steadily declining. This study evaluates the suitability of Punjab's groundwater for drinking and irrigation by analyzing parameters such as the Water Quality Index (WQI), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), and Electrical Conductivity. Findings reveal that groundwater in the southern and southwestern districts of Ferozepur, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, and Sangrur is unsuitable for both drinking and irrigation due to excessive levels of salinity, fluoride, magnesium, and sodium.

Irrigation, Electrical Conductivity, Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Water Quality Index