Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation and Drinking Water Suitability Along the Rural–Urban Interface of Bengaluru

Groundwater is essential for drinking and irrigation, but its quality is impacted by human activities and rapid urbanization. This study presents a unique assessment of groundwater quality in agroecosystems situated at the rural–urban interface of Bengaluru, an area undergoing rapid land‐use change and intensive agricultural practices. Unlike earlier studies that examine only rural or urban zones, this study integrates physicochemical analysis, hydrochemical facies (Piper plot), water quality index (WQI), and principal component analysis (PCA) to provide a comprehensive understanding of seasonal variations in groundwater quality. A total of 60 borewell water samples were collected from the study site and analyzed for various water quality parameters. Results show that groundwater remains within permissible limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Piper plot indicates that most samples are of mixed type, with alkaline earths exceeding alkalis, and strong acids surpassing weak acids. Water chemistry is affected by the dominance of evaporation and precipitation. The WQI showed that 50% of the samples were classified as excellent during the post‐monsoon period, increasing to 76% in the pre‐monsoon period. PCA explains 96.30% and 84.80% of the variance in post‐ and pre‐monsoon conditions, with principal component (PC1) accounting for 49.40% and 48.60%, respectively. Most groundwater is suitable for human use and irrigation. However, the government should monitor contamination sources to enable more comprehensive future assessments of groundwater quality.