The polluted soils from the major textile, distillery and food industries located on a high-grade rock terrain (Nanjangud, Mysore district, India) were treated under hydrothermal conditions using water as a solvent. The electrical conductivity and N, P, K content have been studied before and after the hydrothermal treatment for these soil samples. Characterization of these soil samples was carried out through powder X-ray diffraction, thin section and infrared spectroscopic studies. (c) 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.