Geophysical and geochemical approach to identify the groundwater quality in Agastheeswaram Taluk of Kanyakumari District
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Geophysical and geochemical approach to identify the groundwater quality in Agastheeswaram Taluk of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India Y. Srinivas 1 & D. Hudson Oliver 2 & A. Stanley Raj 3 & N. Chandrasekar 1
Received: 12 April 2014 / Accepted: 4 June 2015 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2015
Abstract A combined study of both geoelectrical and geochemical methods was used to find the quality of groundwater in the Agastheeswaram Taluk of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India. The vertical electrical sounding (VES) method was applied to identify the variations in electrical resistivity of the subsurface. Three to five geoelectric layers are interpreted in the study area from the observed VES data. The aquifer was mostly found in the second or third layer. Analytical results from the 14 groundwater samples collected near the VES stations are in good correlation with the VES outcomes. Also, the interpreted results of VES data collected from the field were compared with the existing subsurface data and correlation was made, which proved the consistency of the VES method. Iso-resistivity contour maps for different depths and pseudo cross sections showing the resistivity distribution with depth are prepared for detailed analysis. More than 50 % of the area is having aquifer resistivity value less than 10 Ωm. This indicates that the aquifer is found to get polluted by saline water intrusion or some other anthropogenic activities, like intense agricultural practices and poor sewage management. From the geochemical analysis of the groundwater samples, it is found that the Na+ and Cl− are the dominant cation and anion in the study area. Evaporation and rock-water interaction are found to be the major processes controlling the ion concentration in
* Y. Srinivas [email protected] 1
Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu 627012, India
2
Senthamarai College of Arts and Science, Palkalai Nagar, Vadapalanji, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625021, India
3
School of Science and Humanities, Vel Tech Dr. RR & Dr. SR Technical University, Chennai 600062, India
the groundwater. The results obtained from geochemical analysis are in good correlation with the VES results. Keywords Groundwater quality . Vertical electrical soundings . Geochemical Analysis Agastheeswaram Taluk . Kanyakumari District
Introduction Groundwater exploration is important worldwide due to the ever increasing demand of water for agriculture and drinking purposes. Rapid urbanization, increased industrial and agricultural activities, which depend greatly on groundwater, have led to significant degradation in groundwater quality. Once contamination has occurred, it is usually very difficult and sometimes impossible to successfully clean the aquifers. So, maintaining the existing quality of groundwater remains the best option. Early detection of contamination can be achieved by regular monitoring of groundwater quality (Zulfiqar et al. 2010). Such monitoring programmes can only be achieved if water wells
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