Groundwater quality assessment using WQI and GIS techniques, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, India
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Groundwater quality assessment using WQI and GIS techniques, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, India N. S. Magesh & S. Krishnakumar & N. Chandrasekar & John Prince Soundranayagam
Received: 10 January 2012 / Accepted: 22 August 2012 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2012
Abstract The quality of groundwater was assessed by determining the physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS and TH) and major ions concentration (HCO3, Cl, FSO4, Ca, Mg, Na and K) around Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, India. The groundwater samples were collected from 59 bore wells covering the entire study area and analyzed using standard methods. The GIS mapping technique were adopted to highlight the spatial distribution pattern of physicochemical parameters and major ion concentration in the groundwater. Gibbs diagram reveals that the source of major ions is predominantly derived from rock–water interaction and evaporation dominance process. The salt combinations of the aquifers are dominated by CaHCO3, mixed CaMgCl, mixed CaMgHCO3 and CaCl facies type due to leaching and dissolution process of weathered rocks. The Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI) suggests that most of the groundwater quality falls under good to marginal category. The statistical N. S. Magesh : N. Chandrasekar Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli 627 012 Tamil Nadu, India N. S. Magesh e-mail: [email protected] N. Chandrasekar e-mail: [email protected] S. Krishnakumar (*) Department of Civil Engineering, St. Peter’s University, Avadi, Chennai 600054 Tamil Nadu, India e-mail: [email protected] J. P. Soundranayagam Department of Physics, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin 628 008 Tamil Nadu, India J. P. Soundranayagam e-mail: [email protected]
analysis indicates that the presence of major ions and physicochemical parameters are chiefly controlled by rock–water interaction and residence time of the groundwater. However, the major nutrient like nitrite in the groundwater probably comes from anthropogenic process. Based on the groundwater quality standards, majority of the samples are suitable for drinking purposes except few in the study area. Keywords Physicochemical parameters . Major ions . GIS analysis techniques . Dindigul district . Geochemical process
Introduction Geochemistry of groundwater is an important factor determining its use for domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes. The degradation of groundwater quality generally occurs due to natural processes and other anthropogenic influences. The increased knowledge of geochemical processes that control groundwater chemical composition could lead to improve the understanding of hydrogeochemical systems in such areas. Such understandings like rock–water interactions, aquifer lithology, dissolution and residence time of groundwater may be helpful to improve the groundwater quality and management (Hem 1985). However, the over exploitation of groundwater for agricultural and other anthropogenic purposes were clu
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