Chapter 17 - Geochemical assessment of high salinity in groundwater along Ramanathapuram Coast, Southern Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This research has been carried out to evaluate the hydrochemical parameters for improving the coastal groundwater quality of agricultural areas in the coastal region of Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, South India. Increased population and intensive agricultural activities in and around the study area affect the aquatic system of the study area and have a key impact on its groundwater quality. The groundwater samples were collected from the study area. The Geographic Information System (GIS) based on the spatial mapping for groundwater quality assessment was utilized to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes by analyzing the physical (color, odor, temperature, turbidity) and chemical parameters of (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, HCO3, SO4, and NO3). The values of the analyzed parameters of groundwater samples were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards. The measured data were used to compute irrigation indices such as total hardness (TH), sodium percentage (Na%), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), corrosively ratio (CR), and permeability index (PI) to determine the suitability of water for agricultural activities. This comprehensive research provides a geological database through IDW spatial surveys that will help to plan and improve sustainable groundwater resource management along the coastline of the Ramanathapuram district.