Abstract
Puri city is situated on the east coast of India and groundwater is the only source available to meet the potable water supply of the city. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality and to identify the groundwater potential zones for drinking water production using GIS. Major sources of groundwater contamination in the city were open discharges of domestic sewage, inadequate sewerage system, open defecation, septic tanks, soak pits, contaminated water pools and unorganized solid waste dumping. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed during post and pre monsoon to evaluate the drinking water quality as per Indian standards. The groundwater zones were prepared based on weighted index overlay analysis by assigning the weights based on the drinking water standards under different classes of individual water quality parameters. Finally, the potential zones were identified and assessed as suitable, moderately suitable and unsuitable for domestic purpose. Based on groundwater quality and geospatial analysis, measures were suggested to protect groundwater resources.
Highlights
Due to uneven spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall and lack of sufficient water management practices, developmental activities of the society are totally depend on groundwater resources [1]
The objective of the study was to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality and to identify the groundwater potential zones for drinking water production using GIS
The groundwater samples from production wells, hand pumps, open wells and open water bodies were located in the physical environment using global positioning system (GPS) and transferred on GIS environment (ArcGIS 9.1)
Summary
Due to uneven spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall and lack of sufficient water management practices, developmental activities of the society are totally depend on groundwater resources [1]. Even in India, the groundwater is the main source for meeting the various needs of the society. Lack of sanitation, improper waste disposal, faulty well construction and water source protection measures, groundwater is getting polluted [2,3]. Variation in groundwater chemistry with time provides information on the impact of land use land cover changes on the water quality [4]. Heavy pumping and excessive use of near-coast groundwater has caused rapid depletion of water tables as well as deterioration of water quality in most of the coastal cities [8,9,10]
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