Groundwater quality assessment using GIS technology in Kadavanar Watershed, Cauvery River, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The groundwater quality of Kadavanar watershed, Amaravathy sub-basin, Cauvery river basin, Tamil Nadu, India, was assessed by collecting 147 groundwater samples during April 2016 (pre-monsoon). The Kadavanar watershed area spans for about 2254.66 km2. The areal extent of the hill and forest is 397.08 km2 and the plain or the investigation area is 1857.58 km2. In the study area, sixteen parameters were found to be responsible for the degradation of groundwater quality. The integration of groundwater quality data has been carried out by considering sixteen parameters using GIS technology. The areal extent obtained from the integrated groundwater quality map reveals that nearly 54.02% of the watershed area possesses permissible category (most desirable + maximum allowable) of groundwater. The “most desirable” category of groundwater quality covers 397.08 km2 of the study area and it is located in the northern part (confluent point) as well as the high lineament and weaker plain of the watershed. The rest of the area (854.19 km2) is under mixed category of allowable and not permissible zones and extend over the watershed. It is located in central part of the watershed.