Abstract
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation and to recognize the comprehensive controls of groundwater salinization in the coastal regions of the Thiruvallur district. For this purpose, groundwater from 54 dug and bore wells at locations covering most of the coastal aquifer within 10 km was sampled and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters. The analytical results expose that the groundwater in the study area is slightly alkaline to alkaline, moderately fresh to highly saline, and very high in hardness. The dominance of significant ion concentrations was found in the following order: Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ = Cl− > HCO3− > SO42− > NO3− >PO43− > F–. The Water Quality Index (WQI) map shows that 70% of the groundwater samples are unsuitable for drinking due to the enhanced levels of TDS, salinity, and significant major ionic concentrations. However, the rest of the groundwater samples are in excellent to good condition. The Hydrochemical Facies Evaluation Diagram (HFE-D) reveals that many samples show the overlapping in the mixing line between fresh groundwater and saltwater caused by seawater intrusion.
Published Version
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