Abstract
The present hydrogeochemical study was confined to the Thoothukudi District in Tamilnadu, India. A total of 100 representative water samples were collected during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon and analyzed for the major cations (sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium) and anions (chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, fluoride and nitrate) along with various physical and chemical parameters (pH, total dissolved salts and electrical conductivity). Water quality index rating was calculated to quantify the overall water quality for human consumption. The PRM samples exhibit poor quality in greater percentage when compared with POM due to dilution of ions and agricultural impact. The overlay of WQI with chloride and EC corresponds to the same locations indicating the poor quality of groundwater in the study area. Sodium (Na %), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), residual sodium bicarbonate, permeability index (PI), magnesium hazards (MH), Kelly’s ratio (KR), potential salinity (PS) and Puri’s salt index (PSI) and domestic quality parameters such as total hardness (TH), temporary, permanent hardness and corrosivity ratio (CR) were calculated. The majority of the samples were not suitable for drinking, irrigation and domestic purposes in the study area. In this study, the analysis of salinization/freshening processes was carried out through binary diagrams such as of mole ratios of {text{SO}}_{ 4}^{ 2- } /Cl− and Cl−/EC that clearly classify the sources of seawater intrusion and saltpan contamination. Spatial diagram BEX was used to find whether the aquifer was in the salinization region or in the freshening encroachment region.
Highlights
Freshwater is limited, but its demand is increasing day by day
The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking, irrigation and domestic purpose in Thoothukudi District, as the groundwater is the only major source of water for drinking, irrigation and domestic purposes due to the lack of surface water in this region
The pH indicates the strength of the water that reacts with the acidic or alkaline material present in the water. pH was found to be acidic to alkaline in nature in most of the samples ranging between 6.80 and 9.20 and 6.80 and 9.40 during the PRM and POM seasons, respectively (Table 2)
Summary
Freshwater is limited, but its demand is increasing day by day. Where surface water is not available, sufficient, convenient, or feasible for consumption, but groundwater potential is suitable in quantity or quality, groundwater consumption has great importance. Groundwater quality plays an important role in its protection and quality conservation. It is very important to assess the groundwater quality for its present use, and from the viewpoint of a potential source of water for future consumption (Kori et al 2006). The quality of groundwater is as important as its quantity, owing to the suitability of water for various purposes. Variation in groundwater quality in an area is a function of physical and chemical parameters that are greatly influenced by geological formations and anthropogenic activities (Subramani et al 2005; Chin 2006). The chemical characteristics of groundwater play an important role in classifying and assessing water quality. The quality of groundwater depends on various chemical constituents and their concentration, which are mostly derived from the geological data of the particular region.
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