Status of groundwater at Chennai city, India

Abstract

Chennai formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and India's fourth largest metropolitan city. The status of the groundwater depends on a large number of individual hydro-biological parameters. Pollutants are added to the groundwater system through anthropogenic activities and natural processes. Solid waste from industries is being dumped near the factories and subjected to reaction with percolating rainwater and reaches the groundwater level. The percolating water picks up a large amount of dissolved constituents and reaches the aquifer system and thus it contaminates the groundwater. The aim of the present study was carried out to assess the status of the groundwater in Chennai city using physicochemical and biological parameters according to the standard methods (APHA 1998). Two zones (North and South) from Chennai city were selected for the studies from each Zone 25 sampling stations were fixed and the analysis was made during summer and monsoon seasons (Jan - Dec) 2007. Results indicate that the groundwater of the study area is bacteriologically not safe and need treatment before it is used for drinking purposes. Thus, this study assumes greater importance in the public health management point of view.