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Hydrochemical Characteristics of Groundwater for Domestic and Irrigation Purposes in Periyakulam Taluk of Theni District, Tamil Nadu

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Centre for Water Resources, Dept of Civil Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, TN, INDIA.
  • 2 Centre for Water Resources, Dept of Civil Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, TN, INDIA.

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 1, Issue (1), Pages 19-27, August,22 (2012)

Abstract

Study was carried out in Periyakulam taluk of Theni district in Tamil Nadu, India with an objective of understanding the suitability of local groundwater quality for domestic and irrigation purposes. Thirty groundwater samples were collected in premonsoon (August 2011) and postmonsoon (February 2012) and analysed for physical and chemical parameters. Groundwater in this area was found to be within desirable Bureau of Indian Standards for drinking water except certain location hardness and Fluoride exceeds the permissible limit (more than 1.5 mg/l). The presence of fluoride above the permissible level have created a serious threat to rural population dental fluorosis have appeared alarming rate in certain regions. Hydrochemical groundwater evaluations revealed that most of the groundwater belongs to the Ca-HCO type and mixed Ca-Mg-Cl type. Base-exchange indices classified 83% of the groundwater sources as the Na-SO2- and 73% belong to Na-HCO type pre and postmonsoon. The meteoric genesis indices demonstrated that 73% of groundwater sources belong to a deep meteoric water percolation type before monsoon and 76% belong to a shallow meteoric water type in after monsoon season. Groundwater in this area was assessed for irrigation purposes on the basis of salinity indices, chloronity indices, sodicity indices, sodium percentage, and residual sodium carbonate classification. Most of the groundwater samples were suitable for irrigation except in a few locations.

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