GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN ARJUNA WATERSHED, VAIGAI RIVER MADURAI AND VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICTS, TAMIL NADU

C.Anandhaprakash; S. Venkateswaran; M.Vijay Prabhu; S.Satheeshkumar

Volume : VI, Issue : II, February - 2016

GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN ARJUNA WATERSHED, VAIGAI RIVER MADURAI AND VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICTS, TAMIL NADU

C. Anandhaprakash, S. Venkateswaran, M. Vijay Prabhu, S. Satheeshkumar

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;The Arjuna Watershed is of particular importance in the study of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes. The present investigations are focusing on groundwater quality of Arjuna Watershed in Madurai and Virudhunagar Districts of Tamil Nadu. Since, remediation of groundwater is very difficult, knowledge of the existing nature, magnitude, and sources of the various pollution loads is a prerequisite to assessing groundwater quality. Fifty groundwater samples were collected from wells based on grid method and the groundwater samples have been analyzed for various chemical parameters like pH, Conductivity, Total dissolved solids, Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Alkalinity, Chloride and Nitrate. Geologically, this study area made up metamorphosed gneiss and granite variety. An attempt has been made to study on the quality of ground water for the Arjuna Watershed is very urgent need for various agricultural and drinking purposes. the maximum concentration of phosphate (0.93) is observed in the study area. In general, groundwater in the study area is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic activities. Using the BIS (1998) standards, the quality of drinking water was categorized. The erratic behaviors of groundwater geochemical elements were spatially given through GIS study. It shows that in the study area, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Sulphate, Iron, Nitrate, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Hydrogen ionic concentration (pH) were observed in potable and not potable limit. To find out the spatial distribution of these elements in the study area, GIS was employed. Results of GIS Spatial Distribution of Ca, Mg of samples are potable for drinking purposes. Maximum concentration of Potassium in groundwater is observed 84 ppm and the majority of samples are influenced by potassium in the study area due to agriculture activity.</p>