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A study on hydrochemical characteristics of surface and sub-surface water in and around Perumal Lake, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, South India

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Abstract

Hydrogeochemical investigations are carried out in and around Perumal Lake, Cuddalore district, South India in order to assess its suitability in relation to domestic and agricultural uses. The water samples (surface water = 16; groundwater = 12) were analyzed for various physicochemical attributes like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), chloride (Cl−), bicarbonate (HCO3 −), sulfate (SO4 2−), phosphate (PO4), silica (H4SiO4) and total dissolved solids (TDS). Major hydrochemical facies were identified using Piper trilinear diagram. Hydrogeochemical processes controlling the water chemistry are water–rock interaction rather than evaporation and precipitation. Interpretation of isotopic signatures reveals that groundwater samples recharged by meteoric water with few water–rock interactions. A comparison of water quality in relation to drinking water quality standard proves that the surface water samples are suitable for drinking purpose, whereas groundwater in some areas exceeds the permissible limit. Various determinants such as sodium absorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (Na%), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index (PI) revealed that most of the samples are suitable for irrigation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express thanks to Centre for water resource, development and management (CWRDM), Kozhikode, India for helping in the stable isotope analysis of the water samples. The authors are grateful Mr. M. Vasanthavigar for the preparation of maps. They are also thankful to the Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, India for their cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Geology, School of Engineering and Science, Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak Campus, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

    M. V. Prasanna

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, India

    S. Chidambaram, T. V. Gireesh & T. V. Jabir Ali

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  1. M. V. Prasanna
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  2. S. Chidambaram
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Prasanna, M.V., Chidambaram, S., Gireesh, T.V. et al. A study on hydrochemical characteristics of surface and sub-surface water in and around Perumal Lake, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, South India. Environ Earth Sci 63, 31–47 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0664-6

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