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Hydrochemical and statistical techniques to decode groundwater geochemical interactions and saline water intrusion along the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India

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Abstract

The study attempts to decipher saline water invasion and aided geochemical influences activated along the coastal zones of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Total 76 groundwater samples representing pre- and post-monsoon seasons were collected and examined for various parameters like Ca2+, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Cl−, HCO3−, NO3− and SO42−. Multiple techniques such as hydrochemical ionic changes, hydrochemical facies evolution model and seawater mixing index were incorporated to decipher the salinization process in the study area. Hydrochemical facies suggests 38.00% of groundwater samples representing CaHCO3 facies indicating fresh groundwater, mixed Ca–Cl groundwater by 26.00% of samples and about 36.00% samples suggest Na–Cl indicating saline water. Hydrochemical facies evolution diagram differentiated groundwater facies into freshening and intrusion phase irrespective of seasons. About 23.60% and 21.00% of samples during pre- and post-monsoon suggest samples influenced by seawater intrusion. Hydrochemical ionic changes of samples signify the positive fraction of seawater in both seasons, which shows the mixing of fresh groundwater with saline water. The seawater mixing index confirms a greater percentage of samples during post-monsoon (42.00%) have been influenced by seawater with values greater than one. Principle component analysis extracted three factors with a total variance of 67.31% and 62.03% during pre- and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Factor 1 replicates the natural processes such as saline water intrusion and ion exchange, whereas factors 2 and 3 signify anthropogenic actions such as improper sewage disposal, use of fertilizers, domestic and industrial waste discharge influencing groundwater chemistry.

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Abbreviations

AgNO3 − :

Silver nitrate

Bgl:

Below ground level

Ca2+ :

Calcium

Cl− :

Chloride

CML:

Conservative mixing line

EC:

Electrical conductivity

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

HCl:

Hydrochloric acid

HCO3 − :

Bicarbonate

HFE-D:

Hydrochemical facies evolution diagram

HNO3 :

Nitric acid

K+ :

Potassium

m:

Meter

mg/L:

Milligrams per litre

m3/h:

Cubic meters per hour

Mg2+ :

Magnesium

Mix:

Mixed

Na+ :

Sodium

NO3 − :

Nitrate

PCA:

Principal component analysis

pH:

Potential of hydrogen

POM:

Post-monsoon

PRM:

Pre-monsoon

SMI:

Seawater mixing index

SO4 2− :

Sulphate

sq.km:

Square kilometre

TDS:

Total dissolved solids

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Acknowledgements

The author sincerely expresses his gratitude towards the University Grants Commission for providing Basic Science Research fellowship to successfully complete the research. The authors would like to express gratitude to two anonymous reviewers and the editors for their productive reviews that upgraded this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, School of Physical, Chemical and Applied Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605 014, India

    A. Faizal Khan, K. Srinivasamoorthy, R. Prakash & C. Rabina

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  1. A. Faizal Khan
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Khan, A.F., Srinivasamoorthy, K., Prakash, R. et al. Hydrochemical and statistical techniques to decode groundwater geochemical interactions and saline water intrusion along the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India. Environ Geochem Health 43, 1051–1067 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00713-0

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