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GIS-based Evaluation of Water Quality Index of groundwater resources around Tuticorin coastal city, south India

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Abstract

Groundwater is a vital source of water for industrial, domestic and agricultural activities in Tuticorin city due to lack of surface water resources; groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking usage were evaluated. A total of 72 groundwater samples were collected from open wells and boreholes during pre and post-monsoon period. Samples were analyzed for physico-chemical properties, major cation and major anions in the laboratory using the standard methods given by the American Public Health Association. The geographic information system-based spatial distribution map of different major elements has been prepared using ArcGIS 9.2. These maps are classified as desirable, maximum permissible and the values that exceed maximum permissible limit are termed as not permissible prescribed by the WHO (2004). From the Piper plot, which gives the cation chemistry, the concentration of the alkalies (Na+ and K+) exceeds the alkaline earths (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and those of strong acids exceeds weak acids. In the case of anions, during the two periods strong acid shows dominance over weak acid and HCO3 − and Cl− have influences almost equal to Na+, which indicate the saltwater intrusion into the freshwater aquifer of the study area. A Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) map was also generated with the GIS technique to better understand the water portability over space. The categories of water quality evaluated by CCME WQI values of major part of the study area fall under fair category during PRM and good category during the POM period. The CCME WQI is a very useful and an efficient tool to summarize and to report on the monitoring data to the decision makers in order to understand the status of the groundwater quality. Finally, the study concludes that the groundwater quality is impaired by man-made activities, and proper management plan is necessary to protect valuable groundwater resources in Tuticorin city.

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Acknowledgments

First author is thankful to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi for awarding INSPIRE Fellowship to carry out this study (Ref. No. DST/INSPIRE FELLOWSHIP/2010/(308), Date: 3rd August 2010). Authors are also grateful to Shri A.P.C.V.Chockalingam, Secretary and Dr. C.Veerabahu, Principal, V.O.C College, Tuticorin for his support to carry out the study. We are thankful to the anonymous reviewers who have provided their valuable suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, V.O. Chidambaram College, Thoothukudi, 628008, Tamilnadu, India

    S. Selvam, G. Manimaran, P. Sivasubramanian & N. Balasubramanian

  2. Engineering Geophysics, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500007, India

    T. Seshunarayana

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  1. S. Selvam
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  2. G. Manimaran
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  3. P. Sivasubramanian
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  4. N. Balasubramanian
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  5. T. Seshunarayana
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Correspondence to S. Selvam.

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Selvam, S., Manimaran, G., Sivasubramanian, P. et al. GIS-based Evaluation of Water Quality Index of groundwater resources around Tuticorin coastal city, south India. Environ Earth Sci 71, 2847–2867 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2662-y

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