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Hydrogeochemical characterization and evaluation of groundwater quality in Kangayam taluk, Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu, India, using GIS techniques

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Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater and its suitability for drinking water supply in Kangayam taluk, Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu, India. To achieve this objective, seventy-eight groundwater samples were collected from the wells spread over the study area during December 2016. The collected groundwater samples were tested in the laboratory for various hydrogeochemical parameters such as hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, carbonate, nitrate, sulphate and fluoride. The analytical results were compared with WHO drinking water standards to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes. To understand the spatial variation of hydrogeochemical parameters over the study area, choropleth (zonation) maps were prepared using geographical information system (GIS). Overall groundwater quality zones were demarcated by overlaying and integrating all the spatial plots using GIS. Three groundwater quality zones such as (1) most desirable, (2) maximum allowable and (3) not permissible were demarcated based on the limits prescribed by the WHO for drinking purposes. This study indicates that 49% of the study area does not possess potable groundwater. About 21% of the area represents “most desirable” category, and the remaining 30% area represents “maximum allowable” category for drinking purposes. The Piper’s trilinear diagram indicates that groundwater of this region is Mixed CaMgCl type. As the groundwater quality is poor nearly 49% of the total area, it is necessary to go for treatment before drinking water supply. It is also essential to recharge the aquifer artificially to improve the quantity and quality of groundwater.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Velalar College of Engineering and Technology, Thindal, Erode, Tamil Nadu, 638 012, India

    Sakthivel Duraisamy

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, 637 215, India

    Vennila Govindhaswamy

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 062, India

    Karunanidhi Duraisamy & Anand Balasubramanian

  4. Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry, 605 014, India

    Srinivasamoorthy Krishinaraj

  5. Department of Mining Engineering, CEG Campus, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 025, India

    Subramani Thirumalaisamy

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  1. Sakthivel Duraisamy
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  2. Vennila Govindhaswamy
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  3. Karunanidhi Duraisamy
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  4. Srinivasamoorthy Krishinaraj
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  5. Anand Balasubramanian
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  6. Subramani Thirumalaisamy
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Correspondence to Karunanidhi Duraisamy.

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Duraisamy, S., Govindhaswamy, V., Duraisamy, K. et al. Hydrogeochemical characterization and evaluation of groundwater quality in Kangayam taluk, Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu, India, using GIS techniques. Environ Geochem Health 41, 851–873 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0183-z

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