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International Journal of Research (IJR)
e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 4, Apr. 2015
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org
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Status of Groundwater for Drinking Purposes During Post
Monsoon- 2013 in Upper Thirumanimuttar Sub
Basin,Cauvery River South India
N. Vijayakumar1& 2, B. Gurugnanam1
, C. Nirmaladevi2 & K. Panchamin2
1 CENTRE FOR APPLIED GEOLOGY, GANDHIGRAM RURAL INSTITUTE-DEEMED UNIVERSITY, GANDHIGRAM, DINDIGUL-624 302.
2 DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY, GOVERNMENT ARTS COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), SALEM-636007.
1vijaygeology@gmail.com,
1gurugis@yahoo.co.in,
2geonirmala93@gmail.com,
2panchamin1992@gmail.com,
For correspondence: 1
vijaygeology@gmail.com
Abstract—Water is the world’s lifeblood. Groundwater is
a vital resource for human survival at many places of
the world and it is the only available alternative source of
water. Groundwater is a hidden resource whose value
is not well understood or appreciated. The analysis of
groundwater chemical characteristics provides much
important information useful in water resources
management. Detailed knowledge of the geochemical
evolution of groundwater and assessing the water
quality status for special use are the main objective of
any water monitoring study. In the present study, the
physicochemical characteristics of groundwater of
Upper Thirumanimuttar sub basin Cauvery river
South India were assessed for its suitability for
drinking purposes. A total of 30 water samples were
collected from the wells from different parts of the
study area during post monsoon 2013 . In order to
assess the ground water quality, the water samples
were analyzed for different physico-chemical
properties, e.g., Na,K,Ca,Mg,CO3, HCO3,Cl,SO4,pH,
electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids
(TDS), total hardness (TH), total alkalinity (TA)
concentrations. The results were compared with the
standards prescribed by World Health Organization
(WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS). All the
physicochemical parameters were found to be in the
prescribed permissible limit. From the pH values it is
clear that the ground water of the study area is
alkaline in nature and the TDS varies in between 554-
3398 mg/l, which indicates that water in the deep
aquifer is moderately hard. Hence it is suggested to
soften the groundwater water before consumption.
Keywords—Groundwater, Drinking quality,WHO,BIS,
Post monsson,Thirumanimuttar,TDS
INTRODUCTION
Water covers 78% of the earth's surface, yet water
available for human use is limited. Water is the
world’s lifeblood. Groundwater is a vital resource for
human survival at many places of the world and it is
the only available alternative source of water.
Groundwater is a hidden resource whose value is not
well understood or appreciated. The analysis of
groundwater chemical characteristics provides much
important information useful in water resources
management. Detailed knowledge of the geochemical
evolution of groundwater and assessing the water
quality status for special use are the main objective of
any water monitoring study. Based on the World
Bank, India is using groundwater resources nearly a
quarter of the world’s total consumption.
Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water
in the study area. The water resources available are
also not uniformly distributed and the changing land
use pattern and population growth and resulting
water resources development has resulted in stress in
the environment. The extraction of excessive
quantities of ground water has resulted in drying up
of wells in the study area. It is occurred mainly due to
the rapid urbanisation activities. Agricultural, urban
& industrial wastes are increasingly threatening
groundwater quality, which is likely to become more
serious issue than the quantity in coming years.
Considering the above factors the assessment of
groundwater quality for drinking purposes along the
study area (upper Thirumanimuttar sub basin) has
been done.
LOCATION OF STUDY AREA
The study area lies in the N latitudes 11 25’ and
11 40’ and E longitude 78 5’ and 78 25’ in the Survey
of India toposheet numbers 58-I/1,58-I/2,58-I/5 and
Page 2 of 9
International Journal of Research (IJR)
e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 4, Apr. 2015
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org
Available online at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org P a g e | 607
58-I/6 ( Map No-1). The study area mainly covers
Salem City other adjacent place viz. small towns and
villages. The Thirumanimuttar river is the main river
flowing in the study area and it is one of the minor
tributaries of river Cauvery of South India. The
Thirumanimuttar rises in the Shevaroys Hills and
Manjavadi Ghats, North East of Salem city and it
confluences with the river Cauvery at Kooduthurai in
Paramathi taluk of Namakkal district after 102 kms
journey through Salem and Namakkal Districts.
The study area is mainly covered by Archean
rocks of Charnockite, Fissile Hornblende Biotite
Gneisses. The drainage pattern in the study area
shows parallel drainage pattern, dendritic to sub
dendritic and parallel drainage Pattern.
The study area enjoys subtropical climate with
moderate humidity and temperature. The
weather is quite pleasant from November to
February and becomes very hot in March to June.
December and January are coldest months. The
minimum and maximum temperature ranges
from 20oc to 40oc respectively. The relative
humidity percentage ranges from 60%to
90%.Highest relative humidity values were
found during east- west monsoon period. The
average annual rainfall is 737.50 mm based on
12 years average (2000 to 2011) (VIJAYAKUMAR
N et al -2015).
MAP-1. STUDY AREA LOCATION MAP
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty groundwater samples were collected on Post
monsoon Season at December 2013 covering Upper
Thirumanimuttar .Water samples were collected in
pre cleaned, sterilized, polyethylene bottles of one
liter capacity as per the standard sampling
procedures .They Were then Carefully sealed and
labeled and taken for analyses .
ANALYTICAL METHODS
The collected samples were Chemically analyzed in
Soil and Water testing Labortory Salem , using
Standard Procedures. The concentration of major
cations (Na+, K+,Ca2+,Mg2+) and anions
(HCO3
-
,Cl-,NO3
-
,SO4
-) in the Water Samples were
determined by chemical analyses in Government Soils
and water testing laboratory at Seelanayakkanpatti,
Salem. The water samples were analysed for pH,
electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids
(TDS), total calcium (Ca2), magnesium (Mg2+), total
hardness (TH), sodium (Na), potassium (K+), total
alkalinity (TA), chloride (Cl-), and Sulphate
(SO4
2-).The geochemical of ground water data are
tabulated and graphically represented (Table-1)
Page 3 of 9
International Journal of Research (IJR)
e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 4, Apr. 2015
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org
Available online at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org P a g e | 608
TABLE-2.WATER QULITY OF THE STUDY
AREA COMPARED WITH WHO AND BIS
STANDARDS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
WATER QUALITY
Information on the quality of
groundwater is an important aspect of any
Hydrogeological investigation. The chemical
quality of groundwater generally varies even at
short distances. This variation may be attributed
to the variation in Hydrogeological process. In
addition to this, the chemical quality of
groundwater in an area is influenced by various
factors like geology, geomorphology, structural
and agricultural practices. Drinking water
quality the analytical results of physical and
chemical parameters of groundwater were
compared with the standard guideline values as
recommended by the World Health
Organization(WHO, 2011) for drinking and
public health purposes and BIS(2012) (Table 2)
HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION (pH)
S
N
O LOCATION SAR Na% TDS EC pH TH RC
1 VYSYA COLLEGE 0.97 13.70 1682 2700 7.5 1165 -12
2 SUKKAMPATTY 4.30 42.67 1921 3000 7.5 860 -5.8
3 SENKATTUR 0.60 10.00 1231 1800 7.9 810 -3.9
4 KOOTATHUPATTY 0.55 8.57 1310 2100 7.6 960 -10
5 KARUMAPALAYAM 0.77 10.00 1689 2900 7 1305 -20
6 RAMALINGAPURAM 0.78 15.38 871 1300 7.3 550 -4.2
7 ERUMAPALAYAM 0.74 12.92 1438 2400 7.7 1045 -13
8 PANAMARATHUPATTY 0.53 13.33 626 900 8.1 390 -1.2
9 KURALNATHAM 0.98 19.00 1367 2000 8 810 -3.9
10 VETRI VIKAS SCHOOL 0.92 13.08 1572 2600 7.1 1130 -15
11 VEERAPANDI 0.92 10.71 2468 4200 7.2 1875 -25
12 CHINNASEERAGAPADI 0.86 19.17 822 1200 7.5 485 -2.7
13 KONDALAMPATTY 0.63 9.29 1652 2800 7.8 1270 -18
14 PARAPPATTY 0.95 13.49 1784 2900 7.9 1270 -14
15
KONDAPPANAYAKKANPATT
Y 0.72 16.67 634 900 7.9 375 -0.4
16 REDDIYUR 0.73 15.00 792 1200 7.5 510 -3.9
17 ARABI COLLEGE 0.41 11.00 658 1000 7.5 445 -3.4
18 SOORAMANGALAM 0.42 7.78 1176 1800 7.6 830 -7.1
19 THALAVAIPATTY 0.56 10.00 1041 1600 7.9 720 -5.6
20 MURUNGAPATTY 0.16 4.62 834 1300 7.8 620 -6.6
21 ELEMPILLAI 0.59 12.31 876 1300 8.2 570 -4.2
22 KATTUR 6.15 44.44 3398 5400 7.5 1500 -18
23
GOVERNMENT ARTS
COLLEGE 0.84 14.38 1061 1600 7.1 685 -4.7
24 ANDAGALUR GATE 7.64 52.83 3256 5300 7.3 1250 -19
25 GURUSAMIPALAYAM 0.82 11.07 1642 2800 7.9 1245 -15
26 VAIYAPAMALAI 0.96 15.00 1689 2600 7.7 1105 -11
27 KUPPICHIPALAYAM 1.16 14.64 1737 2800 7.6 1195 -13
28 ELACHIPALAYAM 5.14 43.57 2675 4200 7.7 1185 -9.2
29 ELIMEDU 0.96 21.11 554 900 8.1 355 -1.5
30 KUMARAMANGALAM 3.52 35.41 1572 3400 7.8 1100 -9
31 MAXIMUM 7.64 52.83 3398 5400 8.2 1875 0.4
32 MINIMUM 0.16 4.62 554 900 7 355 25.4
Consti
tuents
Post
monsoon-(2013)
WHO (2011)
GUIDELINES BIS -IS 10500 (2012)
Min Max Ave
rage
Highes
t
Desira
ble
Limit
Maximum
Permissible
Limit
Highest
Desirable
Acceptabl
e Limit
Maximum
Permissible
Limit
pH
7 8.2 7.6 7 - 8.5 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5
No
relaxation
EC
μS/cm 900 5400 2363 1000 1400 1000 2000
TDS
mg/l 554 3398 1468 600 1000 500 2000
Ca
mg/l 20 421 155 75 200 75 200
Mg
mg/l 47 325 130 30 150 30 100
Na
mg/l 9 621 113 50 200 200 400
K mg/l 4 39 13 10 12 - -
HCO3
mg/l 281 866 523 - 300 - -
CO3
mg/l 0 30 7
- - - -
SO4
mg/l 5 394 57 250 400 200 400
Cl
mg/l 57 1378 470 250 300 250 1000
