Skip to main content
Log in

Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in Virudhunagar Taluk, Tamil Nadu, India by using Statistical Methods and GIS Technique

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

In the present study, twenty water samples were collected during pre-monsoon (June 2017) and post-monsoon (December 2017) seasons. The water samples were analyzed to determine various chemical parameters like chloride, fluoride, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate. During pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM) the order of dominance of anion in the water samples are HCO3> TDS > Cl> SO42−> TH > NO3> F> PO4 and TDS >HCO3>SO42−>Cl> TH >NO3>F>PO4, respectively. The order of dominance of cations are Na+> Ca2+> Mg2+> K+ in both the seasons. The irrigation water quality was determined using the parameters such as sodium absorption ratio (SAR), Kelly’s ratio (KR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), potential salinity (PS), permeability index (PI), sodium percentage (SP), magnesium hazard, calcium to magnesium molar ratio. The groundwater’s geochemical control and hydrogeochemistry were evaluated using the Piper, Chadha, scatter and Gibbs plots. This study reveals that groundwater quality is unfit for drinking purposes at a few places in the study area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alagumuthu, G. and Rajan, M. (2010) Chemometric studies of water quality parameters of Sankarankovil block of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Jour. Environ. Biol., v.31, pp.581–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1995) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 19th Edition, American Public Health Association Inc. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Avvannavar, S.M. and Shrihari, S. (2008) Evaluation of water quality index for drinking purposes for river Netravathi, Mangalore, South India. Environ. Monit. Assess., v.143, pp.279–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) (2012) Indian Standard drinking water-specification, 1st rev, pp.1–8.

  • Chadha, D.K. (1999) A Proposed New Diagram for Geochemical Classification of Natural Waters and Interpretation of Chemical Data. Hydrogeol. Jour., v.7, pp.431–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaturvedi (1990) Defluoridation of water by adsorption on fly ash. Water Air Soil Pollut., v.49, pp.51–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chidambaram, S., Bala Krishna Prasad, M., Manivannan, R., Karmegam, U., Singaraja, C. and Anandhan, P. (2012) Environmental hydrogeochemistry and genesis of fluoride in groundwaters of Dindigul district, Tamilnadu (India). Environ. Earth. Sci., v.68, pp.333–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, and Dewiest, (1966) Hydrogeology. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Hoboken, p.463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deshpande, S.M. and Aher, K.R. (2012) Evaluation of Groundwater Quality and its Suitability for Drinking and Agriculture use in Parts of Vaijapur, District Aurangabad, MS, India. Res. Jour. Chem. Sci., v.2, pp.25–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhirendra, M.J., Kumar, A. and Agrawal, N. (2009) Assessment of the irrigation water quality of river ganga in Haridwar District. Rasayan. Jour. Chem., v.2, pp.285–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dinesh Kumar, T. and Singh Chandel, C.P. (2010) Analysis of the Major Ion Constituents in Groundwater of Jaipur City. Jour. Nat. Sci., v.8, pp.1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixit, S., Gupta, S.K. and Tiwari, S. (2005) Nutrient overloading of a freshwater lake in Bhopal, India. Electro. Green. Jour., v.21, pp.2–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doneen, L.D. (1964) Notes on water quality in agriculture, Water Science and Engineering, University of California, Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaton FM (1950) Significant of carbonates in irrigation waters. Soil Sci., v.69, pp.123–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gajendran, C., Jayapriya, S., Diana, Y., Oshin, V. and Christina, J. (2013) Assessment of groundwater quality in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India. Int. Jour. Environ. Sci., v.3, pp.1874–1880.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, R.J. (1970) Mechanism controlling water world chemistry. Science, v.170, pp.1088–1090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glover, E.T., Akiti, T.T. and Osae, S. (2012) Major ion chemistry and identification of geochemical processes of groundwater in the Accra Plains. Geosci., v.50, pp.10279–10288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hem, J.D. (1985) Study and Interpretation of the Chemical Characteristics of Natural water. U.S. Geological Survey and Water Supply Paper, 1263.

  • Hem, J.D. (1959) Study and interpretation of chemical characteristics of natural water. U.G: Geological Survey Water Supply Paper, 1473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, SM., Mc Queen, K.G. and Foster, K.A. (1999) Regolith carbonate accumulation in Western and Central NSW; Characteristics and Potential as an Exploration sampling medium, In: Taylor GM and Pain C.F (Eds.), State of Regolith, Proc. of Regolith, CRC LEME, Perth., v.98, pp.191–208.

  • Hwang, J.Y., Park, S., Kim, H.K., Kim, M.S., Jo, H.J., Kim, J., Lee, G.M., Shin, I.K. and Kim, T.S. (2017) Hydrochemistry for the Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Korea. Jour. Agricul. Chem. Environ., v.6, pp.1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jafar Ahamed, A., Loganathan, K. and Ananthakrishnan, S. (2013) A comparative of groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in Pugalur area Karur district Tamilnadu India. Arch. Appl. Sci. Res., v.5, pp.213–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalali, M. (2008) Effect of sodium and magnesium on kinetics of potassium release in some calcareous soils of western Iran. Geoderma., v.145, pp.207–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jerry, A.N. (1986) Basic environmental technology (water supply, waste disposal and pollution control). Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi, D.M., Kumar, A. and Agrawal, N. (2009) Assessment of the irrigation water quality of River Ganga in Haridwar District India. Rasayan. Jour. Chem., v.2, pp.285–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karanth, K.R. (1989) Hydrogeology. McGraw-Hill, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karmegam, U., Chidamabram, S., Sasidhar, P., Manivannan, R., Manikandan, S. and Anandhan, P. (2010) Geochemical Characterization of Groundwater’s of Shallow Coastal Aquifer in and Around Kalpakkam, South India. Environ. Earth. Sci., v.2, pp.170–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karthik, A. and Brindha, G. (2016) Green revolution conversion of offline education to online education. Internat. Jour. Pharm. Tech., v.8, pp.15393–15407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karthikeyan, N. (2013) Spatial analysis of groundwater quality for Virudhunagar District, Tamil nadu using GIS. Internat. Jour. Remote. Sens. Geosci., v.2, pp.23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, W.P. (1946) Permissible composition and concentration for irrigation waters, In: Proceedings of ASC, 607.

  • Meena, P.L., Jain, P.K. and Meena, K.S. (2016) Assessment of Ground Water Quality and its Suitability for Drinking and Domestic Uses by Using WQI and Statistical Analysis in River Basin Area in Jahzpur Tehsil, Bhilwara District (Rajasthan, India). Internat. Jour. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci., v.5, pp.415–423. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2016.503.048.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck, M. (1987) Global chemical weathering of surficial rocks estimated from river dissolved loads. Amer. Jour. Sci., v.287, pp.401–428. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.287.5.401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, P.C. and Patel, R.K. (2001) Study of the pollution load in the drinking water of Rairangpur, A small tribal dominated town of North Orissa. Indian Jour. Environ. Ecoplann., v.5, pp.293–298. DOI:https://doi.org/10.5251/ajsir.2012.3.6.395.402

    Google Scholar 

  • Magesh, N.S. and Chandrasekar, N. (2013) Evaluation of spatial variations in groundwater quality by WQI and GIS technique: a case study of Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu, India. Arab. Jour. Geosci., v.6, pp.1883–1898.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandian, K. and Sankar, K. (2007) Hydrochemistry and groundwater quality in the Vaippar river basin, Tamil Nadu. Jour. Geol. Soc. India., v.69, pp.970–982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper, A.M. (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis. Jour. Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union., v.25, pp.914–923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raghunath, H.M. (1987) Groundwater, Wiley Eastern Limited, New Delhi, 563p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajmohan, N. and Elango, E.L. (2004) Identification and evolution of hydrogeochemical processesin the groundwater environment in an area of the Palar and Cheyyar River Basins, Southern India. Environ. Geol., v.46, pp.47–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravikumar, P., Mohammad Aneesul, M. and Somashekar, R.K. (2013) Water Quality Index to Determine Surface Water Quality of Sankey tank and Mallathahalli Lake, Bangalore Urban District, Karnataka, India. Appl. Water. Sci., v.3, pp.247–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, L.A. (1954) Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils. USDA and IBH Pub, Coy Ltd., New Delhi, India. Agric. Handbook., v.60, pp.98–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saleh, A., Al-Ruwaih, F. and Shehata, M. (1999) Hydrogeochemical processes operating within the main aquifers of Kuwait. Jour. Arid. Environ., v.42, pp.195–209. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1999.0511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarojini Devi, B., Suganthi, P., Suganthi, K. and Govindaraju, M. (2015) Mapping of Ground Water Quality for Ramanathapuram Taluk of Tamil Nadu Using Geographical Information System. Internat. Jour. Advan. Remote Sensing and GIS., v.4, pp.953–959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer, C.N. and Mccarty, P.L. (1987) Chemistry for Sanitary Engineers, 2nd Ed., McGraw Hill, New York, 518p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholler, H. (1965) Qualitative evaluation of groundwater resources Methods and techniques of groundwater investigations and development, UNESCO, Inc. pp.58–83.

  • Senthikumar, G., Ramanathan, A.L., Nainwal, H.C. and Chidambaram, S. (2014) Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Evolution of Coastal Groundwater at Cuddalore Area Tamilnadu India. Internat. Jour. Eng. Res. Gen. Sci., v.2, pp.235–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah SM. and Mistry, N.J. (2013) Groundwater Quality Assessment for Irrigation Use in Vadodara District, Gujarat, India. Res. Jour. Eng. Sci., v.2, pp.1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shahinasi, E. and Kashuta, V. (2008) Irrigation water quality and its effects upon soil. Tirana Agricultural University, Tirana, Albania BALWOIS, Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shyam, R. and Kalwania, G.S. (2011) Health risk assessment of fluoride with other parameters in ground water of Sikar city (India). Environ. Earth. Sci., v.65, pp.1275–1282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R., Tajdarul, H., Suresh Kumar, S., Kumar, M. and Venkatesh, A.S. (2017) Hydrogeochemical assessment of surface and groundwater resources of Korba coalfield, Central India: Environmental implications. Arab. Jour. Geosci., v.10, p.318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivasankar, V., Ramachandramoorthy, T. and Chandramohan, A. (2013) Deterioration of coastal groundwater quality in Island and mainland regions of Ramanathapuram District, Southern India. Environ Monit Assess., v.185, pp.931–944. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2604-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuyfzand, P.J. (1989) A new hydro chemical classification of water types with examples of application. IAHS, v.184, pp.89–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suresh, K.R. and Nagesh, M.A. (2015) Experimental Studies on Effect of water and Soil Quality on Crop Yield. Aquatic Procedia., v.4, pp.1235–1242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szabolcs, I. and Darab, C. (1964) The influence of irrigation water of high sodium carbonate content of soils. In: Proc. 8th Internat. Congress of ISSS., v.2, pp.803–812.

  • Thivya, C., Chidambaram, S., Rao, M.S., Thilagavathi, R., Prasanna, M.V. and Manikandan, S. (2017) Assessment of fluoride contaminations in groundwater of hard rock aquifers in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu (India). Appl. Water Sci., v.7, pp.1011–1023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Udayanapillai, A.V. and Kaliammal, M. (2016) Hydrogeochemistry and Groundwater Quality Assessment in and around Pandalgudi Region, Viruthunagar District, Tamilnadu, India. A Multi — Disciplinary Refereed Jour., v.9, pp.293–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkateswaran, S. and Vediappan, S. (2013) Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation Use and Evaluate the Feasibility Zones through Geospatial Technology in Lower Bhavani Sub Basin, Cauvery River, Tamil Nadu, India. Internat. Jour. Innovative Tech. Exploring Eng., v.3, pp.180–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wakida, F.T. and Lerner, D.N. (2005) Non-agricultural sources of groundwater nitrate: a review and case study. Water Res., v.39, pp.3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walton, W.C. (1970) Groundwater Resources Evaluation, McGraw Hill Book Co., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2004) Guidelines for drinking water quality: training pack, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, L.V. (1955) Classification and Use of Irrigation Water, Washington: US, Department of Agriculture, no.969, 19p.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. Neelakantan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lakshmi, R.V., Raja, V., Sekar, C.P. et al. Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in Virudhunagar Taluk, Tamil Nadu, India by using Statistical Methods and GIS Technique. J Geol Soc India 97, 527–538 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1719-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1719-x

Navigation