GIS based Water Quality Index Method for Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Hydro Geochemical Data - Karur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Résumé

The two important criteria needed for the healthy life of human being at this moment are the adequate supply of drinking water with safety in its quality. In order to satisfy the quality of drinking water, the Hydro geologists have made detailed studies and brought out certain standards for quality thresholds for almost all the elements dissolved in groundwater that is being used by humans. Further, several studies have also been made on determining the groundwater quality of certain areas through conventionally analyzing the hydro chemical data derived through groundwater samples. A GIS based attempt has been made for the first time in the state of Tamil Nadu to evaluate and characterize the quality of groundwater in Karur District through Water Quality Index (WQI) method, for drinking purpose. GIS and WQI method had been applied to visualize the spatial pattern of the groundwater quality in the study area. A total of 32 pre- (July-2012) and post monsoon (Janauary-2013) groundwater geochemical samples were collected and analyzed for major cations and anions. It is very clear from the study that the chemical composition of groundwater in the study area has strong influence by effective weathering and leaching action of feldspar bearing rocks and along with anthropogenic activities like direct disposal of industrial effluents and the use of phosphatic fertilizers in urban environments. The results from the present study area showed a higher WQI, indicating the deteriorated nature of the groundwater quality. The WQI designed for the pre-monsoon period exhibited poor quality in greater percentage when compared with the post-monsoon period. This had indicated that the over exploitation and anthropogenic events such as, the release of wastes from industries, leftover use of manures and insecticides for agriculture and improper dumping of domestic wastes into the potential river systems. Majority of the groundwater chemical parameters are higher during pre-monsoon than the post-monsoon. The effect of rain fall in monsoon and successive natural groundwater recharge in to the aquifer leads to dilution of the groundwater. From this study, the potential of GIS tool in handling, analyzing and mapping the hydro chemical parameters, and the methodology in determining the WQI are dealt in detail.

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