Groundwater Quality Assessment for Drinking Purpose Using Water Quality Index Method in Industrial Area of Dindigul Corporation, Tamilnadu, India
J. Meenalochini *
Department of Geography, Mother Teresa Womens University, Kodaikanal. Tamilnadu, India.
C. Florence Annal
Department of Geography, M. V. Muthiah Govt. Arts College (W), Dindigul, Tamilnadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study comprised to evaluate the status of physico-chemical contaminants in groundwater of Dindigul Corporation, Tamilnadu, India. Thirty ground water samples were collected from different locations in the study area. The physico-chemical parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Total Hardness (TH), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (CL) and Sulphate (SO4) have been analysed. An attempt has been made to find the suitability of groundwater quality for drinking purpose through water quality index (WQI) method by comparing with the WHO Standard. As the result, all the ground water samples sites fall under exceeding the permissible limit which indicates unsuitable for drinking purpose. The different type of industrial activities is spread over in the study area. Especially the tanneries are found in western part of the study area which caused high mineral contents in the ground water.
Keywords: Groundwater, Tannery, Dindigul Corporation, pH, WQI