International Journal of Remote Sensing & Geoscience (IJRSG) www.ijrsg.com

SPATIAL EVALUATION OF WATER QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION IN DISTRICT,

TAMIL NADU, INDIA S.Sreekala, Research Scholar, Department of Industries and Earth Sciences, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India and Assistant Professor, K.N.Govt..Arts college for Women (A), Thanjavur, India; Ph:9788782169, e mail: sreegeo.2007@g mail.com. R.Neelakantan, Professor, Department of Industries and Earth Sciences, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India, Ph: 9443385282, Fax: 91 4362 226159, e mail: [email protected].

Abstract limits of various constituents for waters for different uses, Water is most essential but scarce resource in our country, it such as domestic, agriculture and Industrial. is used wide range of purposes like domestic, irrigation, Karnath (1987) has reported that the quality of industrial, hydro electric power generation etc, At the same groundwater varies from place to place. Variation of time the quality and the availability of the fresh water groundwater quality in an area is a function of physical and resources is the most pressing of the many environmental chemical parameters that are greatly influenced by geological challenges on the national horizon. Geometric increase in formations and anthropogenic activities. The chemical population coupled with rapid urbanization, industrialization composition of groundwater is a measure of its suitability as a and agricultural development has resulted in high impact on source of water for human and animal consumption, irrigation, quality and quantity of water. The situation warrants and for industrial and other purposes. Anbazhagan et al (2004) immediate redressal through radically improved water have studied the use of geographical information system (GIS) resource and water quality management strategies. In this to represent and understand the spatial variation of various context, the present study has been undertaken to analyse the geochemical elements in Panvel Basin. Subramani et al (2005) geochemical parameters of the water for irrigation for the have stated that variation of ground water quality in an area is period 1973, 1993 and 2013 in of a function of physical and chemical parameters that are greatly Tamilnadu using geospatial techniques and find out the spatio influenced by geological formations and anthropogenic temporal changes in the quality using GIS analysis. In addition activities. the village level changes are identified. It has been observed that in 1973 the area under good quality was 2187.9sq.km, in Babiker et al (2007) have explained that the groundwater 1993 there was a decrease in an area of 873.2sq.km and in resources are under great risk due to the drastic increases in the year 2013 increased to 1919.2sq.km of area. The zonation population, modern land use applications (agricultural and of water quality classified the study area into good quality industrial) and demands for water supply, which endanger region having an area of 784.12 sq.km, medium qualityregion both water quality and quantity. Elango and Ramesh (2011) 3839.24 sq.km and poor quality region about 39.64 sq.km. have carried out a study to assess the suitability of groundwater for domestic and agricultural purposes was in Introduction Tondiar river basin.

Groundwater chemistry determines the quality of Sarath Prasanth et al. (2012) have evaluated the groundwater of an area. Several chemical constituents affect groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and the suitability of water for irrigation. Assessment of the agricultural use in the coastal stretch of Alappuzha district. suitability of groundwater for irrigation purpose requires Srinivas et al (2013) have evaluated the major ion chemistry, concentrations of Total dissolved solids and concentration of the factors controlling water composition, and suitability of any other substance that may be toxic to plants. Bureau of water for both drinking and irrigation purposes in and around Indian Standards (BIS) and US Federal Water Pollution Nagercoil town. Control Administration-1968 have specified concentration

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Different uses require different standards of water quality. changes in irrigation water quality between the years Because of natural and manmade reasons the water exhibits 1973, 1993 and 2013 marked changes in its quality from time to time. As the quality  To find out the area with best suited water quality for irrigation using overlay analysis. of the irrigation water mostly dependent on the water quality parameters of Electrical Conductivity, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Residual Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Percentage Methodology (After Ayers R.S. and Westcott D.W.1985) these parameters are taken for the study. The groundwater sample data were collected from Groundwater department for the year 1973, 1993 and 2013 Recent studies have shown that some heavy metal in low both dug and bore well. The respective sample locations were concentrations in irrigation waters also affect the crop yields. plotted in GIS for entire study area shown in Fig 2. The Ahmed et al (2002) have compared the analytical results of geochemical parameters of EC, SAR, RSC and Sodium groundwater in Rajshahi city of Bangladesh with concentration values are analysed with reference to irrigation recommended limits suggested by World Health Organisation purposes and tabulated in Table - 1. Then, the EC, SAR, RSC (WHO 1971) and they have classified groundwater into and Sodium concentration values are plotted in each location various types. Keeping this in mind an attempt has been made individually. The spatial variation of the geochemical to understand the quality of groundwater evaluation for the parameters has been prepared as raster GIS image for different different periods. periods. Then, the spatial variations of individual parameters of water quality for the years 1973, 1993 and 2013 has been Location of the study area prepared. The water quality has been integrated using GIS overlay analysis and zonation mapping has been done to find The study area Pudukkottai district is having an area of out the suitable quality for irrigation. Finally, changes have 4663.29 sq. km and lies between 090 50’45” and 100 44' been observed between 1973 and 2013. 00’’of the North latitude and between 780 26’50" and 790 16’ 00” of the East longitude. The study area comes under the sub basins of Vellar, Agniar, Ambuliyar, Koraiyar, Kundar and Pambar. The district has 11 taluks and 13 blocks and shown in Fig 1. The average annual rainfall of the district is about 900 mm and it has tropical maritime and monsoon type of climate. The fertility of the soils is very low and in some places, the soil has alkalinity problem and it has to be reclaimed to get reasonable crop.

Figure 2 Well location Analysis of Geochemical parameters of Groundwater with special reference

to Irrigation Figure 1 Location of study area Electrical Conductivity

Aims and objectives EC is the amount of the salt content of water in the form of ions. The EC is directly proportional to the ionic concentration  To analyze the water quality parameters for irrigation of water. Sudden increase in conductivity indicates an addition in Pudukkottai district and to find out the temporal of some pollutants into it. From the EC values the spatial distribution for the years 1973, 1993 and 2013 are drawn and ISSN No: 2319-3484 Volume 4, Issue 6, Nov. 2015 9 International Journal of Remote Sensing & Geoscience (IJRSG) www.ijrsg.com shown in Fig 3(a,b,c). In the year 1973 the EC value ranges Manalur in Manamelkudi block.The average range of EC from170 µs/cm and 2770 µs/cm. The lowest value is recorded value is 210 µs/cm to 2240 µs/cm. Above 4000 µs/cm of EC at Ayipatti in Thiruvarankulam block and the maximum value value is recorded at Thiyathur and Okkur of Avudaiyarkoil at Mekkinipatti in block. Some highest block. values of 5760 µs/cm and 6660 µs/cm are observed at Nagudi and Nagaram respectively, in Aranthangi block. Below 750 Sodium Adsorption Ratio µs/cm of EC value indicates Good to Excellent quality of water for irrigation. Sodium concentration in ground water is important since the increase of sodium concentration in water will create deterioration of the soil properties and in turn will reduce its permeability. Sodium adsorbed on the clay surface substitute for Calcium and Magnesium may damage the soil structure making it compact and impervious. The process leading to the cation exchange in soil can be studied using Sodium Adsorption Ratio.

Na SAR = ------√(Ca + Mg)/ 2 (1)

Figure 3(a) Electrical conductivity-1973 The SAR value below 10 epm is considered as excellent and the values between 10epm and 18epm are considered as good for irrigation purposes. Based on the above equation (1) the SAR value is worked out for 1973, 1993 and 2013 and prepared the spatial variation of individual year and shown in Fig 4(a,b,c).

Figure 3(b) Electrical conductivity-1993

Figure 4(a) SAR – 1973

Figure 3(c ) Electrical conductivity-2013

The EC value lying between 750 µs/cm - 2250 µs/cm is considered moderate and above 2250 µs/cm is poor quality of water for irrigation.In the year 1993 the EC value ranged between 140 µs/cm at Alangudi to 6990 µs/cm at Okkur.In the year 2013 highest EC value of 9980 µs/cm is recorded at Figure 4 (b) SAR - 1993 ISSN No: 2319-3484 Volume 4, Issue 6, Nov. 2015 10 International Journal of Remote Sensing & Geoscience (IJRSG) www.ijrsg.com

Figure 4 ( c) SAR - 2013 Figure 5(b) RSC - 1993 Residual Sodium Concentration

RSC index of irrigation water is used to indicate the alkalinity hazard of soil. RSC index is used to find the suitability of water for irrigation in clay soils which has high cation exchange capacity. When dissolved Calcium and Magnesium is high in water, clayey soil swells or undergoes dispersion which drastically reduces its infiltration capacity. The water with RSC value upto 2.0 epm is permissible for irrigation purposes, whereas this value below 1.25 epm is considered as the excellent quality. The spatial variation of the individual year has been prepared and shown in Fig 5(a,b,c). It has been observed that in 1973 the RSC value ranges from 0 Figure 5(c) RSC - 2013 to 2.2 epm. Below 1.25 epm of RSC is observed in most of the places of the study area. 1.25 to2.0 epm values are observed Percentage of Sodium at Kannankarakkudi , Arimalam and northern parts of Sodium concentration in ground water has an important role Avudaiyarkoil blocks. The RSC maximum value is recorded in the classification of irrigational quality, because by the from Kannankarakkudi block. In the year 1993 the RSC value process of base exchange, sodium replaces Calcium in the soil ranges betwen 0 to 1.5 epm which is harmless for irrigation. and which reduces the permeability of the soil. A maximum of During 2013 the whole region lies in the excellent zone with 60% sodium is allowed for agricultural purposes. The sodium RSC value below 1.25 epm percentage of spatial distribution has been mapped and shown in Fig 6(a,b,c). It was observed that the sodium percentage of water in the year 1973 ranges from 11% to 86% and 18 places have recorded < 40% of sodium, which is 73 % of the study area and comes under good category for irrigation purposes. The remaining areas come under medium to poor category of water. During the year 1993 the sodium percentage ranges from 16 to 82%, where 15 locations ie. 57.65% of the total locations have exhibited the sodium percentage < 40%. In the remaining locations 7 locations (ie.26%) have the sodium percentage between 60% to 80%, which is poor quality.

During the year 2013 the sodium percentage ranges from Figure 5(a) RSC - 1973 5.88% to 81.81%. Here also 18 places have recorded < 40% of sodium, which is 73 % of the study locations and comes under good category for irrigation purposes. Only 3 locations (ie.11%of total locations )exhibit poor quality of sodium percentage. Remaining 16% of the locations come under medium quality of water sodium percentage. ISSN No: 2319-3484 Volume 4, Issue 6, Nov. 2015 11 International Journal of Remote Sensing & Geoscience (IJRSG) www.ijrsg.com

250 µs/cm to750 µs/cm. The Keeranur, Tittanviduthy, Vellayakkonpatti and Mangottai villages which shown good quality of EC value in the year 1973 is now changed to medium quality during 1993. The Kalkudi village of Viralimalai block has changed from medium quality to poor quality and Keelapanaiyur of Arimalam block changed from good quality to very poor quality with an EC value of 4580 µs/cm. At the same time the Okkur village of Avudaiyarkoil block has improved from poor to medium quality and Nagaram of Aranthangi block has changed from very poor to Figure 6(a) Na % - 1973 poor quality. The Nagudi and Avudaiyarkoil villages remain with very poor quality of water for irrigation.

The 2013 data shows that improvement in the quality of water regarding EC value when compared to other years of 1973 and 1993. This may because the land reclamation processes implemented in the study area. The Adanakkottai village is now turned to excellent quality when compared to 1973. The Keelapanaiyur village of Arimalam block and Nagudi of Aranthangi block have improved from very poor quality to medium quality of water. The Kalkudi village of Viralimalai block and Mekkinipatti of Ponnamaravathy block

Figure 6(b) Na % - 1993 have been improved from poor quality to good quality with an EC of 540 µs/cm and 770 µs/cm respectively. Tittanviduthy Result and discussions and Mangottai of Alangudi shows an improvement from moderate to poor quality. Some of the places like Ganapathipuram changed from good to medium Electrical Conductivity quality,Sengalure from medium to poor quality and Okkur from medium to very poor quality. The Avudaiyarkoil still The EC values of 1973 data shows that in Adanakkottai in remains with very poor quality of water for irrigation with an Pudukkottai block and Ayipatti at Thiruvarankulam block are EC value of 4950 µs/cm. This may be because of the intrusion found to be with excellent quality of water for irrigation with of sea water as it lies on a coastal location. an EC value below 250 µs/cm. Various villages in Pudukkottai block Ganapathipuram, Vellayakkonpatti and Mangottai, Sodium Adsorption Ratio Pallavaranpathai of Karambakkudi block have good quality of water for irrigation with EC value ranging between 250 µs/cm In the study area the SAR value lies below 10 epm except to 750 µs/cm.The villages as Thunaiyanur at Thirumayam Okkur in Avudaiyarkoil and Manalur in Manamelkudi where block, Kannankarakkudi at Arimalam block, Nagudi, the SAR values are 17epm and 15epm respectively during the Sengalure and Avudaiyarkoil villages perform a medium level year 1973. In the year 1993 the SAR value shows a steady of water quality with EC value ranging between 750 µs/cm to trend with the values lying below 10 epm in all the places. 2250 µs/cm. Poor EC value of 2330 µs/cm and 2770 µs/cm Still the SAR values of 13 epm and 12 epm are observed in are observed at Okkur in Avudaiyarkoil and Mekkinipatti at Manalur and Nagudi villages respectively. During the year Ponnamaravathi blocks respectively. Very poor EC value of 2013 the SAR value ranges between 0.16 epm to 27.54 epm. 6660 µs/cm and 5760 µs/cm are found at Nagaram and Many of the locations in the study area have SAR value lying Nagudi villages respectively of Aranthangi block. between 0.16 epm to 6.52 epm. Highest value of SAR value is recorded in Manalur and the lowest value is recorded at In 1993 the EC value is widely varied from the year 1973. It is Thuthur. observed that none of the villages exhibited excellent quality of EC value during 1993. Adanakkottai, Ayipatti, The sodium adsorption ratio of the district most of the Ganapathipuram and Pallavaranpathai villages have good locations exhibit excellent to good quality for irrigation. The quality water for irrigation with EC value ranging between value of SAR always remains below 10 during the 40 years of

ISSN No: 2319-3484 Volume 4, Issue 6, Nov. 2015 12 International Journal of Remote Sensing & Geoscience (IJRSG) www.ijrsg.com study. Throughout these periods the Okkur village of Then all the parameters has been integrated and prepared GIS Avudaiyarkoil block alone exhibited good quality of water for spatial distribution of water quality for irrigation in 1973, irrigation and the Kalkudi of Viralimalai also shown good 1993 and 2013 and shown in Fig. 7(a,b,c) The area wise quality during 1993. classification of irrigation water quality for 1973, 1993 and 2013 has been worked out and tabulated in Table 2. . Residual Sodium Concentration

The residual sodium concentration shows that excellent to good quality of water for irrigation in Pudukkottai district throughout the period. All the places exhibits excellent quality of water where the RSC value is below 1.25. Keeranur and Okkur shows good quality with the RSC value of 1.25 to 2.0.The Vellayakkonpatti village of Pudukkottai block shows a medium quality of water for irrigation with the RSC value between 2.0 to 2.5 during the years 1973 and 1992. During 2013 the RSC value almost come down to zero value which shows the entire Pudukkottai district lies in the excellent water quality class for irrigation. Figure 7(a) Irrigation water quality-1973 Sodium Percentage

The sodium percentage of the study area shows that in 1973 the places of Adanakkottai Pallavaranpathai in and Ayipatti in Thiruvarankulam block have excellent quality with respect to sodium percentage which is recorded as below 20%. Among the 20 selected wells 9 wells in the different villages have good quality of water for irrigation with the sodium percentage of 20% to 40%. The Kalkudi, Sengalure, Nagaram and Mekkinipatti villages shows medium quality of water with Na% of 40% to 60% during the year 1973. Figure 7(b) Irrigation water quality-1993 During the year 1993 the sodium percentage has some fluctuations when compared to 1973. The Nagudi has improved good to excellent quality with a Na% value of 17% which is below 20%.The sodium percentage is changed from poor to medium quality in Avudaiyarkoil. Sodium percentage all other places shows a declining trend in water quality during this year. The places with excellent quality in the year 1973 is changed to good and medium qualities, good to medium and medium to poor quality of water.

During the year 2013 sodium percentage has been improved to some extent. Mekkinipatti the water quality is changed from poor to excellent and Semmattividudi from Figure 7(c) Irrigation water quality-2013 good to excellent. The villages of Keelapanaiyur, Ganapathipuram, Mangottai, Pallavaranpathai, Ayipatti and Avudayarkoil the water quality is improved from medium to good quality for irrigation.The water quality remains good in the villages of Adanakkottai, Sengalure, Okkur and Nagaram.

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Table 2 Water quality change in area (sq.km) Conclusion Water Area in Area in Area in sq.km sq.km sq.km The study concluded that the irrigation water quality has quality 1973 1993 2013 been changed for past four decades. Initially the area of good Good 2187.9 873.2 1919.2 quality was 2187.9 sq.km during 1973, then it has reduced to 873.2 sq.km in 1993 and later it is increased to 1919.2 sq.km in 2013. The area under medium quality was 2413.3 sq.km Medium 2413.3 3095.4 2280.9 during 1973 and it is increased to 3095.4sq.km in 1993. During 2013 the area under medium quality water is again Poor 61.9 694.6 463.2 decreased to 2280.9sq.km and is added with good quality area. Based on the zonation of water quality of the study area

784.12 sq.km of good quality, 3839.24 sq.km of medium The year 1973, 1993 and 2013 spatial variation data has been quality and 39.64 sq.km of poor quality areas are identified for integrated using GIS overlay analysis and water quality irrigation purposes. It shows that this may be due to the zonation mapping has been done for irrigation and is shown in reclamation process and activities implemented in the study Fig 8. It is classified as good , medium and poor quality for area. In addition, the waste lands were also observed more in irrigation purposes. the study area during that period. The government has already initiated many waste land reclamation programmes in the study area, and that may be the reason for fluctuation in the areas, References

[1] S S Ahmed, Q H Mazumder, C S Jahan, M Ahmed, S Islam (2002) “Hydrochemistry and classification of groundwater, Rajshahi City Corporation Area, Bangladesh”, Journal of Geological Society of India, Vol.60, pp:411–418

Figure 8 water quality Zonation for Irrigation [2] S Anbazhagan, AM Nair (2004) “Geo-graphic information system and groundwater quality mapping in Panvel Basin, After considering the four parameters of water quality for Maharashtra, India” ,Journal of Environmental Geology, irrigation of the study area, it is found that during the year Vol. 45, pp:753–761 1973 good to excellent quality is observed in north eastern part of , south of Kunnandarkoil, west of [3] R S Ayers., and D W Westcott., (1994), Water quality for Gandarvakottai, part of Karabakkudi, north of Thirumayam, agriculture, FAO Irrigation and drainage paper, 29 Rev.1 Arimalam and Aranthangi and parts of Thiruvarankulam blocks.The area under good quality of irrigation water for the [4] S Babiker Insaf.,A. A.Mohamed.,Tetsuya Hiyama, (2007), year 1973 is calculated as an area of 2187.9 sq.km. In the “Assessing groundwater quality using GIS”, Water Resources year 1993 the good quality of irrigation water is found in north Management, Volume 21, Issue 4, pp 699-715 of Pudukkottai block, south east of Kunnandarkoil, west of Gandarvakkottai, north end of Karambakkudi and [5] KR Karanth (1987) Ground water assessment, Thiruvarankulam blocks. Here is observed a decrease in the development and management.Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi, area and is calculated to be about 873.2 sq.km. In the year pp 720 2013 good quality of irrigation water is found in north east of [6] J B Patil., V Baride., S. N Patil., RB Golekar., Gangurde Pudukkottai block, north Viralimalai, east of Kunnandarkoil, Suvarna.,Thorat Kamini, Patil Pritam, (2012),“Geochemical south of Gandarvakottai,north Thiruvarankulam, part of investigation of groundwater for irrigation purposes in Sakri Karambakkudi and north extremes of Arimalam, Aranthangi Area of district Dhule, Maharashtra, India”, International blocks. This occupies an area of 1919.2sq.km.The increase in Journal of Environment and Earth Sciences Vol.2, No:1, pp: area indicates the reclamation activities carried out in the 50-60 study area. ISSN No: 2319-3484 Volume 4, Issue 6, Nov. 2015 14 International Journal of Remote Sensing & Geoscience (IJRSG) www.ijrsg.com

[7] K Ramesh., L Elango., (2011), “Groundwater quality and He has organized two National Conference in the field of its suitbility for domestic and agriculturaluse in Tondiar Remote Sensing and GIS Applications. He has attended 30 river bain, Tamilnadu, India”, Environmental Monitoring conferences, Training Programmes and Seminars in the and Assessment, Springer, August 2011 National and International level. He served as Board of Studies Member in Geology, Remote Sensing Programmes of [8] SV Sarath Prasanth, NS Magesh, KV Jitheshlal, various Universities and also having rich administrative NChandrasekar, K Gangadhar (2012), “Evaluation of experience in the Institutions. Dr. R. Neelakantan may be groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and reached at [email protected] agricultural use in the coastal stretch of Alappuzha District, Kerala, India”, Applied Water Sciences, Vol 2, pp:165–175

[9] Y Srinivas., D Hudson Oliver., A.StanleyRaj ,N Chandrasekar.,(2013) “Evaluation of groundwater quality in and around Nagercoil town, Tamilnadu, India: an integrated geochemical and GIS approach”, Springer, Application of Water Sciences Vol.3 pp:631–651

[10] T Subramani., L Elango., S.R Damodarasamy., (2005), “Groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and agricultural use in Chithar River Basin, Tamil Nadu, India”, Environmental Geology , Vol.47, pp: 1099–1110 Biographies

S SREEKALA has received M.Sc and M.Phil degree in Geography from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamilnadu. Currently, she is working as Assistant Professor of Geography at K.N.Government Arts college for women, (A), Thanjavur, Tamilnadu and Doctoral research at Department of Industries and Earth Sciences, Tamil University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. Her teaching and research areas include Remote sensing and GIS application in Geographical Research. She has presented 5 papers in National Seminars and attended 7 workshops and Training programmes. She has published 3 research papers in International Journals.S.Sreekala may be reached at [email protected]

Dr.R.NEELAKANTAN is currently working as Professor, in the Department of Industries and Earth Sciences, Tamil University, Thanjavur,Tamil Nadu, India. He has obtained Master degree in Geology, M.Tech Remote Sensing and Doctoral Degree in Remote Sensing and Geo-hazards. He is specialized in the field of Geoinformatics for Natural Disaster Management, Environmental Geomorphology and Water Resources. Nearly two decades of research/working experience in the field of Geology, Geomorphology, Land use, Water resources and Geo-hazards using Remote Sensing and GIS. He completed DST Young Scientist Project and UGC MRP for Landslides and Water resource study, a tune of Rs.20 lakhs. He has published more than 50 papers in the International, National Journals and Conference Proceedings.

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