International Journal of Advanced Chemical Science and Applications (IJACSA) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu 1Sivakumar Krishnamoorthy, 2Murugesan Athimoolam 1Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641046. 2Department of Chemistry, Sriram Engineering College, Perumalpattu – 602024. Email: [email protected], [email protected] [Received:3rd Aug.2015; Revised: 18th Aug.2015; pollutants from water, there are definite limits. It is up to Accepted:25th Aug.2015; Available online from: 23rd the people to provide security to protect and maintain Sept. 2015] quality of water[5]. Now the pollution of groundwater Abstract : Cuddalore is the most backward administrative comes from many sources. The main sources of district in the state of Tamil Nadu. It has six talukas namely groundwater pollution are discharge of waste disposal cuddalore, Panruti, Vriddhachalam, Tittakudi, from agriculture, industries and municipalities. Kattumannarkudi and Chidambaram. Cuddalore district Sometimes surface run-off also brings mud, leaves, and has historical importance with good agriculture. People are human and animal wastes into surface water bodies. using groundwater as prime source for drinking and These pollutants may enter directly into the groundwater agricultural purposes. Climatic changes, urbanization and and contaminate it [6]. Groundwater with good quality is industrialization cause water scarcity and pollution. Groundwater samples were collected from various bore very important to improve the life of people. The present wells in different blocks of Cuddalore district in 2014. study is undertaken to investigate the qualitative analysis Water quality parameters like pH, electrical conductivity and some physicochemical parameters of ground water at (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu bicarbonate(HCO3), calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen Study Area : demand (COD), sodium, potassium, nickel, chromium and The study area, viz. Cuddalore district lies on the East cadmium contents were evaluated using standard Coast of Southern India, bound on the north, south and recommended procedures. The analytical results were west by Villupuram, Nagapattinam and Perambalur compared with standards like WHO and BIS. From the districts and on the east by Bay of Bengal. The district observation, it is established that the groundwater quality 0 ’ 0 0 ′ significantly varied from location to location. Most of the lies between 78 42 and 80 12’ east latitude and 12 27 ″ 0 ’ ″ samples were under the alarming condition. Adequate 30 and 11 10 45 north longitude. The average rainfall groundwater technologies are encouraged for the is 1164mm per year. There are 7 talukas situated in consumption. cuddalore district and the total population is around Key Words: Groundwater Chemistry, Water Quality 2,605,914 according to the census report of 2011. The Index, Impact Assessment and Cuddalore district. drinking water source of cuddalore district is mainly ground water for their drinking purpose and for day today I. INTRODUCTION activities. Bore well is the only supply of ground water in cuddalore district which is distributed through pipelines. Water is indispensable and one of the precious natural Hence, the study was designed to evaluate the parameters resources of this planet and groundwater is an important significant for potability purpose and the concentration in source of water supply throughout the world [1]. Water is the water was compared with the standards prescribed by a prime need for human survival and industrial WHO (World Health Organization) and BIS (Bureau of development and it is also considered as the only source Indian Standards). of drinking water in many rural and small communities[2],[ 3]. Water pollution is a major problem II. MATERIALS AND METHODS for the new generation. The problems like growing population, sewage disposal, industrial waste, radioactive Groundwater samples were collected from 36 waste, etc. have polluted the water resources so much [4]. representative bore wells, during Post moon 2014. Now it is time to realize that the Groundwater is an Samples were collected in 1 L polythene bottles which important water resource for domestic and agriculture were previously cleaned. Each bottle was rinsed with needs in both rural and urban parts of India. The distilled water to avoid any possible contamination. The chemical composition of groundwater is very important analysis was carried out systematically both one that determines the quality of water. Water quality is volumetrically and by instrumental techniques. The very significant and often polluted due to agricultural, procedures were followed from standard books and [ industrial and human activities. Even though the natural manuals 7], [8], [9]. The analysis was carried out environmental processes provide means of removing immediately for pH, EC, DO and for all other parameters _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ISSN (Print):2347-7601, ISSN (Online): 2347-761X, Volume -3, Special Issue -1, 2015 68 International Journal of Advanced Chemical Science and Applications (IJACSA) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ within three hours of the sampling time. All soil[10]. concentrations are expressed in milligrams per litre Electrical Conductivity: Electrical conductivity is a (mg/L) except pH and EC in µS. The temperature of measure of water capacity to convey electric current. EC water samples was recorded on the spot using value is manifestation to signify the concentration of thermometer. pH meter (Systronics digital model 355) soluble salts in water. The electrical conductance is an was used to determine the hydrogen ion concentration. indication of total dissolved solids which is a measure of The samples were analyzed for EC by using conductivity salinity that affects the taste of potable water. Electrical meter. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were estimated conductivity value is from 154 to 4400µS/cm. High using Systronics water analyzer. Total Hardness (TH) concentration of EC in groundwater is due to ionic was determined volumetrically by using standard EDTA mobility and ionic valences of the ions. The maximum solution. Nitrates (No ) were determined by using 3 value of EC observed in the sample 13 and the minimum colorimeter. Sulphate and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) were value found in the sample 28, and the average of the estimated by precipitation method by using BOD bottle electricals conductivity shown in the range 1303.37 µS. and chloride (Cl-) was determined volumetrically by Most of the sample EC exceeds the permissible limit of using AgNO solution. Calcium (Ca2+), magnesium 3 1400 recommended by BIS[8]. Patil and Patil[11] also (Mg2+), sodium(Na+) ,potassium(K+), chemical oxygen found that high range of electrical conductivity was demand (COD) were analyzed as per standard procedures observed in Amalner Town ground waters in the range of (APHA, Standard methods). Heavy metals like nickel 398 µS to 2827µs. (Ni2+), chromium (Cr2+), cadmium (Cd2+) were determined by using AAS (Atomic adsorption Total Dissolved Solids: Total dissolved solids indicate spectroscopy). the salinity behavior of groundwater. Water containing more than 500 mg/L of TDS is not considered desirable for drinking water supplies, but in unavoidable cases 1500 mg/L is also allowed. TDS value is from 114 to 1522 mg/L. The maximum level was found in the sample 10 and the minimum was found in sample 28. Average TDS value is 681.52 mg/L. In about 50% of the samples TDS exceeds the BIS limit of 500 mg/L because incidence of higher level of TDS is considered to be objectionable. The total dissolved solids in water is due to the presence of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, carbonates, bicarbonates, chlorides, organic matter, and other particles. As per the classification[12], total dissolved solids for around 8 samples made the water slightly saline. Similarly high levels of TDS ranging from 700 to 3200 mg/L were found in groundwater samples in Kotputli Town, Jaipur, Rajasthan [13]. This parameter in general gains its entry in to ground water through various means such as sea water intrusion, sewage, urban runoff, industrial wastewater[14]. Figure1 Description of study area Total hardness: The total hardness is an important III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION parameterof water quality to decide whether it could be The average results of the physicochemical parameters used for drinking. Hardness of such water mainly for water samples are presented in table 1. depends upon the amount of calcium or magnesium salts or both[15]. The maximum Total hardness is found to be pH: The parameter pH generally indicates the acid or 409 mg/L in sample 33 and the minimum is observed as alkaline nature of any solution and usually does not bear 46 mg/L in the sample 25. The average value of total any direct impact on consumers. The data revealed that hardness is 154.74. Around 94% of the samples were the pH value is ranged from 6.7 to 8.6. The maximum crossing the permissible limit recommended by BIS[8] range found in the sample 13 and the minimum was 300 mg/L which may be due to the presence of carbonate observed in sample 10 and the average