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Hydrogeochemical Analysis for Groundwater Suitability Appraisal in Sivagangai, an Economically Backward District of Tamil Nadu

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Hydrogeochemical analysis was carried out to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking, domestic, agriculture and industrial purposes in Sivagangai district, which is economically backward district of Tamil Nadu, India. Seventy ground water samples were collected during pre and postmonsoon season in the year 2017 from all over the district and analyzed for hydrogen ion activity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, CO3, HCO3, SO4, total nitrate, and F. All the analytical results are compared with the corresponding guideline values of drinking water standards and the results show that groundwater in most part of the study area is potable except for a few locations in both seasons. The groundwater geochemistry is mostly controlled by rock water interaction and evaporation processes in both seasons as revealed from the Gibbs plot. The irrigation water quality parameters such as SAR, Na% and RSC results show that some of the groundwater samples are fit for agriculture. It is ascertained through hydrogeochemical analysis that the quality of groundwater is appropriate for drinking, domestic use, agriculture as well as industrial purpose and it can be utilized for industrial development to improve the socioeconomic status of the study area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, India

    Muruganantham Arumugam, Sivakumar Karthikeyan, Kongeswaran Thangaraj, Prabakaran Kulandaisamy, Bangaru Priyanga Sundaram, Karikalan Ramasamy, Agastheeswaran Vellaikannu & Perumal Velmayil

  2. Department of Geology, Alagappa Govt. Arts College (Affiliated to Alagappa University), Karaikudi, 630 003, India

    Agastheeswaran Vellaikannu

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  1. Muruganantham Arumugam
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  2. Sivakumar Karthikeyan
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  3. Kongeswaran Thangaraj
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  4. Prabakaran Kulandaisamy
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  5. Bangaru Priyanga Sundaram
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  8. Perumal Velmayil
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Correspondence to Kongeswaran Thangaraj.

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Arumugam, M., Karthikeyan, S., Thangaraj, K. et al. Hydrogeochemical Analysis for Groundwater Suitability Appraisal in Sivagangai, an Economically Backward District of Tamil Nadu. J Geol Soc India 97, 789–798 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1761-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1761-8

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