title: Application of water quality index for groundwater quality assessment: Thirumanimuttar sub-basin, Tamilnadu, India.
abstract: An attempt has been made to understand the hydrogeochemical parameters to develop water quality index in Thirumanimuttar sub-basin. A total of 148 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for major cations and anions. The domination of cations and anions was in the order of Na>Mg>Ca>K for cations and Cl>HCO(3) >SO(4) in anions. The hydrogeochemical facies indicate alkalis (Na and K) exceed alkaline earths (Ca and Mg) and strong acids (Cl and SO(4)) exceed weak acid (HCO(3)). Water quality index rating was calculated to quantify overall water quality for human consumption. The PRM samples exhibit poor quality in greater percentage when compared with POM due to effective leaching of ions, over exploitation of groundwater, direct discharge of effluents and agricultural impact. The overlay of WQI with chloride and EC correspond to the same locations indicating the poor quality of groundwater in the study area. SAR, Na%, and TH were noted higher during both the seasons indicating most of the groundwater locations not suitable for irrigation purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India. breezevasanth@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasanthavigar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasamoorthy
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vijayaragavan
authors.forename: R Rajiv
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ganthi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chidambaram
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anandhan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manivannan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vasudevan
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical