Hydrochemical characteristic of coastal aquifer from Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

This article deals with a systematic hydrochemical study carried out in coastal aquifers, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, to assess groundwater quality. A total of 29 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed. Results showed that total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na+), magnesium (Mg2+), chloride (Cl-), and sulfate (SO₄²⁻) significantly damaged groundwater systems. The degree of salinization due to seawater mixing in a well or a given area could be indicated by an increase in nearly all major cations and anions. Toxic elements (i.e., Pb and As) were higher than the maximum permissible limits of drinking water. Cross plot of HCO₃⁻/Cl- (molar ratios) versus TDS indicated that about 62% of the analyzed samples were saline. Factor analysis showed that groundwaters, affected by seawater intrusion/industrial activity, were separated from the clusters. An attempt was made to identify the hydrochemical processes that accompany current intrusion of seawater using ionic changes. It was estimated that the mixing rate of seawater intrusion was about 5.81% during April 2007. An index, called 'Seawater Mixing Index' (SMI), was also adopted and its value was SMI>1.18 with EC>3,000 μS/cm about 62% of the sampled waters, were saline. Further, a few trace elements (i.e., Sr, B, and Li) were used as indicators for responding to the change in fresh to saline groundwater environments in coastal aquifers.

Hydrogeochemical assessment of a coastal aquifer using statistical and geospatial techniques: case study of Mombasa North Coast, Kenya

“…Seawater mixing index (SMI) was further applied by Mondal et al (2011a) in a coastal groundwater to understand the extent of seawater mixing in the aquifer. Seawater mixing is usually higher in the dry season than the rainy season (Schwartz 2006); hence, in this study, the post-monsoon data were analysed based on the principles and equation of SMI (Mondal et al 2011a).…”

“…Seawater mixing is usually higher in the dry season than the rainy season (Schwartz 2006); hence, in this study, the post-monsoon data were analysed based on the principles and equation of SMI (Mondal et al 2011a). SMI is calculated based on four ions predominant in seawater, i.e.…”

“…Several statistical and graphical methods including: principal component analysis, cluster analysis, fuzzy k-means clustering, Collins bar diagram and Piper plot graphical methods have been examined and compared (Güler et al 2002). The chemistry of groundwater based on hydrochemical data is expedient for giving baseline information on groundwater types, the study of different chemical activities in the aquifer, identification of the aquifer type, as well as the classification of groundwater based on usage (Mondal et al 2011a). The recent studies have integrated the application of geographic information systems (GIS) with multivariate statistical approaches for groundwater studies (Somay and Gemici, 2008;Sheikhy Narany et al 2014).…”

Geochemical evolution of groundwater in the Western Delta region of River Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India

“…Manjusree et al (2009) explain the groundwater chemistry of the coastal sandy clayey aquifers of Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. Hydrogeochemistry of the coastal aquifers in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India is studied by Mondal et al (2011) to assess the influence of water-rock interaction, anthropogenic contamination and seawater. Subba Rao et al (2012) elucidate the chemical characteristics of groundwater from the river basin of Varaha, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India.…”

Chemistry and quality of groundwater in a coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, India

“…Bhishm Kumar et al (2011) studied groundwater management in a coastal aquifer in Krishna River Delta, South India, using isotopic approach. Mondal et al (2011) described hydrochemical characteristics of the coastal aquifer from Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. Srinivasamoorthy et al (2011) found rock-weathering, ion-exchange and anthropogenic processes as dominant factors on groundwater quality in an eastern coastal area of Cuddalore district.…”