Groundwater Quality Evaluation for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes in Parts of Athoor Taluk, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Groundwater is a basic need for every human being to survive on this earth and satisfy the drinking and irrigation needs in parts of Athoor Taluk, Dindigul District. The research evaluates and interprets groundwater quality using various methods like Piper, Gibbs, water quality index and irrigation indices. Twenty groundwater samples were collected around the study area, analysed for the physicochemical parameters, and the contaminants were mapped using inverse distance weighting methods. The concentration levels of 90% TH, 25% Ca2+, 25% Mg2+, 95% K+, 80% Cl-, 95% SO42- and 80% HCO3-are noticed exceed the permissible limits for drinking purposes. The piper plot indicates the dominant water type is calcium-magnesium-chloride-sulphate, suggesting alkaline earths strong dominance, and the Gibbs reveals rock-dominance due to silicates and carbonate weathering. The WQI ranges between 100-200, with 55% of the water falling in the poor category, which requires treatment, and the remaining WQI ranges between 50-100, with 45% falling in the good category and can be used for drinking. Irrigation indices like Na%, KR, and SAR indicate suitability for agricultural purposes with minor sodium hazards. In the future, this area needs to be studied seasonally to locate the quality deterioration regions for water management.