Open AccessIrrigation Water Quality Assessment Using Water Quality Index and GIS Technique in Pondicherry Region, South India
Author(s) -
Thilagavathi Rajendran,
S. Chidambaram,
Pradeep Kamaraj,
Mohan Viswanathan Prasanna,
Mahalakshmi Mathivanan,
Meenu Ghai,
Dheeraj K. Singh,
Ramanathan A.L
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of civil, environmental and agricultural engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2582-2721
DOI - 10.34256/ijceae2124
Subject(s) - groundwater , sodium adsorption ratio , irrigation , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , aquifer , monsoon , salinity , water quality , saline water , sodium carbonate , water resource management , sodium , geology , chemistry , agronomy , drip irrigation , ecology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology , climatology
The utility of groundwater, irrespective of its availability, is essential for mankind. The efficacy of the coastal aquifer’s groundwater quality for agriculture purpose in the Pondicherry region was gauged by their hydrochemistry. 44 groundwater samples were collected during 4 different seasons namely, pre-monsoon (PRM), southwest monsoon (SWM), northeast monsoon (NEM) and post-monsoon (POM). The samples were measured for physico-chemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3, PO4, SO4 and NO3. The spatio temporal variations of EC indicates that the coastal groundwater were relatively saline except during PRM. The suitability of groundwater for irrigation is evaluated through various water quality parametrs such as Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Na%, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index (PI). Na%, SAR, PI and EC values were spatially interporlated and integrated to determine the regions suitable for irrigation purpose. The study infers that the groundwater of the study area is suitable for irrigation except few samples’ locations along the western part, as they have attained an alarming stage and they are unsuitable for irrigation. Thus, proper management strategy for irrigation water source has to be developed and a preventive management practice to address this issue has to be implemented.