Freshwater is most important for life. The demand for freshwater is so high, that a major share of obtained as groundwater. The portability of drinking water is mainly based on recommended permissible limit of certain parameters, when water exceeds these limits it is unfit for human consumption. For the present study in and around Thirukalukundram area have been selected. The requirement of groundwater is constantly increasing in the study area due to the population exploration in Kalpakkam and Mahabalipuram area. An attempt is made to identify the groundwater quality through the chemical parameters. The groundwater samples have been collected and analysed for various anions and cations. The results have been brought in digital format with the help of Geographical Information System (GIS).

1. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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A Quarterly Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International e-Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories
Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gage, India as well as in Cabell’s Directories of Publishing Opportunities, U.S.A.
International Journal of Engineering, Science and Mathematics
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March
2013
A STUDY ON GROUNDWATER QUALITY OF
THIRUKALUKUNDRAM AREA, KANCHEEPURAM
DISTRICT, TAMILNADU
Juliet. S
Meribha Titus. G. S*
Satheesh Herbert Singh. D*
ABSTRACT
Freshwater is most important for life. The demand for freshwater is so high, that a major share of
obtained as groundwater. The portability of drinking water is mainly based on recommended
permissible limit of certain parameters, when water exceeds these limits it is unfit for human
consumption. For the present study in and around Thirukalukundram area have been selected.
The requirement of groundwater is constantly increasing in the study area due to the population
exploration in Kalpakkam and Mahabalipuram area. An attempt is made to identify the
groundwater quality through the chemical parameters. The groundwater samples have been
collected and analysed for various anions and cations. The results have been brought in digital
format with the help of Geographical Information System (GIS).
Keywords: Groundwater, Saline water, seawater intrusion.
 Department of Civil Engineering, Asan Memorial College of Engineering and Technology,
Keerapakkam, Chengalpattu

2. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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March
2013
INTRODUCTION
Groundwater quality is more important than its quality. The demands of groundwater get
increased day by day due to the increase in population and industrial growth. The fresh water is
in crises and most of the places the surface water get polluted and due to this the groundwater is
pumped in excess amount in many places. Over exploitation of groundwater in coastal aquifer
leads to seawater intrusion. The study area is one of the coastal districts of Tamilnadu. The
demand for water is increasing day by day due to the increase in population and industrial
growth in the study area. The quality of water is decreasing due to demand. Along the coastal
area the groundwater quality is poor in certain places. The excess use of the groundwater has
disturbed the hydrodynamic equilibrium between saltwater and freshwater. The
Thirukalukundram taluk and nearby areas has been selected for the present study and the various
chemical parameters of quality and the intrusion of seawater is assessed.
STUDY AREA
The Thirukalukundram taluk has been selected for the present study. Thirukalukundram
taluk is one of the coastal areas of Tamilnadu. The study area includes Thirukalukundram,
Kalpakkam, Mahabalipuram of Kancheepuram district. The study area falls between 79o
57’45”
E to 80 o
14’15” E longitude and 12 o
29’05” N to 12 o
40’30” N latitude (fig. 1). The normal
annual rainfall over the district varies from 1105 mm to 1214mm.

3. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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March
2013
12°30'
12°30'
12°35'
12°35'
12°40'
12°40'
8 0 °0 0 '
8 0 °0 0 '
8 0 °5 '
8 0 °5 '
8 0 °1 0 '
8 0 °1 0 '
8 0 °1 5 '
8 0 °1 5 '
INDIA
TAMILNADU
FIG. 1 STUDY AR EA
THIIRUKALUNKUNDRUM TALUK, KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT
$
$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Keerap ak kam
Mahapalip uramKun nap attu
Kothimang alam
Vadakadumb ad y
Poonjeri
Thirukkaluk undram
Pudhu pattin am
Neikup pi
So oradimang alam
Pand ur
P a ll a r R i v
N
BAY OF BENGAL
2 0 2 4 Km
River
Road
$ Sample Locatioin
Legend
DATA ANALYSIS
Fourteen water samples have been collected from the existing wells covering the entire
study area during July 2012. The samples were taken in a clean half litre bottle for determining
the various salt present in it. The water samples have been analysed for major anions and cations
based on the standard procedures (AHPA, 1998).
METHODOLOGY
The study area map has been prepared from the toposheet in 1: 50,000 scale and is
converted in digital format using GIS. The analysed results of the water samples have been
classified based on WHO (1996) standards. Based on the classified outputs various thematic
maps have been prepared in GIS platform.
RESULT AND INTERPRETATION
With the analytic results the groundwater has been classified and the following thematic
maps have been prepared using GIS.

4. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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March
2013
1.Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), 2. Total Hardness (TH), 3. Corrosivity Ratio (CR), 4. Chloride
vs. Bicarbonate and Carbonate Ratio [Cl/(HCO3+CO3)], and 5. Ground Water Classification
The groundwater having TDS value less than 1000 mg/l is consider to be freshwater or
potable (WHO, 1996). In the study area most of the water falls in potable category. Few
locations the groundwater has TDS value above the permissible limit and is considered to be
poor category (fig. 2).
$
$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
3 0 3 6 Kilometers
N
12°30'
12°30'
12°40'
12°40'
80°00'
80°00'
80°10'
80°10'
Fig. 2 Total D issolved Soilds in Groundw ater of the Study Area mg/l
Legend
< 500
500-1000
1000-1500
>1500
Groundwater with Total hardness 0 to 75 mg/l are consider as a soft water. Those with total
hardness more than 300 mg/l are consider as very hard water. The hardness value varies from 75
– 150 mg/l are considered as moderately hard and those have 150 to 300 mg/l are considered as
hard water. In the study area the total hardness ranges from 119. 94 mg/l to 938.58 mg/l. Hence
the study area falls under moderately hard to very hard category. Most of the area falls in hard
and very hard category (fig.3).

5. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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March
2013
N
12°30'
12°30'
12°40'
12°40'
80°00'
80°00'
80°10'
80°10'
80°20'80°20'
3 0 3 6 Km
Legend
75 - 150
150- 300
> 300
Fig. 3 Total Hardness in Groundw ater of the Study Area mg/l
The groundwater is further classified based on the corrosive nature. If the corrosivity ratio of
groundwater is less than one then the water is consider to be non corrosive and it can be
transported through metal pipe also (Rengarajan et al., 1990). In the study area many location
have the corrosivity ratio more than one and the water are in corrosive nature (fig. 4).
N
3 0 3 6 Kilometers
12°30'
12°30'
12°40'
12°40'
8 0 °0 0 '
8 0 °0 0 '
8 0 °1 0 '
8 0 °1 0 '
Fig. 4 Corrosivity Ratio in Groundw ater of the Study Area
Legend
<1
>1

6. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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March
2013
The saline water intrusion is to be found out by the Chloride vs. Bicarbonate and Carbonate
Ratio [Cl/(HCO3+CO3)]. If the Chloride vs. Bicarbonate and Carbonate Ratio is more than two,
then the water is saline in nature Desai et. al (1979). In the study area only two locations have the
Cl/(HCO3+CO3) more than two. The two locations falls near the coastal area which indicate the
saline water have been intruded along the coastal area (fig. 5).
N
3 0 3 6 Kilometers
12°30'
12°30'
12°40'
12°40'
80°00'
80°00'
80°10'
80°10'
Fig. 5 Cl / (HCO 3 + CO3) Ratio in Groundw ater of the Study Area
Legend
<2
>2
The groundwater is classified as very oligohaline, oligohaline, fresh, fresh-brackish,
brackish, brackish-salt, salt and hyperhaline based on the presence of chlorine (Stuyfzand, 1989).
In the study area the groundwater falls under oligohaline, fresh, fresh-brackish and brackish
category. Most of the water falls in fresh brackish and brackish type. Few locations falls in fresh
and oligohaline type (fig. 6).

7. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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A Quarterly Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International e-Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories
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March
2013
$
$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
12°30'
12°30'
12°35'
12°35'
12°40'
12°40'
7 9 °5 5 '
7 9 °5 5 '
8 0 °0 0 '
8 0 °0 0 '
8 0 °5 '
8 0 °5 '
8 0 °1 0 '
8 0 °1 0 '
8 0 °1 5 '
8 0 °1 5 '
N
2 0 2 4 Kilometers
Legend
Oligohaline
Fresh
Fresh - Brackish
Brackish
Fig. 6 Stuyfzand's Classification of Groundwater of the Study Area
Conclusion
The above study indicates that the groundwater have variable quality. Most of the areas
the water quality are found to be poor. Based on the TDS, total hardness and stuyfzand
classification the groundwater is unsuitable for drinking purpose. Most of the area the
groundwater have fall under hard and very hard nature and can be used after proper treatment.
The fresh groundwater occurs away from the coast. From the chloride vs. bicarbonate ratio, the
seawater intrusion has been taken place along the coast. The surface water has to be utilized to
its maximum level and to prevent the saline water intrusion along the coastal aquifer. Rainwater
harvesting can be practiced in the entire study area. The rainwater harvesting and the
construction of rain fed tanks may improve the groundwater quality.

8. IJESM Volume 2, Issue 1 ISSN: 2320-0294
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A Quarterly Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International e-Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories
Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gage, India as well as in Cabell’s Directories of Publishing Opportunities, U.S.A.
International Journal of Engineering, Science and Mathematics
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March
2013
REFERENCE
1. Davis, S.N and De Wiest, R.J.M (1966) Hydrogeology, John Wiley, 463p.
2. Desai,T.E, Gupta,S.K, Shah,M.V & Sharma,S.C, 1979. Hydrochemical evidence
of sea water intrusion along the Mogrol – Chorwad Coast of Saurashtra, Gujarat. Hydrol.
Sci. Bull., 24 (1), pp 71 – 82.
3. Karanth, K.R. (1987). Ground water Assessment, Development, McGraw Hill
publishing company limited. New Delhi; 720p.
4. Rengarajan, R and Balasubramanian,A, (1990) Corrosion and scale formation
characteristics of groundwater in and around Nagavalli, Salem District, Tamil Nadu, J.
Applied Hydrology, v. 3, n 2, pp 15 – 22.
5. Satheesh Herbert Singh. D and Lawrence. J.F., (2007) “Groundwater Quality
Assessment of Shallow Aquifer Using Geographical Information System in Part of
Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India”, Journal of Geological Society of India, Vol. 69, No. 5,
pp. 1067 - 1076.
6. Satheesh Herbert Singh. Dand Lawrence. J.F., (2004) “Groundwater Quality of
Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India”, Mining Engineer’s Journal, Vol. 5, No. 12, pp.21-26.
7. Todd, D.K., 1959. Ground Water Hydrology, John Wiley and Sons Ltd., New
York