Groundwater hydrogeochemical assessment in and around the northern part of the Chennai city, South India

• Published in: Journal of food composition and analysis 2023-12, Vol.124, p.105690, Article 105690
• Main Authors: Syed Ahamudul Rafeek, S, Mohamed Hanipha, M, Abdul Hameed, Meera Moydeen, Mohamed Basith, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bacterial contamination; electrical conductivity; evaporation; food composition; freshwater; Geographic information system and statistical analysis; Groundwater; hydrogeochemistry; India; issues and policy; plate count; Postmonsoon; Premonsoon; seawater; sodium; sodium chloride; sulfates; water management; water quality; water quality analysis; Water quality index; World Health Organization
• ISSN: 0889-1575; 1096-0481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105690

In the present study, 50 groundwater samples from the bore wells and tube wells, were collected in North Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India during the premonsoon (June 2021) and postmonsoon (January 2022) seasons and their physicochemical properties were assessed. The majority of the physicochemical characteristics with the exception of electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-) and sulphate (SO42-) were determined to be within the world health organization (WHO) standards for drinking water. The water quality index (WQI) was assessed and given one of six categories, from excellent to unfit for consumption. Gibb's plots showed that evaporation was the dominating type, while Piper and Chadha models predominantly showed sodium-chloride (Na-Cl) kinds. The interaction of freshwater and seawater has been observed through an ionic ratio analysis. In accordance to a groundwater quality research conducted in the study region, practically in all the sample locations, the levels of standard plate count (SPC) total coliforms (TC) bacterial contamination were higher than the acceptable guidelines (WHO). Water management and treatment policy decisions can be made with the support of water quality analysis which can also help to identify potential health issues. [Display omitted] •Groundwater quality assessment was carried out in North Chennai, South India.•Outlining the significant impact of anthropogenic processes on groundwater.•GIS was employed as a geospatial tool.•Using the WQI, several groundwater potability zones were categorized.•Urban groundwater quality development.