CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUND WATER QUALITY AND DRINKING WATER QUALITY INDEX: A CASE STUDY OF CUDDALORE DISTRICT

The water and environment has become an emotive issue with the people and policy makers. The chief causes for the pollution of water and environment are anthropogenic activities of human beings. The primary objective of this paper is to study the groundwater quality parameters in the wells of Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu. The data is collected from the study area for two years i.e., 2002 and 2022. The groundwater contour analysis is done by using Geographical Information System (GIS). The water quality index has calculated based on Total Dissolved Substances (TDS), Nitrate (NO3), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Chloride (Cl), Sulphate (SO4), Fluoride (F), Power of Hydrogen (pH) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) The study reveals that the concentration of major constituents is well within the permissible limits of Indian Standard, except in few cases where Electrical Conductivity, Chlorine and Sulphates concentrations are high. The overall ground water index reveals that the water quality in Cuddalore district has increased considerably from the year 2002 to 2022. Spatially, unsuitable area has increased from the year 2002 to 2022 similarly excellent suitability of drinking water is also increased during the same period. Hence, from the assessment it is recommended to take necessary steps to improve further for the protection of environment and human beings.