Assessment of Groundwater Quality of Chittur Block, Palghat, Kerala, India

The geochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Chittur block, Palghat, Kerala have been studied to assess the water quality for domestic and irrigational purposes. During pre-monsoon (April-2010) period 89 groundwater samples were collected from 61 dug wells and 28 bore wells. Chemical analysis of the groundwater shows different ranges for different parameters (pH 6.25-8.29, EC 250-2400 µS/cm, TDS 160-1536 mg/L, TH 65-945 mg/L, Mg2+ 3.62-189.46 mg/L, F- 0.02-6.3 mg/L, Cl- 10-672 mg/L, Na+ 1-126 mg/L, K+ 1-23 mg/L, NO3- 1.42-23.15 mg/L, SO42- 5.72-159.62 mg/L and PO43- 0-2.12 mg/L). High fluoride (F-) concentration is reported from 12% water samples. Piper diagram reveals that 42% of the samples are MgCO3 type. Irrigational suitability of water is evaluated based on sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate, sodium percent, salinity hazard and USSL diagram. Salinity hazards show that 52% of the samples fall in high salinity hazard (C3) and 1% in very high salinity hazard class (C4). The study shows that, groundwater beyond the acceptable limit of EC, TDS, TH, Mg2+ and F- are not suitable for drinking, and groundwater fall in very high salinity hazard class is not suitable for irrigation.