Groundwater Quality Assessment in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu Using GIS

Groundwater is a significant source of water in many parts of India, especially in semiarid and arid regions. About 50% of the total irrigated area is dependent on groundwater. Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in both urban and rural areas. Also, it is an important source of water for the agricultural and the industrial sectors. Groundwater quality is as important as the quantity. Poor quality of water adversely affects the plant growth and human health. Hence, the demarcation of groundwater quality is of vital importance to augment groundwater resources. The present study attempts to prepare the spatial variation map of the various groundwater quality parameters for Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu using Geographical Information System (GIS). GIS has been applied to visualize the spatial distribution of groundwater quality in the study area. The major water quality parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, chloride and sulphates etc. were analysed. The final integrated map shows three priority classes such as high, moderate and poor groundwater quality zones of the study area and provides a guideline for the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes.