Hydrogeochemistry of groundwater along a tsunami devastated coastal segment of Kerala: Arattupuzha Village, Alappuzha, India

Abstract

Water quality parameters exceed the permissible standard limit set by IS 2012, WHO 2011 and USEPA 2014 in many instances of sources studied. GIS study shows the spatial variation of parameters. Pearson's Correlation matrix study suggest that electrical conductivity of water is correlated with TH, Ca, Na, K and Cl. There are noticeable decline in quality with regards to WQI. Sodium – Chloride ratio shows that reverse ion exchange occur in the region. Hill-Piper Trilinear plots reveal mixed nature of different hydrochemical facies, mainly (i) Ca–Mg–HCO₃ (Temporary Hardness), (ii) Ca-Mg-Cl-SO₄ (Permanent Hardness) and (iii) Na– K–Cl (Saline) in shallow dug wells. Deep bore wells, the water is Ca–Mg–HCO₃ type. Some of the sources are having saline water, corrosive and scale forming.