Spatial Variation of Groundwater Quality from Porur to Poonamallee: A Case Study in Tamil Nadu, India

Ground water contamination is nearly always the result of human activity. In areas where population density is high and human use of land is intensive, ground water is vulnerable. Virtually any activity where by chemicals or wastes may be released to the environment, either intentionally or accidentally, has the potential to pollute the ground water. When ground water contaminated, it is difficult and expensive to clean up. Also drinking contaminated groundwater can have serious health effects. Diseases such as hepatitis and dysentery may be caused by contamination from septic tank waste. Poisoning may be caused by toxins that have leached into water supplies. Other long term effects such as certain types of cancer may also result from exposure to polluted water. The present study aims to understand the spatial variation of groundwater quality from Porur to Poonamallee. The samples were collected from Porur, Iyyappanthangal and Poonamallee and tested for the physio-chemical parameters. The test results were compared with the WHO and Indian Standard water quality standards. The spatial variation map for various physio-chemical parameters was digitized using Arc GIS. From the study it is observed that the groundwater quality is good in Porur, moderate in Iyyapanthangal and not desirable in few parts of Poonamallee. Also, it is observed in particular that the iron content is more than the permissible limit.